I am going to hunt in Zimbabwe next month.

I am wondering what small presents, in addition to their tips, would be adequate for the staff like, trackers, cooks, waiters, etc.

In previous hunts I have taken caps, watches, lighters, calculators, ballpoint pens, chocolates and candies as gifts.

For those who have been to Zim recently:

Given the present economic situation in Zim what is your suggestion as to what to take as small relatively cheap presents to Zim that would be particularly appreciated?

Antonio

USD

In my trips over there I found flannel shirts are a big hit, (Walmart)
Also at Walmart the sneakers, the type that are velcro instead of laces. last year I gave some to the workers and traded for some carvings. I got knives for the skinners, they always like that! I picked up a set of knives in the plastic carry case from Cabelas, only $9.99!

Cigarettes and hard candy. Leave some of your clothes with the trackers when you leave. The inexpensive flannel shirt is a good idea.

I would avoid the knives. The skinners there beat up knives very badly and would never appreciate a nice knife.

I took over some leather gloves for the entire staff that seemed to be appreciated, as well as hard candies for the trackers, game scout, etc.. that I gave out when we left the vehicle for hunting.

Good (decent) knives, sharpening stones, caps, etc all seem to be needed. Whatever you do, don't give them junk. There are a lot of things they need, but should be of decent quality.

As Donato wrote, USD, is the most in demand. But some things just aren't available for purchase...

Gave out gloves, hats, knifes, lots of hard candy, and all the unneeded clothes. Most important is to have enough cash to personally hand out something to even the smallest contributor to your safari adventure (give directly to make sure they get it). These people are grateful and really need the support.

Ask the PH/Outfitter what stuff they need.

Barrie Duckworth in Zim is requesting tips for the staff be in US dollars as they get screwed so bad when cashing travelers checks. As for gifts T-shirts seem to be universally well received and are very useful. Descent knives for the skinners and trackers have caused some big smiles also.

Mark

I take stocking caps, gloves, caps, knives, sharpeners, inexpensive binoculars for the two trackers, candy, cigarettes (you can pick up a couple of cartons at duty free in Jo'burg on your way to Zim), canvas military style belts, socks.

Regards,

Terry

I took over some of the new flashlights that don't need batteries. The trackers and game scout were amazed and delighted with them as gifts. I bought them at a gun show for 2 for $10.00. I also took over three utility/carpet knives and an extra plastic pack of 100 blades. My PH was completely "chuffed" as they say in Zim with that gift. One blade will do one elephant. He made a cut from back bone to belly line with one sweep of his arm. He said" Pure magic". Told every one we saw what a great present it was.

465H&H

465H&H,

I'm not saying your flashlights weren't genuine, but people need to be careful buying those shake-style flashlights at gun shows and flea markets. There are fake ones out there that use a coin-type battery for the light. The "shake to charge" does not work and the flashlight will be worthless once the battery runs out. Take a compass and run it along the flashlight to see if there is actually a magnet inside. Most of the fake flashlights do not have a magnet, just a piece of metal that moves back and forth as you shake it.

Regards,

Terry

This subject gets me pissed everytime it comes up. I hope I never follow any of you on safari. I go to hunt. I'm not there to save the world. I'm not carrying one duffle of hunting gear and two suitcases of trinkets. I'm not fretting about whether I'll be loved. I'm not going to adopt them or their babies. I'm not worrying about how much is too much to give; how much is not enough.

I'm tempted to say leave your hunting gear at home so you can pack a bigger "Care" package.

Living in India has certainly affected my thinking. My Expats that roll through Mumbai wring their hands everytime they get in a taxi and poor people start rapping on the window. They hand out a little money and more beggars rush to the window. I don't even acknowledge they are there.

I have no trouble tipping (cash) for a job well done. I will tip the PH. If he sticks it in his pocket, he'll have to deal with the natives. I couldn't care less about his relationship with the help, I'm flying back to my life. If he passes it around, more power to him. It should make his job easier. They will appreciate his generosity.

I think some of the people that you are giving trinkets to get conditioned. If they think they were not given enough, they take what they want.

I realize I sound like the Grinch. So be it.

Teach them a little Spanish and then smuggle them back with you. That is the best gift you could give them.

