Gorilla trekking tipping advice in Uganda and Rwanda

Tipping is acceptable in Uganda and Rwanda during a gorilla trek safari, and although all tourists don't need to be tipped, it is at least advisable that you tip to appreciate the services that are rendered during the safari. Is tipping allowed during a gorilla safari? This is one of the frequently asked questions raised by tourists on a gorilla safari to their tour operators, especially during the planning process. And the answer is yes, tipping is allowed because many of the people that are tipped earn greatly from the tips.

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Tipping is highly recommended and is seen as a token of appreciation for the services received and those who have helped you during the trekking. You should, however, note that tipping is not mandatory and it is just a courtesy as compared to other countries where it is a necessity for one to tip. 

The right time to tip is usually after the completion of an activity for the guides, park rangers and porters and the hotel staff when checking out. Give the money directly to the guides and porters to avoid situations where the tipping money ends up in the wrong hands. In this article, we are going to be looking at the different people who need to be tipped and the guidelines to follow when tipping the various categories. The categories of people that need to be tipped during a gorilla trek include porters, armed rangers, park guides, hotel staff and driver guides among others. Get in touch with us for more information.

Gorilla trekking tip guide for porters

Porters are some of the people that need to be tipped. Porters are the people who you find at the starting point of the gorilla trekking adventure waiting to help you carry your luggage at a small fee so that you will be able to enjoy your trek without the heavy bag. On many occasions, tourists get the chance to book a porter right after the early morning briefing. Porters, unlike guides, do not earn a salary and are not given any allowance for the work that they do. The main source of income for porters is from tips given by tourists.  Porters also help in carrying the Sedan chairs that are used to carry around the elderly and physically disabled people so that they are also able to participate in the trek at a cost. Many of the porters are former poachers who reformed and now help with the conservation of the Mountain gorillas. The minimum cost of hiring a porter in Uganda and Rwanda is $20 in Uganda and $10 in Rwanda; however, it can be more.

Gorilla trekking tip guide for Driver guides

The driver guide receives an allowance from the tour company before the start of the gorilla trekking safari; however, because of the culture in the tourism industry, we always advise tourists to tip the guides as a thank you at the end of the safari, especially if the driver guide has been good. The tip will depend on what you have and the size of the group. Since the tipping of the driver guide is done at the end of the safari, we recommend that you give the driver guide his or her thank you package in person.

Gorilla trekking tip guide for Park guides and Rangers

The park guides are the people who are responsible for leading the trek through the forest in search of the Mountain gorillas. They are experienced have extensive knowledge about the ecosystem and know the best routes to use when tracking gorillas in the national parks. Armed rangers protect the trek because there are other wild animals in the national parks that can attack at any time; this is where the armed rangers come in. Armed rangers are trained and walk with firearms that they use to shoot in the sky in case of danger. Guides also help dig a hole in the forest when you need to use the toilet and they use machetes to clear thick vegetation out of the way during the trek. Rangers and guides can be tipped $5 to $15 and more if you have it. Tipping of the guides and park rangers puts you in their good books especially if you are planning on coming back for a gorilla trekking safari in Uganda and Rwanda. Contact us for more information.

Gorilla trekking tip guide for hotel/lodge staff

The hotel staff should include waitresses, waiters, maintenance staff and housekeeping. While gorilla trekking, tourists spend a lot of time in lodges and hotels and sometimes children are left at the hotel when going for the trek because children 12 years and below will not trek gorillas. Many of the hotel staff need the tips because they are not paid enough and the tips help cover the dent in their budgets. Tips to hotel staff should be offered when you are almost leaving and the amount depends on what you have planned for the day. The tips can be given out to the staff directly, depending on who has helped you out a lot, or a lump sum to the staff who attended to you while at the hotel.

Gorilla trekking tip for cultural performers

Cultural performances are one way to end a gorilla safari in Uganda and Rwanda. These are commonly arranged by the hotels or best experienced when you visit the local communities around the National Parks, like the Batwa community in Uganda and the Gorilla Guardians village, formerly known as Ibyiwacu village in Rwanda. The tip given to cultural dancers is hard to estimate since they are always performing in groups, but you need to make sure all the members in the performing group you are tipping are aware of the tip before you leave.

Top tips for tipping on a gorilla safari

Tipping although considered good courtesy, comes with some dos and don’ts. Below are the tips to consider when tipping in Uganda and Rwanda on a gorilla safari.

• US dollars are accepted in both countries and used for tipping. If possible, take as many notes as you to tip the service providers.
• Make sure that you have small cash bills with you to easily pay off tips because you will not be able to get change, especially after traveling to trekking destinations.
• Only bills printed in the year 2013 and above are allowed in the country (USD) if you want to make it easier to exchange with the local currency.
• Before packing, make sure that you look at your itinerary to know how much money you have to carry and use when on your gorilla safari in Uganda and Rwanda.
• Always keep your money securely in a safe place and avoid moving with large wards of cash.

