Tipping Guide
Mariah & Theresa
South Africa Safari Adventure
8th - 21st September 2025

Please note: This Guide is meant to give you an overview of tipping suggestions. It does not account for unknown situations. As such, I suggest having an extra $100 USD, per person, which you can take out of an ATM, in South Africa Rand (ZAR).

Before departing for South Africa, please let your Banking Institution(s) know that you will be in South Africa from 8th - 21st September 2025. Also, contact your Credit Card Company. With both I would do so via their messaging system and via a phone to the Credit Card Company. Theresa, if possible, with your Banking Institutions, go in person to let them know.

When you get USD cash for tips check every single bill – no matter the denomination – for any markings. This is ink marks or any pen marks someone would have made. I found marks on some $20s last year that clearly the Treasury made in the printing. Please take the time at the Bank or Credit Union to go over every bill you plan on taking for tipping, Make sure there are not marks on the bills.

Depending on the time of your fight to Ghana, Theresa, you could get some United States Dollar (USD) changed into South Africa Rand (ZAR) at the Airport. Upon arrival at the V&A Waterfront, ask your Driver to accompany you to an ATM to take out ZAR. Do not use the ATM at Cape Town International Airport. It is safer to get ZAR at the V&A Waterfront, with your Driver nearby. The ATM will ask the amount, in ZAR, you want to takeout. Consult XE for the exchange rate that day.

While you will have access to an ATM in Hoedspruit and Franschhoek, you most likely won’t in Sabi Sand. So, only take out about $200 USD in ZAR, total for both of you, for your EcoTraining and Elephant Plains Safari time. Then, split the amount between you to carry. As of today, 25th July, 2025, $5 USD is 88.21 ZAR.

The ZAR will be for smaller tips, such as Maids, Porters, etc. once you are on Safari. Please be sure to double check any bills at Restaurants, as some will put tip on (as they do in some places in the States). This may be displayed on the bill as a “Service Charge”.

If a Porter helps with your bags, and they will as they want to be tipped, give them 100 ZAR for both of you. That is a fair amount.

For your Airport Transfers, 100 ZAR, per person, each way is a generous tip. Remember, you’ve paid for this service already. A tip is a kind gesture, only if you feel you were given excellent service.

At EcoTraining, your Guide will be tipped at the end, no need to tip him, right away, for helping you transfer from Hoedspruit Airport to Leopard’s Lair.

Your transfer Driver from EcoTraining to Elephant Plains, I’m 99% certain will not be your Guide for your Sabi Sand Safari. I would tip 100 ZAR per person.

The bulk of your tipping will be your EcoTraining Private Instructor, followed by your Elephant Plains Guide. At EcoTraining you will also have a Guide with a Backup Rifle, for your walks, whom you will also want to tip. As you will have a Private Vehicle / EcoTraining EcoQuest Experience, your tipping will be more for your Instructor,  than the Elephant Plains Guide. At Elephant Plains, you will be sharing a Game Drive Vehicle with other Guests. There will also be a Tracker on the Vehicle at Elephant Plains, whom you will want to tip.

My suggestions are below, and you can do more or less, based on your experiences. I do highly recommend not overtipping. I am less worried about Mariah than most of my other first time Clients. I have had Clients tell me they knew they were over tipping, but felt moved to do so. This, in my opinion, is because they are overwhelmed with the poverty in Africa, never having experienced it before.

Also, I am tailoring the tipping for location, experience, the level of personal attention you will receive. Thus, for example, the amount for the Maid at Leopard’s Lair is different than at Franschhoek Boutique Hotel.

EcoTraining Instructor, $125 USD, per person, for a total of $250 USD

Backup Guide with Rifle, $50 USD, per person, for a total of $100 USD

Maids and Staff will have little ability to get money exchanged. For Leopard’s Lair Maid, roughly $5 USD per day, per person. At EcoTraining, I would do $25 USD, rounding up to 500 ZAR for the Maid, per person.

You will have a Cook at Leopard’s Lair.  If you think she is exceptional, I would give her 800 ZAR total for both of you.

The Cook may have someone assisting her with serving at Leopard’s Lair. If so, I would give her 400 ZAR total for both of you.

Before going to Elephant Plains, if you need to, be sure to go into Hoedspruit and for more ZAR from the ATM. You should not need more than $100 USD in Rand.

Elephant Plains Guide, shared Game Drive Vehicle, $50 per person, $100 total.

Elephant Plains Tracker, $25 per person, $50 total.

At Elephant Plains I would leave 300 ZAR total for the Maid, if she assists you with anything,

Waitstaff can be tricky. Some places rotate, so you may get someone different each day. Some you will have the same. If you have an exceptional Waiter or Waitress, I would give them 250 ZAR per person, for the three days, 500 ZAR total. Otherwise, and if you have multiple different Servers, just give each one 100 ZAR total.

Airport Transfer on Wednesday, September 17th, same as before, 100 ZAR, per person, each way is a generous tip. Remember, you’ve paid for this service already. A tip is a kind gesture, only if you feel you were given excellent service.

Your Guide for Boulders Beach Penguin Colony Experience will be a Licensed Guide. This will be a private, all day tour. 500 ZAR total is more than generous. Remember, you have already paid for this experience and tipping is for exceptional service.

John will be driving you for your two days of Wine Tastings, and assisting with Restaurant Suggestions and Reservations, should you like him to. I would do $50 USD per person, $100 total. Each day you can find a fair priced wine and buy a bottle for him. This is what I do. With the Rand trading so low against the UD Dollar, it is a good way to stretch your tipping money.

You’ll have one last Airport Transfer, again, I would do 100 ZAR per person.

Other notes:
Mariah may already have one, I would get a separate wallet for your ZAR. This is the one I use. It is from Kenya and has a zipper. This is important as you will have to carry around a lot of ZAR. For instance, as of today 25th July 2025, $100 USD is 1,763.80 ZAR.

Theresa, you may want to go by the Dollar Store and get little gifts. Maids are always delighted when given something from Guests. With this, you will have to write a note saying you gave it to them as a thank you gift. The places you are going are more intimate and trusting of their staff. But, this note will make them feel more comfortable.

Some Clients like to bring stationery or cards for their tips. I’ve had one large family who wrote long letters thanking their Guides and Staff. (The reason I know is the Staff where so delighted, they sent me pictures!) I use my business stationary and usually say thank you and how I appreciate their making my Safari special.

Please let me know if you have any other Questions.
 
So excited for your
South Africa Safari Adventure!