EXCERPTED FROM “THE ESSENTIALS”, OUR GUIDE TRAINING DOCUMENT
Is there a more unprofessional and embarrassing situation than a tour guide/service provider awkwardly waiting around to be tipped? While American guests will take it lightly and do the needful, people from other continents may instead roll their eyes and give you nothing …
The reason for that difference in attitude is the American way of presenting prices: in their culture even taxes are excluded from what you see on the price tag — and tipping is compulsory to supplement low wages. Europeans, on the other hand, assume the price includes everything and that salaries are decent — tipping is an optional thank you for a job well done.
Many Americans dislike the way tipping works in their country and enjoy being in a different economic environment, so no matter what passport your client holds the rule is simple: never expect a tip or, God forbid, plan in advance what you are going to do with it! Please follow any gratuity (that’s a fancy word for a tip) with a warm thank you — it’s a welcome extra no matter how high or low it is.
Future visitors often inquire about tipping standards. The Gorilla Highlands Tours team will tell them that it is their own decision if they tip and how much they tip but these are general suggestions in our region:
tour guide/driver: USD 5-10 per client per day
park ranger: USD 10-20
gorilla tracker: USD 10-20
porter on a trek: USD 15-20
porter at a hotel: USD 1-2
restaurants: 5-10%
hotels or lodges: use the group tip box; USD 5 per staff member
What IS NOT a Tip
It is extremely impolite to attempt to tip yourself by keeping any balance from monies that clients have given you to buy something for them.
Even if the change is pathetically small, always immediately return it to the guests without being asked. If they finally tell you to keep it, feel free of course — what we must avoid is clients’ discomfort when they know you have their money but are shy to request it back.
You should not be one of those locals who believe that money grows on trees where your visitors come from. The probably had to work pretty hard to put together the budget for their African adventure. Moreover, they likely do not consider themselves rich at all. (And don’t forget that truly wealthy people are often affluent exactly because they care about every coin!)
In the same manner, if a guest has decided to pay for your lunch that cannot mean that you will take anything for granted. You will not forget to thank him/her and you will make sure you have no expectations next time a meal is served …
It is actually impressive — but should be common — when a guide simply puts the money for his meal on the table once the bill is served, before anyone says anything. We expect our guides to act as proud professionals instead of behaving like just another “I am so poor, help me Muzungu!” character guests run into far too often.