How much is customary for good service? Who do you tip and who do you not? Give it to each person or give to PH and let him distribute? This would be for a plains game safari where I plan on spending $5-6000 for daily and trophy fees.

Click on the "Find" button and do some search. You will find that this question have been asked several times in the past so I think you will find a lot of information about it.
Good luck
L

Tipping is entirely up to you, but for a general guideline, I would say:

Plains Game Safari:
1. Staff Tip - $20-$30 per day.
2. PH Tip - $30-$50 per day.

If it is a 7 day safari, I would budget between $150 and $200 for the staff. Budget between $200 and $350 for the PH.

Different PHs have different rules about how the staff tip is to be divided. There is a pecking order in camp. You will need to talk to your outfitter and PH for guidance on how to allocate the staff tip. Also check with your outfitter as to the the proper form of payment of gratuities (local currency, US cash, traveller's checks, etc).

You should contact your outfitter directly and ask them to provide you with guidelines on the amount of tips for the staff and the PH.

Regards,

Terry

If you want to really see how much a "can of worms" this topic can be, go here Tipping PH and Staff.

Regards,

Terry

Just read the thread listed above. Whats the deal with the "meet and greet"?

Terry's recomendation is on par with what I tipped, last summer. If you are going through a booking agent, I would suggest you giving him or her a call to get their opinion. As mentioned, it's a good idea to consult the outfitter or PH before tipping the camp staff.

Tip them whatever you feel they deserve. Give all the money to the PH and allow him to divide it between the camp staff. There are no (or should be no) guidelines for something like this, it is entirely up to you (it is your money after all and a tip is a tip).

quote:

Originally posted by bulldog563:
Just read the thread listed above. Whats the deal with the "meet and greet"?

In places like Tanzania, you will be met at the airport upon your arrival. The meet and greet person will assist you in clearing firearms, take you to the hotel if you are spending then night, and then take you to the air charter. They will do the same thing upon your departure.

Meet and greet is not normal for RSA or ZIM. I don't think it is used in Namibia either. It is quiet common in Tanzania, not sure about any other countries.

Regards,

Terry

BWN300MAG
Don't you be giving Tipping advice.
You do not even know how much to Tip a Somali Cab Driver.

He drives around Market Center all day looking for you.

Sorry could not resist.

Don't anybody else on AR ask about this.... What happens at DSC, Stays at DSC.

Tony,
I was in Vegas all weekend for the Shot Show, took three or four different cabs and am happy to report that no cab driver's were in any way harmed or harassed. Well, maybe harassed a little. Hey, I am trying.
Let him know I will be back next year and ready to go again!
I know exactly how much to tip a Cheating, Lying, Stinking bastard Somali cab driver - you tip their head back and to the side until you hear bones and whatnot break loose.
Yes?

Terry

Some outfits in Zim do use a meet and greet person. It is the standard in Zambia and Cameroon as well as Tanzania. And yes you should tip those people well because they are the ones handling all the airport hassles for you and if your guns don't arrive they will be the people getting your rifles sent on to you.

Mark

Good point, Mark. All things do not necessarily arrive at the same time. What can that cost you?

Like it or not, the golden handshake works both here and there. It is appreciated by those that receive it as we dont know or recognize them but they do recognize us.

DB

Give a gift to the PH and some cash or sundries to the staff.