The
currency in Tanzania is the Tanzania Shilling though the U.S. dollar is
the most convenient and readily acceptable currency. Visa and MasterCard
are accepted at some lodges and larger shops. Traveler checks are difficult
to cash and are not recommended but you may wish to bring for emergency
purposes. It is recommended to bring enough US dollars plus an additional
cushion amount to cover all additional expenses just to be on the safe
side. Please make sure to bring crisp, new vintage bills as many shops,
hotels and banks in Tanzania will not accept older bills due to counterfeiting
problems.
The majority of the costs on your trip are included in your package. See your inclusions and exclusions section on the last page of your itinerary along with the tipping guidelines below for a gauge to determine the amount of money you will need to bring. You should bring U.S. dollars in both large and small denominations to pay for any additional expenses. Change for large denominations may be difficult. It is recommended that you bring approximately fifty one-dollar bills in a separate accessible envelope. Most of the extras on your safari including drinks ($1 - $3 per bottled water, soft drink, beer, wine or spirit where not included), laundry ($2 - $3 per item where not included), souvenirs (many under $5) and miscellaneous tips (see tipping section below) are individually under $5. Accordingly, carrying on you an envelope of one-dollar bills comes in handy. Please note that all drinks and laundry are included at Migration Camp, Private Luxury Camp, Kusini Camp, Ngorongoro Crater Lodge, Swala Camp, Tarangire Treetops, Mnemba Island Lodge and The Palms Zanzibar. Bottled water at meals served from the lodge or camp is considered a bar item and not included at those lodges and camps that do not include all drinks.
Tipping on your Safari
Tipping is customary in Tanzania on the tourist circuit. The majority of our safaris are small private groups (i.e. a couple, family or a small group of friends) and tipping guidelines are based upon per vehicle, which in most cases is the same as per group. Please see below for recommended tipping guidelines for your Tanzania safari:
Driver-Guide: $30 to $60 per vehicle per day
Private Camping: $30 to $40 per vehicle per day
Walking Safaris: $20 per vehicle per walk
Maasai Boma Visit: $20 per vehicle
Ranger tip for Mara River: $20 per vehicle
You should give the tip to your driver-guide all in one amount on the last day of your safari. Large denomination bills ($50 or $100) are fine for your driver-guide tip. Please make sure to bring crisp, new vintage bills as many shops, hotels and banks in Tanzania will not accept older bills due to counterfeiting problems.
There are various other tips that are completely voluntary. At each lodge and camp there are tip boxes located in the reception area. We recommend to use these tip boxes in lieu of giving a tip to just the people that assist you directly (waiter, bartender, baggage handler, etc). By using the gratuity box, your tip is divided fairly among all the staff members including the ones behind the scenes that you do not encounter including the cooks, room attendants, house keepers, etc. At most lodges and camps, someone will bring your luggage in from your vehicle to your room. You may feel the need to provide a dollar or two for this service. Other discretionary tips include tipping your private butler at the Ngorongoro Crater Lodge or Mbalageti Presidential Suite (suggested at $10 to $20 per couple per stay). It is recommend that you bring one-dollar bills to cover tipping described above and various other inexpensive small items (souvenirs, incidentals, etc) as change is not readily available at most properties.
The majority of the costs on your trip are included in your package. See your inclusions and exclusions section on the last page of your itinerary along with the tipping guidelines below for a gauge to determine the amount of money you will need to bring. You should bring U.S. dollars in both large and small denominations to pay for any additional expenses. Change for large denominations may be difficult. It is recommended that you bring approximately fifty one-dollar bills in a separate accessible envelope. Most of the extras on your safari including drinks ($1 - $3 per bottled water, soft drink, beer, wine or spirit where not included), laundry ($2 - $3 per item where not included), souvenirs (many under $5) and miscellaneous tips (see tipping section below) are individually under $5. Accordingly, carrying on you an envelope of one-dollar bills comes in handy. Please note that all drinks and laundry are included at Migration Camp, Private Luxury Camp, Kusini Camp, Ngorongoro Crater Lodge, Swala Camp, Tarangire Treetops, Mnemba Island Lodge and The Palms Zanzibar. Bottled water at meals served from the lodge or camp is considered a bar item and not included at those lodges and camps that do not include all drinks.
Tipping on your Safari
Tipping is customary in Tanzania on the tourist circuit. The majority of our safaris are small private groups (i.e. a couple, family or a small group of friends) and tipping guidelines are based upon per vehicle, which in most cases is the same as per group. Please see below for recommended tipping guidelines for your Tanzania safari:
Driver-Guide: $30 to $60 per vehicle per day
Private Camping: $30 to $40 per vehicle per day
Walking Safaris: $20 per vehicle per walk
Maasai Boma Visit: $20 per vehicle
Ranger tip for Mara River: $20 per vehicle
You should give the tip to your driver-guide all in one amount on the last day of your safari. Large denomination bills ($50 or $100) are fine for your driver-guide tip. Please make sure to bring crisp, new vintage bills as many shops, hotels and banks in Tanzania will not accept older bills due to counterfeiting problems.
There are various other tips that are completely voluntary. At each lodge and camp there are tip boxes located in the reception area. We recommend to use these tip boxes in lieu of giving a tip to just the people that assist you directly (waiter, bartender, baggage handler, etc). By using the gratuity box, your tip is divided fairly among all the staff members including the ones behind the scenes that you do not encounter including the cooks, room attendants, house keepers, etc. At most lodges and camps, someone will bring your luggage in from your vehicle to your room. You may feel the need to provide a dollar or two for this service. Other discretionary tips include tipping your private butler at the Ngorongoro Crater Lodge or Mbalageti Presidential Suite (suggested at $10 to $20 per couple per stay). It is recommend that you bring one-dollar bills to cover tipping described above and various other inexpensive small items (souvenirs, incidentals, etc) as change is not readily available at most properties.