Tipping in short
Guideline amounts, from the group as a whole.
Safari guide?
$20–25 per day, from the group.
Camp staff?
$10–15 per day into the communal box.
Kilimanjaro total?
$400–500 per climber on a 7-day route.
Cash or card?
Cash only. No ATMs in the parks.
When?
At the end, not daily.
Note condition?
US notes must be issued after 2009.
Why tipping matters here
Tipping in Tanzania is customary and forms a meaningful part of what guides, cooks, porters and camp staff earn. It is genuinely discretionary — nobody will pursue you for it — but it is expected, and it is budgeted for by the people receiving it.
The figures below are the guidelines we give our own clients. They are not rules, and you should adjust them for service, group size and your own budget without guilt.
Safari tipping guidelines
| Who | Amount | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Driver-guide | $20–25 per day | From the group as a whole, not per person |
| Camp / lodge staff | $10–15 per day | Into the communal tip box, from the group |
| Cook (camping safaris) | $10–15 per day | From the group |
| Airport transfer driver | $5–10 | Per transfer |
| Restaurant | 5–10% | If service is not included |
A worked example
Two people, four-day safari, one driver-guide, lodge accommodation:
- Guide: $22 × 4 days = $88
- Lodge staff: $12 × 4 days = $48
- Total for the group: around $136, or $68 each
Kilimanjaro tipping
A climb involves a much larger crew — typically three to four people per climber — and tipping is a substantial and expected part of their income. Amounts are per day, from the whole group.
| Role | Per day, from the group |
|---|---|
| Lead guide | $20–25 |
| Assistant guide | $15–18 |
| Cook | $12–15 |
| Porter (each) | $8–10 |
What this adds up to
Two climbers on a seven-day Machame route, with a crew of roughly eleven — one lead guide, one assistant, one cook and eight porters — should budget in the region of $800–1,000 in total tips, or $400–500 each.
That is a significant sum and it surprises people, which is exactly why we tell you before you book rather than on the mountain. Factor it into your budget from the start.
Practical points
Tipping — frequently asked questions
Around $20–25 per day from the group as a whole, not per person. For a four-day safari that is roughly $80–100 in total, however many of you there are in the vehicle.
No, it is discretionary. But it is customary and forms a meaningful part of what guides, cooks and camp staff earn, and it is budgeted for by the people receiving it.
Budget roughly $800–1,000 in total for two climbers on a seven-day route with a crew of about eleven — around $400–500 each. Per day from the group: $20–25 lead guide, $15–18 assistant, $12–15 cook, $8–10 per porter.
Because the crew is large — typically three to four people per climber, carrying your equipment, food and water at altitude. Tips are a substantial and expected part of their income, which is why we tell you the figure before you book.
US dollars are standard and Tanzanian shillings are also fine. Notes must be issued after 2009 — older US notes are refused throughout the country. Bring $1, $5 and $10 denominations.
At the end of the safari or climb rather than daily, except for one-off airport transfers. On Kilimanjaro there is usually a tipping ceremony on the final morning.
Per group. The guideline figures assume the whole vehicle or climbing party contributes together, which is why a group of four does not pay four times what a couple pays.
Yes, usually into a communal tip box so that kitchen, housekeeping and waiting staff are all included — people you may never meet but who did a great deal of the work.
No. Bring cash. There are no ATMs inside the national parks or on Kilimanjaro, and lodge card machines depend on connectivity that is often unavailable.
Tip less, and tell us why. Tipping guidelines are not obligations, and honest feedback is genuinely more useful to us than a tip given out of awkwardness.
On Kilimanjaro tips are normally pooled and distributed by the lead guide at the ceremony, which ensures a fair split. If you want to give something extra to a specific porter, do it directly and privately.
At restaurants where a service charge appears on the bill, no additional tip is expected. Safari and climbing tips are separate and are not included in your trip price.