South Africa: Wildlife Conservation Experience >
Money
Our lodge in Greater Kruger prefer a cashless environment. They accept credit cards for any uncovered cost including tipping. If you prefer to tip in cash, it will be accepted but please know it can be done on credit card.
Please contact your bank and let them know you will be traveling in South Africa and may be using both debit and credit cards. If your bank doesn't know, they may block access to your card while you are here. If you wish to have cash, please use the ATM at the airport in JoBurg before you depart, you can take out local currency, South African Rand. There are no ATMs in the bush and USD is not accepted.
$1 USD = 18 ZAR, South African Rand*
*conversion rates vary daily, check the XE.com site for up to date quotes.
Tipping
The program fee covers all gratuities for hotels, meals, baggage & transportation. Gratuity for your guide/staff is not included, we do recommend around 255 Rand /$15 USD per person, per day. This can be included in the bill and charged at the accommodation via credit card -or- you can leave it in an envelope at the end of the 10 days in South African Rand (cash). This will be split between guides and general staff.
Kruger National Park Guide - You will have a different guide specifically for the Kruger National Park visit. Tipping is not compulsory but if you wish to show your appreciation, we suggest 170 Rand/$10 USD in cash for this guide.
Cape Town Extension - We recommend a gratuity of around $5-$10 (100-200 rand) per person, per day for the guide. They do not use USD in South Africa, please tip in South African Rand.
If you choose the whale watching activity, you will have a separate guide, we suggest $10-$20 (200-400 rand) total for this guide.
If you choose the wine tasting and wish to tip the sommeliers, we suggest $5-$10 (100-200 rand) per sommelier.
Victoria Falls Extension - We recommend a gratuity of around $5-7 USD per person, per day for the guide. You can tip in USD. You can leave it with your guide at the end of your time in Victoria Falls! For restaurants and other vendors that you book on your own, we suggest around $2-$5 per person. We suggest you bring small bills to make tipping easier. Overall, we estimate around $100 USD needed for tipping for your entire extension.