Tipping causes more quiet anxiety among travellers than almost anything else on a safari. Here are actual numbers, so you can stop wondering.
- Uganda
- Ugandan shilling (UGX)
- Rwanda
- Rwandan franc (RWF)
- US dollars
- Widely accepted — notes issued 2013 or later only
- Cards
- Accepted at better lodges; assume cash elsewhere
- ATMs
- Kampala, Entebbe, Kabale, Kisoro, Kigali, Musanze
- Bring
- US$300–500 in small notes per person for a week
Cash, cards and the 2013 rule
US dollars are accepted for park fees, tips and many lodge extras — but only notes issued in 2013 or later, because of counterfeit concerns. Older notes are frequently refused outright. Large denominations (US$50 and US$100) get a noticeably better exchange rate than small ones, so bring a mix: large notes to change, small notes to tip.
Cards work at better lodges and in the cities, often with a fee. Assume cash everywhere else. ATMs exist in Kampala, Entebbe, Kabale, Kisoro, Kigali and Musanze but not at the lodges, so draw before you head to the forest.
Tipping: actual numbers
| Who | Suggested | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Porter | US$20–25 for the trek, plus a tip | The fee is the fee; US$5–10 on top is normal and generous |
| Ranger guide and trackers | US$15–20 per person, per trek | Usually pooled and handed over by one person in the group |
| Driver-guide | US$15–20 per person per day | The single biggest contributor to your trip going well |
| Lodge staff | US$5–10 per person per night | Into the communal box, so it is shared |
| Boat or activity guide | US$5–10 per person | Per activity |
Nobody will be rude to you if you tip less. These are the numbers that mean a good week's work is recognised as one.
Porters, specifically
Hire a porter even if you do not need one
US$20–25 buys you someone to carry your bag and pull you up the steep sections. It also puts money directly into a village beside the park, and many porters are former poachers. It is the most efficient conservation spending available to you on the day, and it is the thing we ask travellers not to skip.
Costs on the ground
Most of your trip is prepaid. What you actually spend cash on is tips, porters, drinks, curios, optional activities and airport departure formalities. US$300–500 per person for a week covers it comfortably. Crafts at community centres like Ride 4 a Woman in Buhoma are worth buying — that money lands exactly where you would want it to.
Questions
Frequently asked
Should I bring US dollars or local currency?
Bring US dollars, issued 2013 or later, in a mix of denominations. Change some into local currency on arrival for small purchases. There is no need to buy shillings or francs before you fly.
How much should I tip a gorilla trekking porter?
The porter fee is US$20–25. Adding US$5–10 as a tip on top is customary if they have worked hard — and on a steep trek, they will have.
Can I pay for everything by card?
No. Better lodges and city hotels take cards, often with a surcharge. Porters, tips, markets and most community activities are cash only.
Next
Keep planning
- Responsible travel — where your spending has most effect
- Permits and costs — what is prepaid
- How hard is the trek? — why porters matter
- Travel advice — everything else practical