Guide to Tipping in Uganda : Should you tip in Uganda : However, tipping is not a tradition that has been picked up in Uganda, therefore most people on trips do not expect a tip after offering a service, and neither do those who receive a service think about tipping.
A traveler visiting Uganda for a safari vacation must be wondering about tipping on Uganda Safaris, it’s good to know that in Uganda is not mandatory to tip. Tipping is left to your discretion, to decide if you want to tip and how much you can tip.
But should you tip? Yes, and it is encouraged to tip if you can. Why? This is because most guides on your service earn a very small wage that can barely sustain their lives. A tip goes in with supplementing their incomes and bettering their lives and people of their immediate dependents.
Whom should I tip?
Well, you should know the people to tip and these are the people who you will interface with a lot and people who visibly put in the effort to make your trip successful or who make that you receive a great service.
Below are the people you should consider when tipping;
Tour drivers; If you are on a guided trip, just know the tour driver is your closest confidant. A tour driver is a person who makes you have a perfect trip because he or she shares a lot of information about places, things, and the local people.
Absolutely, a tour driver ensures you travel safely so you need to appreciate him or her.
Activity – destination guides; To most safari destinations you visit on Uganda Safari, you will be received by a guide who will take you through an activity or destination, share information, and ensure you enjoy the experience well.
For example; Gorilla trekking, chimpanzee trekking can be done by a guide, and all other active experiences. Even on city tours, you must find a guide at museums, monuments, art galleries, and local sites.
Trackers; these are the people who go ahead of you through forest trails to track the location of the gorillas and chimps and communicate with your guide if he or she finds a gorilla family you are assigned to. Indeed, trackers do a great job of keeping in the forest with these primates and ensuring your achievement encounter. Trackers make hiking adventures easier to allocate the gorillas or chimps.
Waiters, waitresses; These are constant people to meet throughout the trip at your hotels and at restaurants during transit.
Porters; On every safari destination especially those to do gorilla trekking or chimpanzee tracking, you might need a porter to help you carry heavy luggage at a small fee of USD20. Porters available for hire who can support you in difficult situations. At the end of the activity, you can tip them for an extra fee.
Security personnel; At every safari destination, you will find security personnel manning at gates and the same people who assign visitors during trekking activities in the park. Well, security personnel are some of the most overlooked people when comes to tipping because there isn’t much of a mesh with them, but they do a great job to ensure your safety.
Guide to Tipping in Uganda : Who not to tip?
Company managers or owners – These are high personnel in the organization or company who are high up on the food chain, so they do not need a tip.
Chefs – After managers, chefs are the next to be better paid. You may not tip them. However, if a chef prepares and serves the best meal you have ever tasted then there is no harm to appreciate them on a trip.
Guide to Tipping in Uganda : How much should I tip?
This is a commonly asked safari question for most visitors. Those coming from a tripping background know that they have to tip.
Feel comfortable to tip any amount which is worthy.
Here is the best formula to follow when tipping the persons as listed above;
Tour drivers
The biggest tip must arrange from;
10$ – 15$ per day per tourist in the car.
Destination guides
$15 – $20 per tourist
Waiters, waitresses & other hotel support staff
$5
Too many lodges are located in places with no exchange of foreign currency. Or else, you can change some foreign currency to Uganda shillings at the start of the tour in Kampala or Entebbe. Then you tip Uganda shilling 5,000 -10,000 them, which is less than USD5.
Porter and trackers
USD5 -USD10
Security personnel
USD5
You can tip them in Uganda shillings 5,000 – 10,000.
When to tip
It is gentle to tip at the end of the activity or tip after consuming a service.