Lots of good ideas folks, thank you very much...

BWN300MAG: I better don´t do that, as they would certainly end up in the USA after a short time...


Antonio

US cash , one size fits all. Some 375H&H and 308 ammo was greatly appreciated by my PH. The first time I took the usual stuff (ballcaps, t shirts, knives, etc) the folks were very polite when I gave them to them, but I think there is a store they take the stuff to and trade for things they really need.Problem is this stuff takes up a lot of room in your luggage. With the Zim economy in freefall, USD are the way to go.

quote:

Originally posted by Kensco:
This subject gets me pissed everytime it comes up. I hope I never follow any of you on safari. I go to hunt. I'm not there to save the world. I'm not carrying one duffle of hunting gear and two suitcases of trinkets. I'm not fretting about whether I'll be loved. I'm not going to adopt them or their babies. I'm not worrying about how much is too much to give; how much is not enough.

I'm tempted to say leave your hunting gear at home so you can pack a bigger "Care" package.

Pretty much the same here. I just give them some cash, that's what they really want. I have other things on my mind rather than lugging sacks of candy and a bunch of trinkets.

I think I'm just old and cynical.

Maybe if I hunted with the same group often I might get into the "Santa" thing. I've spent too many years overseas and seen ignorant Expats get fleeced by the locals so often.

Here it's the Indian caddies at the golf course. An Indian golfer pays INR 75 to 100 for a caddy. A whiteface gets asked for 200 to 500, is told he needs a fore-caddy (another 50), and it's not unusual to find a few balls missing from your bag by the end of the round if you're not paying attention.

To each his own.

Like I said, I don't want to come into a safari camp behind a guy that just gave everyone a flashlight, ball cap, T-shirt, knife, gloves, sharpeners, binoculars, candy, cigarettes, belts, socks, shirts, etc. but I would like to hunt WITH that guy. I could pack a whole lot lighter. Maybe if I told him my caliber he could throw in a box of shells. I could use that.

Zimbabwe in June. It should be fun. I'll let them know I'm from India. That may help explain why the pickings are poor. Hopefully the guy coming behind me will have a suitcase full of trinkets, and they'll forget what a tight-ass I was.

I usually tip cash only, but after last fall in Zim. I would think things like shirts would be appreciated. Even with cash they can't get many things, the stores just don't have mdse. they will spend the cash on booze, cigs etc.

I guess I am the odd one. I enjoy visiting with locals and giving out medical supplies (almost) as much as the hunt.

Antonio,

No worries. I just figured it would be easier for them to sneak across the US/Mex border, rather than actually having to deal with a customs officer in Atlanta.

Dr. C

I think your heart is in the right place.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Kensco:
I think I'm just old and cynical.

No, you're not old and cynical. You're just a selfish bastard. Why give a little something to someone less fortunate when you can keep it all for yourself?

DC300

I suspect you're partly right. I suspect you haven't lived much in third-world countries also.

I am definitely tight, but I think we've done our part. We helped support an orphanage in Cabimas, Venezuela when we were there. My wife and her friends support the Sister's of Mary which are a group of nuns that house about 30 AIDS children in Thane, India. The Indian government does nothing, the other religious organizations, except for the Janes do nothing, the middle-class Indians do nothing for those kids.

I prefer the generosity of Dr. C to the handing out of trinkets. If giving out hard candy, ball caps and your own used clothes makes you feel good then you got something for the little effort you put into it, and you are free without guilt to return to your life.

Like I said, I hope the guy in front of me isn't wearing a Santa suit and driving a little covered wagon full of "caps, watches, lighters, calculators, ballpoint pens, chocolates and candies".

I plan to be on a hunt not a welfare mission. If I'm in camp with you, I promise not to ask for any of your stuff.

As I am still saving up for my first africa hunt I was wondering if there is any way to buy " coupons " that could be redeemed in town for shoes, shirts and stuff. That would keep the staff from wasting your tips on booze and cigs.

T.Carr!
Thanks for the warning on the fake flashlights. I wasn't aware of that rip off. I don't think it was the case with mine as I accidently left one on all night but was able to recharge it after one hell of a lot of shaking.

kensco1
I find your attitude to be a very sad one. I carried a little candy with me to keep my mouth wet during some very hot days and enjoyed giving a piece to the kids when we were asking about crop raiding elephants at various villages. Maybe one of those kids will remember Americans with a little fondness when they grow up. Who knows what a amall act of kindness might generate in US relations in the future.

