Congo gorilla safari guide on tipping-Congo safari news

How to best Tip on a Congo gorilla safari

Congo is one of the virtually untouched destination in West Africa so not because of no attraction to bring in tourists but because of the unstable political situations in the past. The most visited safari destination is Virunga National Park because of the fact that its the only West African country that is home to Mountain Gorilla and one of the three in the whole world. There several other mammals and bird species in the country attracting activities like birding and chimpanzee trekking. Virunga National Park may be a haven for mountain gorillas but on the Eastern side of the Democratic Republic of Congo is Kahuzi Biega National Park which is home to lowland gorillas. However, as you go for a Congo gorilla trekking safari, you don't plan it all on your own, there always those people who are there to help and for the good services, you may need to tip so here is a Congo gorilla safari guide on tipping for you;

 Rangers, trackers and porters Rangers in Virunga National Park

On any primate trek, you are accompanied by either one or two park rangers who ensure your security in the jungle. They offer all the guidance and help needed during your safari activity and can actually be tipped. Mountain gorilla trackers in Virunga National Park always work tirelessly closely with the gorillas to identify where they spent the previous night such that the rangers can easily get to them with the tourists/trekkers and they always stay behind after your trek. You can decide to tip them as a group if they can be found in a group or individually. If you need help for instance during tracking mountain gorillas, you can always hire a porter to carry luggage and help with the trek. For their great role you can tip them separately after the trek.

However, before you tip look at the impact of the tip for instance, in the national park different people take on different roles according to their levels of education and knowledge they have a bout the park. Offering a high tip to a porter would at times make the rangers who do the conservation demoralized. If you can estimate on a fine amount to tip then it could be reasonable. All roles carried out in the park are important and can be appreciated as long as they don’t affect responsibility and renumeration since conservation is all about dedication.  

Hotel and Lodge service providers

For all the great accommodation facilities in Congo, you have good service from the waiters and waitresses, maintenance, chefs and housekeeping staff of whom some you won’t even see. Most of the accommodation facilities have a general tip box and its advisable to drop your tip there such that the whole team can share from it. Check out time is the perfect time to drop your tip in the tip box.  

Your safari driver guide

For any kind of tour in Congo, your driver guide is key in making the tour successful. You can always tip them separately during the trip for all the efforts they put in to make sure your trip is wonderful. Its best to tip your guide at the end of your safari.

Non-recommendable individuals for a Congo gorilla safari guide on tipping

Every individual who plays a role as you safari Congo can be appreciated with a considerable tip. However, tipping hotel managers is not recommendable. Leaving behind a tip for a hotel manager may demoralize the service providers who offer most of the services at the orders of the manager.  

Best way of tipping 

Tipping is best done by cash that’s why you have to change a few dollars to the Congolese franc (CDF) if you expect to tip anyone. For places with tip boxes it’s the best way to tip and if you would love to offer dollars this can be for the safari guides since they have more frequent access to the Forex bureaus.

For whatever reason you decide to offer a tip to someone while on a safari in Congo, it’s all about your own will there’s no order for who to give a tip. On how much you can offer, you can decide from the quality of service offered in comparison to other people you came along or just offer in a bid to give back to the community. However, before you tip, measure the potential impact of the tip to the community. The tips received by the people who help around could create a great positive impact since their earnings increase and therefore their standards of living too.

 Tipping isn't compulsory but just an act of good will, therefore tips whenever you feel its necessary