Here we go again - tipping question

[Charles de Ribeau]

I hesitate to post this in the Tipping Guide section because I'm afraid that it will never be seen.

Over the years, my rule of thumb that I have followed for the sake of simplicity has been this: 10% for most hunts; 20% for dangerous game hunts or for exceptional results (e.g., Boone & Crockett animal in North America). That's the total amount to be spread among everyone. It has actually worked well and even maps fairly well to the tipping guides that I have seen. Only once have I deviated from that. That was a case in Canada where the guide was terrible - bordering on incompetent, to the point of putting both of our lives in danger. Then the tip was much less.

Here is my question. My next safari is for plains game. The outfitter has a suggested a tipping structure (mainly $/day for the PH) that would be equivalent to 25% - 33% of the total cost of the safari. That seems to be extremely generous. Is there something wrong with how I am looking at this? Thoughts?

 

[Mekaniks]

That sounds like the high end to me.....

 

[375Fox]

It’s difficult to answer that without some details on the type of hunt you are doing and its cost. I mainly tip per day regardless of cost in Africa. $100-$150 per day on a PG hunt and $150-$200 per day on a DG hunt.

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

I think I am a fairly generous tipper, but what that outfitter supposedly suggested, 25-33% of the total cost of the safari seems extremely high.

 

[gearguywb]

That seems extremely high to me as well

 

[Lumaberpat]

That sounds high from what I’ve read, is the hunt lower than usual cost and the PH is looking to avoid taxes? Maybe?

 

[JimP]

On my last hunt my tip was around 23% of the hunt cost. The outfitter suggested 16%.

A lot is going to depend on how hard you feel your PH and tracker worked for you. I also tipped my tracker about double the going rate.

I was extremely satisfied with how both of them worked for me and the tracker went out of his way on a couple of animals for me.

 

[DieJager]

Everything that is said and has to be said is in the tipping thread.

That said I always carry with me two golden bricks if it s PG hunt and if it is a DG hunt also some diamonds and a few sports cars.

Of course the above is in jest but this tipping thing is going way overboard. Jerome's advice for 5 % average tip to 10 % really good tip still stands for me.

 

[Hunting Hitman]

Seems high. Unfortunately you will not get a common answer as everyone views it differently. I think that a per day tip amount based on DG vs Plains game is correct.
A Botswana Elephant hunt might cost 80000 thousand and 16000 tip to the PH seems to high for me. 4500 to 5000 to the PH works for me.

HH

 

[Stetsonham]

It’s difficult to answer that without some details on the type of hunt you are doing and its cost. I mainly tip per day regardless of cost in Africa. $100-$150 per day on a PG hunt and $150-$200 per day on a DG hunt.

I’ve been following this standard. First Trip I over tipped.

 

[dogcat1]

I tip as I see fit. Forget "guidance". I have left 40% and I have left 5% depending on service.
Cash is king, so don't tip with "stuff".

 

[RR 314]

I tip as I see fit. Forget "guidance". I have left 40% and I have left 5% depending on service.
Cash is king, so don't tip with "stuff".

Same. I generally don't tip as a percentage (although I use it as a guide to make sure I am not off the reservation). If I go to a restaurant and have great service but don't have drinks etc. and my tab is low, I bet I tip 50% at times. Concerning hunts, especially in Africa, I have never had a guide/PH even bring up what he thinks is appropriate, and frankly, I find that off-putting.

 

[Sideshow]

Think I might get strung up for saying this.
I’m from a country that dose not have a tipping culture. But in saying that I do understand that if you get good service then you should tip for that. But if you get no service or bad/dangerous then they won’t be getting much!
A lot of people seem to forget that especially if you come from a tipping culture.

 

[dogcat1]

Wish we were from a culture with no tipping.... other than cows.

 

[Flipper Dude]

Wish we were from a culture with no tipping.... other than cows.

Me too

If it is to be, it’s up to me

You go first.

 

[Brian]

I hesitate to post this in the Tipping Guide section because I'm afraid that it will never be seen.

Over the years, my rule of thumb that I have followed for the sake of simplicity has been this: 10% for most hunts; 20% for dangerous game hunts or for exceptional results (e.g., Boone & Crockett animal in North America). That's the total amount to be spread among everyone. It has actually worked well and even maps fairly well to the tipping guides that I have seen. Only once have I deviated from that. That was a case in Canada where the guide was terrible - bordering on incompetent, to the point of putting both of our lives in danger. Then the tip was much less.

Here is my question. My next safari is for plains game. The outfitter has a suggested a tipping structure (mainly $/day for the PH) that would be equivalent to 25% - 33% of the total cost of the safari. That seems to be extremely generous. Is there something wrong with how I am looking at this? Thoughts? 14 years used to do 10%. On two buffalo hunts in the last 5 years. I asked the PHs when we were in the bush what they thought was fair, I didn't give him any hints about my thoughts. They both said 5%. That is what I do.

I tip 5% these days. I used to tip 10 %,
15-20 ? I wouldn't even tip God that much.

Over the last 5 years I asked several Ph's in different camps what they thought was a fair for a tip, "What should the average working-man hunter give for a tip".
They all said, "5%".

Did you know that about 12-15 years ago 1 USD equaled 10 ZAR, now 1 USD is worth about 19 ZAR. The RSA outfitter expenses are mostly in Rands. (ZAR) That means that South Africa out fitters are getting nearly twice as much $$$ as they did fifteen years ago, for our South African hunts.

( Our USD is going nearly twice as far in South Africa. The out fitters never adjusted the exchange rate over the years with the real value of the USD. They are smart we are dumb!)

So what was once a $1,000 USD tip is now a $2,000 tip ( It is 2x as big in ZAR as was 12-15 years ago. That is just one of the reasons that I am happy to pay my 5% tip . It is the same as a 10% tip of 12 years ago.

Many of us travelling hunters spend 250,000 hunting/tourism dollars at least, in a life time of hunting in Africa. Travelling hunters pour a ton of money into the African economy, . I'm just saying. Brian

 

[Mark Biggerstaff]

It’s difficult to answer that without some details on the type of hunt you are doing and its cost. I mainly tip per day regardless of cost in Africa. $100-$150 per day on a PG hunt and $150-$200 per day on a DG hunt.

I also do it by the day. I have never tipped as a percentage. PH $100-$125 day on PG. DG $150-200 depending on animal.
Trackers drivers cooks cleaning and laundry staff by the day also.
Skinners by animal skinned not the day.
This has worked for me and all have seemed happy.

 

[Northern Shooter]

The tip percentage is scalable depending on the total price of the hunt, quality of the trophies, how much work the PH and team put in etc.

Great hunt with a PH that gave it his all on a $4,000 hunt? A 100% tip is not out of the question.

a $50,000 hunt may warrant a $5,000 tip, which is only 10%.

 

[bashaw]

I hate tipping, but I do it. It would be much simpler to say price for hunt is X, if you don’t like that find the guy that makes you feel comfortable with a price, everything simplified, not risking that you insult the outfit or overtip

 

[meigsbucks]

I’d take his suggestions on what to tip the staff, but your PH plan is solid.