465H&H

quote:

kensco1
I find your attitude to be a very sad one.

465 H&H, I have to agree with you. I enjoy giving to the locals, the trackers, skinnners, folks that work at the camp, and the kids!

Beachbum Maybe, just maybe, all they want after working all day is some booze and cigs? Perhaps you could get some coupons so that they did not waste their money on high fat foods or sugared drinks. God Lord man you are not their freaking mother.
465H&H

You make an excellent point. As one who has gone into harms way with an American Flag on my uniform I can tell you from personal experience that that kind tourist or Peace Corps worker from 20 years ago has more than once saved me from extra holes in my body.

quote:

Originally posted by Kensco:
This subject gets me pissed everytime it comes up. I hope I never follow any of you on safari. I go to hunt. I'm not there to save the world. I'm not carrying one duffle of hunting gear and two suitcases of trinkets. I'm not fretting about whether I'll be loved. I'm not going to adopt them or their babies. I'm not worrying about how much is too much to give; how much is not enough.

I'm tempted to say leave your hunting gear at home so you can pack a bigger "Care" package.

Living in India has certainly affected my thinking. My Expats that roll through Mumbai wring their hands everytime they get in a taxi and poor people start rapping on the window. They hand out a little money and more beggars rush to the window. I don't even acknowledge they are there.

I have no trouble tipping (cash) for a job well done. I will tip the PH. If he sticks it in his pocket, he'll have to deal with the natives. I couldn't care less about his relationship with the help, I'm flying back to my life. If he passes it around, more power to him. It should make his job easier. They will appreciate his generosity.

I think some of the people that you are giving trinkets to get conditioned. If they think they were not given enough, they take what they want.

I realize I sound like the Grinch. So be it.

I am with you 100%!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So, I guess you all can rake me over the fire also. I have always tippped, but it irrates hell out of me that it is expected.

quote:

I have always tippped, but it irrates hell out of me that it is expected.

quote:

I have always tippped, but it irrates hell out of me that it is expected.

Africanhunter,

Me too! As I said earlier, I like to bring some small gifts with me. I do it, I like too! But when it comes to tipping pisses me off when they "expect" too get a certen amoumt.

I had a guide in Montana get all pissy with me because I "under" tipped him. A three day pronghorn hunt, 4 of us each chipped in $50.00 so that's $200.00 for 3 day hunt,and to top it off, we all got our pronghorns the first day!

We've been our own worst enemies, and it continues.

The part that bugs me is, yes the tip is expected, but if you enquire about the size of the tip suddenly everyone has amnesia; hoping that you'll feel embarrassed and over tip.

One of the hunters in sheep camp two years ago paid his guide $1,000 as the tip. The reason; his boss gave him the hunting trip. The total cost for his ten-day sheep hunt was that $1,000. When the rest of us gave our guides about $500, they acted like we had handed them a roll of toilet paper to wipe their butt. Mr. $1,000, big-dog has his chest thrown out bragging about his $1,000 tip. I wanted to smack him in the mouth.

Antonio, pay no heed to the cheap bastards and their weak self-justifications. Cheap bastards will always find a reason, no matter how pathetically weak, to "justify" being cheap bastards.

But after all their excuses, they're pretty much and finally and forevermore just cheap bastards, selfish to the core.

The ideas given by the generous-minded above are all good ones.

I think there is a difference between being a cheap bastard (which some people definitely are) and not wanting to lug an extra 10-20 pounds of gifts around. If you want to give them a gift I think cash is what they would like the most.

Well, having guided here in the USA for over a decade I know what I would want - cash. I've had clients give me some lame "gifts" as tips, they were either too cheep to give cash or perhaps their hearts were in the right place. It made no difference to me as cash would have served me best.

When I went to Namibia I was spending a big pile, for me, of hard earned cash. I was prepared to give the PH and his staff a tip of $500, but the PH had commented how great the scope on my rifle was so I took it off and gave it to him instead. I actually asked him if he'd rather have the scope or a cash tip, without hesitation he said scope, done deal. I gave him $50 for the staff.

