TIPPING IN TANZANIA
- A COMPLETE GUIDE

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Tipping in Tanzania - A Complete Guide

When you travel to another country, it's always a bit of a learning curve to understand the customs. Tipping is one of those typical things that can often be tricky when you've just arrived. To make your trip to Tanzania as enjoyable as possible, we'd like to provide you with some information on how tipping works here. Is it customary to tip in Tanzania? Where should you tip or not? How much should these tips be? In this article, we'll provide you with all the answers.

Restaurants and bars

In restaurants in Tanzania, tipping is customary, although it's less expected at local eateries compared to tourist-oriented restaurants. While tipping isn't mandatory, a tip of 3% to 5% is common if you're satisfied with the service. When you're at a bar just for drinks, rounding up the bill is a typical way to leave a small tip.

Hotels

In Tanzania, tipping hotel staff is expected. If someone assists with your luggage to the room, a small tip of 50 cents per bag or backpack is customary. Additionally, leaving a daily tip of around 50 cents to 1 dollar for the cleaning staff is appreciated, although it's not obligatory.

Many hotels have a tip box at the reception where you can leave a tip, which is then distributed among all the staff members.

Street food

Tipping when buying food on the street isn't customary in Tanzania. However, rounding up the bill is acceptable. Given the inexpensive nature of street food in Tanzania, rounding up results in small amounts.

Taxi’s and bajaji’s

Before getting into a taxi or bajaji (tuktuk), it's best to agree on a fixed price. It's not customary to give an additional tip after the ride.

Tours

When going on a hike, safari, or any organized tour with a guide, it's customary to give a 10% tip. Some Tanzanians are quite direct and may ask outright. Consequently, it's not uncommon in Tanzania for guides to ask for a tip themselves or for an acquaintance of the guide to inquire if you'd like to tip the guide for their excellent service. Tipping is highly appreciated in Tanzania.

Tipping in Tanzania conclusion

In Tanzania, tipping is customary within the tourist sector. However, it's less common in local places, and rounding up the bill is often considered a nice gesture.

Do you want to read more about Tanzania

See all our articles with the best tips to discover all beautiful places in Tanzania.

Do you want to read more about Tanzania

See all our articles with the best tips to discover all beautiful places in Tanzania.

About the authors

How nice that you are on our website and that you have read this article! We are Mirte and Matthew, two Dutch adventurers with a passion for traveling, discovering cultures, and gaining new experiences. We've translated our love for the world into this website. We hope our articles inspire you to go on adventures! You can learn more about us through the button below.
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