I had this hunt booked 2 years ago for South Africa but they closed elephant hunting so my PH found a hunt for me in Botswana. Spending a quite a bit more cash than I had planned on now but I bet it will be worth it. Do I still tip the usual 10 percent? I will be 21 days and going to South Africa with him for plains game. I'm not even allowed to bring that much cash with me. LOL

Pheasantman,

You're probably going to get a lot of answers to your question. I think the % of tip dependent on the hunt cost is a little silly. I just quoted a guy a hunt that might cost him $140,000. 10% is $14,000 and that's ridiculous. I think and recommend to my hunters that they tip on a per day basis depending on how hard the crew and PH worked on their behalf. To me the hunt cost is irrelevant as it related to the amount of the tip and so is the end result. If the PH and crew work their butts off and you are not successful that should not effect the tip. Tip what you are comfortable with and feel represents the service you received.

There should be no need to bring a load of cash. Do wire transfer(s) and bring only enough cash for the crew tip and pocket money. Wire the PH tip post safari.

Mark

I agree.

It is up to you and is a way to show your appreciation for skill and effort, plus other things, like a comfortable camp and good food, and the many other intangibles that make a hunt enjoyable.

I have never calculated a tip as a percentage of the hunt cost. It's not a restaurant dinner.

BTW, you can take a suitcase full of cash with you when you travel overseas, but if it is over $10,000 you will need to declare it before leaving the country.

Happily, the ability to make wire transfers obviates the need to do that.

With apologies to the PHs on this forum with whom I have hunted but I always ask them how much I should tip their staff. I use this as a guide and tip the PH about the same as the sum of his staff tips. In NZ we have no tipping culture and some Americans tipping up to 20% have ruined camp staffs expectations. Big difference between the tips on a DG hunt with lives on the line and an easy SA plains game shoot.

I have the perfect tipping currency.

Zim Dollars.

I have plenty, and offering them cheap for AR members

One Cent to the Dollar!

Saeed, when I was there last, the street vendors in Zimbabwe were asking US$100 for ZIM$100 trillion notes.

And they were all counterfeit!

I agree with Mark, a per day amount is what I do. If someone really goes above & beyond to enhance my experience, I make sure to reward them accordingly.

At our camp in Zim, 2021, a little old guy named Douglas was in charge of firewood and the water heater. This dude was OLD. He was always going (slowly) back and forth with his beat-up wheelbarrow.

You could decide to take a shower any time of day & have hot water. Whatever firewood we burned at night was replaced in the morning. I gladly doubled what the PH suggested for Douglas.

Thank you for the input. I will be gone for 21 days so I can understand the tipping for the days instead of total cost. Last year I had a terrible Colorado deer hunt but I still tipped the guide good. He didn't understand but I said we both worked hard. It was the outfitters fault not his.

quote:

Originally posted by pheasantman:

Last year I had a terrible Colorado deer hunt but I still tipped the guide good. He didn't understand but I said we both worked hard. It was the outfitters fault not his.

Good for you. I have done the same thing.

Tipping excessively is insane
We already pay ton for hunts as it is

a tip is extra for service you get you feel is above what you pay. You tip what you feel they earned not some set fee like so many think. great to have some range in mind but give what you can and feel is right.

I see in America now asking for tips on self service counters??

quote:

Originally posted by Saeed:
I see in America now asking for tips on self service counters??

You are correct, it is everywhere. I live year-round in a popular tourist vacation area. There are a lot of take-out food places. Most of these places offer pick-up services, which I use on occasion. They also use a tablet to make a transaction. On most of these, you are prompted for a tip. Tip Jars are also popular.

I am just waiting for the gas stations and convenience stores to follow their lead

I agree with the comments to ask for the PH or outfitter's guidance and that a dangerous game safari is different than a plains game safari, at least for the trackers and game scout. I also adjust individual's upward if warranted. For example, we Had a tracker get hurt hanging a bait. He got a bit extra.

quote:

Originally posted by Jason P:

quote:

Originally posted by Saeed:
I see in America now asking for tips on self service counters??

You are correct, it is everywhere. I live year-round in a popular tourist vacation area. There are a lot of take-out food places. Most of these places offer pick-up services, which I use on occasion. They also use a tablet to make a transaction. On most of these, you are prompted for a tip. Tip Jars are also popular.

I am just waiting for the gas stations and convenience stores to follow their lead

We have one restaurant in my town that has begun this practice. It’s like a McDonalds where you order at the counter, and they hand you the food across the counter. Takes about (2) minutes tops. They then turn the computer screen towards the customer and ask if you want to tip them at 12,18, or 20%.
I ask them for what service?
It’s crazy.
Anyone who ASKS for a tip, gets nothing from me. The industry has corrupted the very idea of tipping. Sad.

This is even more crazy.

Apparently the company that supplies the software on these devices gets part of the tip too!