Tipping Guidelines on a Uganda Safari
Tipping is a custom on a Uganda safari as it is a sign of appreciation for services offered as a way of extending your gratitude to the people who have helped you on your safari.
As you plan your Uganda safari, you will realize that tips are not considered as part of your overall all-inclusive package. In this blog, we give full information about tipping guidelines on a Uganda safari, as well as the neighboring destinations.
Tipping in Uganda is not compulsory, meaning that no one will pressure you or hit at it, and therefore, as a guest tipping is at your discretion. Besides, the norm of tipping someone for good service is greatly appreciated. We encourage our guests to extend a tip to the service people who play an important role in making your journey a memorable one.
The service people serving you are paid by their employers, the tips provide an extra amount of money which greatly helps them from time to time. Most Ugandan salaries are small and tips are highly appreciated.
While on your Uganda safari, you can tip anyone extending a service or a product to you. From your driver-guide to the game rangers, hotel/lodge staff, and the people selling you souvenirs or street food.
Therefore it is advised to get some local Ugandan currency for tipping people who might not easily change money to UGX.
Here are some tipping guidelines to help make your tipping experience easy. Remember tipping is done according to your heart as there are no rules to tipping.
- Gorilla and Chimpanzee Guides: Tips should be placed in the central tip box if provided or given to the main guide who will distribute them amongst all the trackers and game guards, about US$ 15 for the main guide per guest.
- Porters: This is optional extra. Porters are normally hired for around US$ 20 per porter per day and the tip will vary depending on the workload – between 5 and 20 USD per guest for each porter. Sometimes the group of tourists tips collectively such that the porters can share equally afterwards.
- Safari Driver/guides: About US$ 5 to 10 per day per guest, averaging 4-6 guests in a vehicle. In most cases, guests give this tip at the end of the trip when all that is left is a drop off at the airport or hotel.
- Lodges/Camp staff: We recommend US$ 3 to 5 per guest per stay. Most of the smaller lodges have central tip boxes. At hotels and large establishments, the tip is generally given at your discretion to individuals who have performed well.
- National Parks Guides (rangers): For each guide USD 3 to 5 per guest in local currency.
- Porters at Hotels: Around US$ 1-2 in local currency which is around 5,000 Uganda shillings
- Waiters/Bar Staff: About 10% of the bill, or say Uganda shillings 2,000 to 20,000 as a tip for service.
Once again, Uganda has no strict tipping rules and expectations, so you should follow your heart on whether to tip or not. This is why the above tipping guidelines on a Uganda safari are important.
Since you will be traveling with our experienced drivers as your guide, always feel free to ask for his/her advice on anything – including tipping.
We hope this guide gives you a good perspective as you plan your safari to Uganda or any of the places we work in. In case of any more questions about tipping, or anything else to do with traveling to Uganda, please reach out to our travel consults.