Current tipping guidelines in Northern Tanzania?

While I expect this has been asked before, the search tool is only bringing up general "tips" on traveling in Tanzania, useful though those are. So... what are the current tipping guidelines in Northern Tanzania for drivers and guides? Cooks as well?

Thanks....

Do I assume that you are asking about safari guides; drivers; cooks? If so then it will depend upon how many people in the group and how many days. But a rough estimate for 4 people for 5 days - driver (who is also guide) say about $60-70 US (from the group); cook - if food is good/very good then around $50 US and camp assistants about $35 US. If you have a separate guide and driver then you might have to make some adjustments - guide still around $60 US and the driver about the same as the cook - but will depend on how good his driving was, did you get to see all the places on the itinerary, how safe was the driver (oh was the vehicle kept clean). If will need to make some more adjustments for more/less people; more/less days. Whilst tips are quoted in US dollars it can be paid in TShilling or Euros, or some other regularly traded international currency - but these are probably the best. Hope this helps

Driver guide 20-25 US Dollar per day and cook 15 US Dollar per day and it has nothing to do how many you are in the car. That is the guidelines for tips at the moment.
/Syller

Thank you.

I have been searching for information about tipping and can't believe what I have been reading. Things are really going wrong in the tourist industry in this aspect. The average wage in Tanzania of somebody with a job, in the medical sector for example, is $ 3 a day! So we tourists give a multiple of these wages extra.
That is one of the reason I don’t want to travel to the north. The rates for safari's and accommodation is outrageous. As for the tipping too. No wonder that we muzungas are seen as endlessly rich.
It took me some time to find accommodation and safaris that are affordable in Ruaha and Udzungwa. $20 dollars s day for wonderful camps. I have not going on an organize tour because I want the authentic Tanzania. And hopefully this part of Tanzania that hasn't been corrupted in the core by a tourist group with lots of money to through around mindlessly.
I am a women of 56 years old with a full time job and have traveled extensively in Asia (not Africa yet) and have seen how tipping can corrupt en disrupt communities. So I hope to generate a discussion about this theme and that we tourists become aware what we leave behind.

Do you think a medical worker in Tanzania for 3 US Dollar a day can get food on the table, pay the house rent, pay the school fee for the children, pay the transport to work, pay bills at doctor/hospital, buy new clothes for the children at christmas (this is a christmas tradition here in TZ) etc? DO YOU THINK THAT?

I am saying what the most people earn in Tanzania. Not if they can live from this or not.
And I am saying that guides seem to get disproportionate tips compared to other people that have to slave for a low salary.

This topic has been automatically locked due to inactivity. Email community@lonelyplanet.com if you would like to add to this topic and we'll unlock it for you.