How much to tip on your gorilla safari

Tipping is upon one’s discretion, but for budgeting purposes, plan at least between $20 to $40 per day and when traveling with children, we suggest that you tip at least 50% of the proposed rate because of the children. The amount of the tips usually depends on what you have and below is a list of guidelines to follow when tipping.

• National Park guides:$20 to $30 per day per couple
• Staff at the accommodation:$10 to $15 per day per couple
• Boat and walking guides: $10 per couple
• Tour/safari guides:$30 per couple
• Porters (reformed poachers):$20 in Uganda and $10 in Rwanda per person (you can add $5)
• Armed ranger guides: USD 10
• Head armed ranger: USD 30

Ways (guidelines) on how to give tips on a gorilla safari

there are so many ways in which you can give out tips and these include:

• The safari guides should be tipped on the last day of the safari as you say goodbye and this can be handed directly to the guide.
• Some tips are placed in the communal box, especially in camps, hotels and lodges. The tipping box is mainly found in the main area or lounge and this helps to ward the awkwardness away. And don’t forget to leave a tip when checking out and if you don’t find the communal box, ask the receptionist.
• Place/put the money in an envelope and deliver it to the manager.

Tips can be given in the local currency and foreign currency and since most of the locals don’t have a bank account, tourists have to carry small notes to ease the tipping process. The local currency in Uganda is shillings and Rwanda uses Francs. Although locals love it when you tip in a foreign currency, it becomes hard for them to use it immediately since they have to first look for a forex bureau to do the exchange.

Gorilla trekking is a top safari activity in Uganda and Rwanda, with 21 habituated gorilla families and 12 habituated gorilla families, respectively. Carried out throughout the year, gorilla trekking in both countries comes with rules and regulations some of which include: the age limit is 12 and 15 in Uganda and Rwanda respectively, you need to keep calm and quiet during the trek, keeping a distance of 7 to 10 meters from the gorillas, if you feel sick on the morning of the trek you should volunteer not to trek, the national park has to be kept clean at all times, subdivided groups of 8 trek a gorilla family per day, feeding the gorillas and eating near them is not allowed, tourists have an hour with the gorillas, smoke affects the gorillas, turn off the flash when taking photos and avoid touching the gorillas. Tourists have to follow all the rules to avoid the consequences that come with breaking one of them.

Tourists also have to purchase the gorilla trekking permit to participate in gorilla trekking. A gorilla permit is issued by Uganda Wildlife AUthority in Uganda and Rwanda Development Board in Rwanda, and it is the only ticket that grants you access to the Mountain gorillas because, without it, no one treks the primates. The permit cost in Uganda is a bit different and although it is expensive to get gorilla permits, the amount is worth the trouble. Below is the cost of the gorilla permit in Uganda and Rwanda.

Foreign non-residents $800 in Uganda and $1500 in Rwanda

Foreign residents $500 in Uganda and Rwanda

EAC citizens UGX300,000 in Uganda and $200 in Rwanda

African citizens $500 in Uganda

Gorilla habituation permit

Foreign non-residents: $1500

Foreign residents: $1000

EAC citizens: UGX 750, 000

African citizens: $1000

The cost of the permit is determined by the Uganda Wildlife Authority and the Rwanda Development Board and in case of any changes, a formal communication is sent out.

What to bring on your gorilla safari in Uganda and Rwanda

 Every safari, including a gorilla tracking safari, deserves a good safari list for tourists to be able to have the best experience in the jungle. Some of the things that you have to bring for gorilla trekking include a camera, binoculars, hiking shoes, neutral-colored long-sleeved shirts and trousers, socks, garden gloves, gaiters, a refillable water bottle, snacks, sweaters, waterproof rain jackets, toiletries, day backpack, sunglasses, sunhat, insect repellent, first aid kit and sunscreen among others.

Although gorilla trekking is carried out daily throughout the year, the best time is during the dry season because of the dry and easier trek routes, and the gorillas are easier to see. This is, however, the peak season, and you need to be ready for large crowds and a slight increase in the cost of most of the safari activities.

This article is not used to promote tipping since it is not compulsory but a guide for tourists who wish to tip during a gorilla trip to Uganda and Rwanda. It is important to note that tipping helps gain favour with the guides, and it improves the livelihood of the locals. Note that the above are guidelines and not the actual amount you are to tip while on your safari

Contact us at Encounter Africa Safaris for a gorilla trekking safari in Uganda and Rwanda and to learn more about the tipping process and guidelines.