Am I some kind of provincial American cheap ass? Well, I was born in South America and have spent quite a few years in the bloody third world, so don't get me started.

As far as white man's guilt. Screw the liberals my family were serfs not that many generations ago so I have no part in the evils of the European aristocracy.

How much should you tip? I figure for a plains game hunt $100 a day with a maximum of $1000, for say a 14 day or longer hunt and the PH actually busts his butt for you. If the PH "needs" more than that then he needs to re-price his services, learn how to run a business or get out of the business period. If you are on a return visit why not get the guy something that you know he actually needs or would make his job easier and his business run smoother. A digital camera, even a laptop or a high end scope. Now, if you want to impress the hell out the PH or you're on some very expencive hunt for DG, then 15% of the total might be more in line. Hell, if you can lay out $50K for a hunt I'd think you'd be able to spring for a $3K+ tip. I'd only bring "gifts" for the staff on a return visit IF and only IF the PH said that was what they wanted and needed and he specified what to bring.

As far as the booze and cigs. Please, leave your moral indignation at home. If I lived in one room brick hut with two wives, 8 brats, a pack of dogs and a few chickens I'd be blasted every night and chain smoke Camels if I could get them. Morality is for people who get enough to eat every night.

As most folks know, you really don't need to take much stuff to Africa with daily laundry, etc...

One year I filled up the TuffPac with t-shirts that I had made up for a bowhunting school that I used to run. They had a logo of an archer with a traditional bow and something like "The Judge made me do it." on the front.

Four or five years later, someone from this forum (maybe JJS?) was in a village just out of the Selous and saw a fellow with one of my shirts on. It was a good 200 mies away from the camp in which I left them.

I always tip the staff at the PH's advice, but usually try to give some personal gifts.

Take a look at the clothes on these fellows and tell me that they wouldn't appreciate a shirt!

On my one and only safari to Zim-I tipped my ph 10% of the daily fees-tracker $10.00 per day -camp staff $15.00 per day. Toys(hotwhells and dolls)-hard candy for camp staff and trackers kids.

Bulldog- I'm with you on the weight and space thing. Cash is king- so easy!. Some interesting observations here on following in the footsteps of big tippers. It makes it tough on the client. It can put a generous client and his gratuity in an unfavorable position.

In Namibia last year I asked my PH what he felt would be ok for the staff. He told me not to give money, A german grew had been through earlier that year and gave 50 us to each staff member, they did not show up for work for several weeks,Several went on a drinking vacation started fighting cutting each other up and getting thrown in jail. He said if I gave money to the young ones there parents or older siblings would steal it. He told me to give what I was happy to to his wife who would provide for them, My wife and here went shopping in Windhoek, The Ph's wife pulled out
cut outs of feet belonging to staff and their kids and picked out shoes of the right size.
Ann watched her pay for the shoes with the roll
bills I gave him for the staff.

JD

Got to agree with you judge! Here's a photo of a tracker that I gave my shirt to, do you think he liked getting it?



I take gifts, things that they could use, and can't get. I talked to my PH before going over, found out what his tracker could use, a pair of work boots, I brought his wife a blanket. T Shirts and sweat shirts are always welcomed, and they don't take up much space or weigh.

One carton Marlboro,hand them out over the week your trackers and camp help will Love You.

Gave away several suits I cant fit into anymore as gifts. I was told that it was equivalent to giving a man a bicycle, which in this country would be like giving someone a car.

Shoes and boots, especially those for kids go to good use. Dont bring the worn out pairs. If you think they are not worth something as gifts, then go to the local market. You can trade them for crafts to take back home. They are worth more than you think.

I glady pay the overwieght charge or the extra bag charge to bring these gifts along. In addition I do tip, not more than and not less than anyone else.

Often Walmart or other places will have winter items on sale for cheap. Picked up several pairs of hunting gloves and Camo hats with face masks for $1.00 each.

Do some come to expect gift from everyone that passes through, maybe. These are people I am familiar with and expect to see again. Am I being like the guy who hands out tens and twentys at the airport, while most of us have only ones to hand out. Cash is cash, a gift is personal.