Planning guide
Tipping guide
Tips are a real part of guides’ and porters’ income in Tanzania. Here is what our guests usually give.
Why it matters
Why tipping matters in Tanzania
Wages in Tanzania are low by Western standards, and many guides, cooks and porters are hired trip by trip, with gaps between jobs. Tips are a real part of their income.
Crews work hard to make your trip: porters who carry a climber’s daypack on summit night, guides who wait patiently at a sighting. A tip is how you say thank you, and it keeps the best people in the job.
- Who: your guide, your cook and the people who serve you
- How much depends on the number of days, whether the trip is private or shared, and how well it went
- Currency: US dollars, euros or pounds are easy to change; Tanzanian shillings are fine too
On safari
Guides, cooks and lodge staff
| Who | Suggested tip |
|---|---|
| Guide, group safari | US$15–20 per guest per day |
| Guide, private safari | US$25–30 per guest per day |
| Cook, group safari | US$10–15 per guest per day |
| Cook, private safari | US$20–25 per guest per day |
| Lodge and camp staff | US$5–10 per day |
Private-guide figures assume two guests; in a private group of three or more, use the group figures.
On Kilimanjaro
Your mountain crew
| Crew | Suggested tip |
|---|---|
| Head guide | US$20–25 per day |
| Assistant guide | US$15–20 per day |
| Cook | US$15–20 per day |
| Assistant cook | US$10–15 per day |
| Porter | US$10–15 per day |
1 climber: 4 porters · 2 climbers: 7 · 3 climbers: 9 · 4 climbers: 11 porters and 2 assistant guides. Joining a group shares the tipping between climbers.
On the mountain
Kilimanjaro: wages, the ceremony and gear
Tipping on Kilimanjaro is less a bonus than part of the crew’s pay. Park rules set minimum daily wages for porters, guides and cooks, but not every company pays them, so a very cheap climb is a warning sign.
Tips are handed over at a short ceremony on the last day, when the head guide gathers the crew to say thank you.
Bring recent, undamaged US dollar notes: older series are often refused or exchanged at a lower rate.
Gear you no longer need (boots, jackets, gloves) is a welcome gift. Give it directly to the person you choose, not through the guide.
When and how
How to tip
- At the end of the trip, based on how it went
- Hand it to each person directly, or in named envelopes
- US dollars, euros, pounds or Tanzanian shillings are all fine
- On Kilimanjaro, tips are given at the crew ceremony after the summit
- Spare gear in good condition is a welcome extra for porters
Why it’s separate
Why tips aren’t in the price
Adding tips to the trip price would make them taxable: 18% VAT plus income tax for the crew. Tipping directly means the full amount reaches the person you give it to.
Plan your trip
More planning guides
- Best time to visitMonth by month: herds, rain and prices
- Visa & entryE-visa, visa on arrival, passports
- Packing listsSafari and mountain trekking
- How booking worksFive steps to a confirmed trip
- Payment detailsCard, bank transfer, cash
- Safety & guaranteeGuides, vehicles, support
- FAQStraight answers before you book
- Contact usWhatsApp, phone, email, office
Ready to plan?
Tell us your dates and who’s travelling. Our team in Arusha will send a full itinerary and price, usually within a day.