I always bring thank you cards and write a personal note and leave the money inside the envelope. This way the guide, tracker, cook, whoever is able to read the note on their terms or have someone read the note.

I saw this about 10 years ago done by another hunter in camp and I liked it and have followed suit. i think it is very well received, as many people have commented about the notes and the personal comments I made in the Thank You card. I will never forget how touched the tracker/skinner was by my comments - made it worthwhile to me.

For the PH I all ways give it directly to him. As far as the camp staff I do whatever is the outfitters wishes are. I have given tips directly to the staff and I have also given to the outfitter to distribute.

In many cases the PH will prefer that you directly give the tips to staff, one it lets you directly thank the staff and two it avoids any implication or suspicion that the PH did not pass along the entire tip. I like giving the tips to individuals directly along with a smile and handshake and a big thank you.

I use individual envelopes so there is some degree of privacy.

Also, small gifts such as t-shirts, hats, knives, etc. IN ADDITION to the tip.

Last trip I left behind a Leatherman flashlight with the apprentice PH because everybody in camp thought it was super-cool, and a Garmin E-trex with the PH because he desperately needed it.

i had one PH that wanted all the tip money given to him so he could distribute it. I have my suspicions that most of it ended up in his pocket. but in general most of my PH's will gather all the camp staff around when tip time comes and you give it to each one. then they promptly go out and blow it

My biggest problem has been not having enough small bills to tip each of the staff individually. Seems that no matter how I arrange it I need more fives, tens, or twenties to divide it all up properly regardless of how many I took along.

TexasHunter,

Your method is very thoughtful and I agree some folks would really appreciate your extra effort. I don't do it that way as often a camp may have 20 workers and I may hunt out of multiple camps on a safari. I may just adapt you method though for the hunting crews that I often tip a little extra too.

Mark

Classy. Something that is often missing in this day and age.

I use individual envelopes and place it directly in the folks hands. If I hunt more than one camp, then the protocol is the same. The money we leave in tips is HUGE in these people's lives.

Jeff

you know texashunter has a good thought: i was brought up to always send thank you notes, but, some where over the past 66 years i have lapsed on that. i remember to send them on the obvious formal occasions, however, the simpler and probably, most appreciated occasions such as a hunt; it never occured to me. I used to give the total tip to the ph for him to distribute since they were his employees: if anyone tried to pay my employees directly I would tear a strip of their hide that would not soon be forgotten. Now, the last hunt, the ph requested that I give the trackers and camp manager their tips directly, and the balance to the "workers Committee" rep to eliminate any question of fiducary impropriety. His camp, his business.

I've always given the PH a tip directly. I ask the PH what the best way to give the staff tips is. Some what the tips are given directly while in-camp and some want to distribute IOUs and pay the tips to the staff at the end of the season. On the occasions were the IOUs where specified, we handed envelopes with the dollar amounts out to he staff personally at which time I gave them thanks. But, I think I'll write a note and read it to them next time in all cases. Great idea.

In 2005 I was in Vaughan Fulton's camp. I brought gifts and cash for the staff. At the end of my hunt I consulted with Vaughan as to what might be more appropriate for each of his staff. After I had divided everything up, Vaughan called each person in and I gave them their gift and tip in addition to a handshake and a personal thank you and few comments of how they had made my hunt special. The next day two of the housekeeping staff were dresssed in their finest wearing the gifts that I had given them and most importantly with big smiles.
John

I usually do gifts on the first day, t-shirts, caps, sunglasses, knives, and the like, then the tips on the last day. Those two days are right up there with my favorite days on safari. They are so appreciative of whatever you give them not sure who comes away feeling better, them or me.

Cash, directly to the PH at the end of the hunt.

Also any bits of kit......in 2006 I gave Mike Kibble a set of 10X42 Geovids.........he was still using them this year when I hunted again with him. He told me they had proved invaluable to him, he was rapt. Nice to see someone appreciate things....

An overall tip to the camp staff in addition and a bonus to the chief tracker if he did a good job.