Tipping is another major cost to factor into your budget.
Monica Humphries/Business Insider
Tipping is customary across most of Africa; who you tip and how much you tip can quickly add up.
Meg van Niekerk, a safari planner for Go2Africa, explained that these tips support lodge staff, who often have spouses, parents, and children back home to support as well.
“It’s like a blessing,” van Niekerk said.
Fortunately, these costs are standardized, so it’s something you can budget for ahead of time.
For example, Go2Africa recommends tipping $20 a day for your safari guide, $20 for general hotel staff, $15 for a butler, and $15 for your safari tracker.
There’s also bound to be a few more people you didn’t factor in — like the driver for a road transfer or a guide for a community visit. I found $100 to be a fair amount to budget per day for tips during my safari.
Van Niekerk added that this is “just a guideline,” and travelers can tip more or less depending on their budget and the service they receive.
