Are you planning a safari in Uganda and are seeking help on how and when to tip your driver? Learn when and how to tip your driver in Uganda. This guide covers tipping etiquette, recommended amounts, and tips on how to show appreciation to your driver for good service. This guide to tipping in Uganda will help you build a good relationship with your driver while on Safari.
Tipping In Uganda
The Uganda service industry is a bit young and growing. The locals are catching up but tipping was not part of their routine practice. As a result your driver will certainly appreciate a tip from you but they may not expect it.
Tipping in Uganda is certainly not mandatory anywhere in Uganda but its a very good gesture. If you are satisfied with the level of service your driver has offered you, it motivates them to consistently offer excellent service when you tip them. You are simply saying thank you for doing your job with diligence.
At Uganda Car Hire, we do not stop any traveler from tipping their driver but have a very strict policy that bars our drivers from actively soliciting or even directly asking to be tipped. Tipping is absolutely on your discretion. Tip only when you feel someone truly deserves the extra. By doing this our drivers are always at their best while interacting with clients before, during and even after the trip.
Why You Should Tip your driver
While we do our best to pay our drivers reasonably, the whole service chain in Uganda is paid a bare minimum. In most cases drivers are paid under $20 per day and this includes their meals and accommodation in case you are staying at a hotel without driver facilities. The minimum pay doesn’t apply to only drivers but the entire service industry in Uganda. With a pay barely enough any tip is not just heart warming but a huge incentive to always offer excellent service.
Who to Tip and Who not to
As earlier stated, its absolutely at your discretion to choose who you should or shouldn’t tip but some service point personnel need your tip more.
When you can service point personals like drivers, waiters, security guards, tourist guides might use a tip more then the rest. This is because while they offer the real service you need, they are often not rewarded handsomely. When you tip any of these you are supporting someone who truly needs your help.
Car rental company owners, hotel managers, chef etc may not need to be tipped that much. This is because they are high in the chain of actual provision of the service for which you are tipping. This also is because they tend to be paid fairly well. However if say a chef makes your favorite dish just the way you like it, its not bad to tip them even though they are paid very well.
Generally, the tip to tipping in Uganda is you should give your money where its most appreciated. The other heads up is always tip the person at the provision of the service you found excellent directly. If you leave instruction to the manager to pass on a tip to a waiter, it might never reach!
Always make sure to tip at the end of the activity or after consuming the service. Giving a tip before consuming a service is generally considered a bad practice. It does not encourage offering good service. So the rule is only tip after not before using a service.
How Much Should you Tip
There is no standard amount you can tip your driver or service provider in Uganda. Allow your budget and level of satisfaction guide you. However tipping a good driver at least $10-15 for a good day would be welcome. For waiters and security persons even a $5 will be very welcome.
You are free to tip your driver in any currency of your choice. If you have enough UGX on you they prefer UGX to foreign currency but they will still be just fine with any currency.
You may also show appreciation to your driver by way of offering something physical. Allowing your driver drink some of your bottled water or having some of your snack might create a good relationship. When they have done really well you can also invite them to share lunch or dinner. Its more about the gesture so they will value it.
Conclusion
We hope these tipping guides have helped you understand who, when and how to tip while on safari in Uganda. Remember not to feel under pressure to tip anyone. Always also never yield to solicited tip requests. Its a sign of bad manners as most service providers discourage this habit.
If you found this useful and are considering getting car rental for your travel in Uganda, why not book with us. Contact our reservations team on WhatsApp +256702525877. You can also drop an email at ask@ugandacarhire.club. We hope you enjoy your safari.
