Tipping in Tanzania: Safari and Kilimanjaro Guide
Tips are not included in tour prices in Tanzania, and they are an important part of income for guides, cooks, porters and lodge staff. Tipping is always your choice and should reflect the service you received. The amounts below are the ranges most Tanzanian operators suggest, in US dollars.
The short version
- Tips are not included in our prices and are always voluntary.
- Safari driver-guide: about 10 to 25 US dollars per guest per day.
- Lodge and camp staff: about 5 to 15 US dollars per guest per day, in the shared tip box.
- Kilimanjaro crew: often around 250 to 400 US dollars per climber for a 6- to 8-day climb in a small group; more if you climb alone.
- Bring small, recent, clean US dollar notes, or Tanzanian shillings.
On safari
| Who | Usual range |
|---|---|
| Driver-guide, private safari | 15 to 25 US dollars per guest per day |
| Driver-guide, group joining safari | 10 to 20 US dollars per guest per day |
| Cook on a camping safari | 10 to 15 US dollars per guest per day |
| Lodge or camp staff (shared tip box) | 5 to 15 US dollars per guest per day |
| Airport or hotel transfer driver | 2 to 10 US dollars per transfer |
Give your guide's tip at the end of the safari, in an envelope if you like. At lodges and camps, use the staff tip box at reception so it is shared among everyone, including the staff you do not see.
On Kilimanjaro
A climb is supported by a whole crew: guides, a cook and several porters for each climber. Tips are usually counted per day for the whole group, not per climber.
| Crew member | Usual range, per day, for the group |
|---|---|
| Lead guide | 15 to 30 US dollars |
| Assistant guide (each) | 10 to 25 US dollars |
| Cook | 10 to 25 US dollars |
| Porter (each) | 6 to 10 US dollars |
| Waiter, toilet or summit porter (each) | 8 to 12 US dollars |
Example: two climbers on a 7-day climb with a lead guide, an assistant guide, a cook and six porters, tipping in the middle of the ranges: 25 + 20 + 20 + (6 × 8) = 113 US dollars a day, × 7 days = 791 US dollars for the group, about 395 US dollars per climber. Your lead guide tells you the exact size of your crew at the briefing before the climb.
How to hand over tips on the mountain
- Ask for the number of guides, cooks and porters on your climb at the briefing, so you know exactly who you are tipping.
- Tip at the end of the climb, ideally at a small ceremony with the whole crew present.
- The fairest way is to give each person their own envelope. If you give the total to the lead guide to share out, announce the total and each person's share in front of the whole crew.
- Porters with extra jobs, such as the waiter or the toilet porter, usually receive a little more.
On Mount Meru, the guide, cook and porters are tipped in the same way, usually a little less per day; for the armed park ranger, ask us before your climb.
On Zanzibar and in town
- Hotel staff: about 3 to 15 US dollars per guest per day in the staff tip box.
- Tour guides, for example on a spice farm or Stone Town tour: about 5 to 10 US dollars per person.
- Restaurants: about 10 percent if no service charge is already on the bill.
Which money to bring
US dollars and Tanzanian shillings are both welcome. Bring small notes so you can give each person the right amount. Many banks and exchange offices refuse old or damaged US notes, so bring recent, clean and untorn notes.
Common questions
Are tips included in the safari price?
No. Tips are not included in our prices. They are voluntary and should reflect the service you received.
How much should I tip a safari guide in Tanzania?
Most operators suggest about 15 to 25 US dollars per guest per day for a private driver-guide, and about 10 to 20 US dollars per guest per day on a group safari.
How much should I tip on Kilimanjaro?
Tips are usually counted per day for the whole group: about 15 to 30 US dollars for the lead guide, 10 to 25 for each assistant guide and for the cook, and 6 to 10 for each porter. For a small group on a 6- to 8-day climb this is often about 250 to 400 US dollars per climber.
Can I tip in US dollars?
Yes. US dollars and Tanzanian shillings are both accepted. Bring small, recent and clean notes, because old or damaged notes are often refused.
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