Ron McGregor's web site - Welcome to South Africa -tipping.htm
Tipping in South Africa is customary, but not compulsory or outrageous. We are not one of those countries where "service charge" is added to your bill, and then a surly waiter still expects an additional tip! (Well, not usually, anyway!)
It is not the practice to add "service charge" to bills. If a restaurant wishes to do this (which occurs occasionally when reservations are made for large parties) it should secure your agreement in advance.
If a restaurant arbitrarily adds a "service charge" without warning, you may refuse to pay it.
Gratuities are usually given directly to the person who renders the service. A few establishments may advise you that they prefer you to contribute to a central gratuities fund which is distributed amongst ALL the staff - or so they say!
Here are a few guidelines as to when tipping is appropriate, and what the norms are (June 2002):
| Restaurants | Around ten per cent. More if the service really merits it. | |
| Bars | Ten per cent for actual waiter service to your table, or if the barman mixes you a fancy cocktail. You are not expected to tip if you simply order a beer over the bar. | |
| Room service | Around ten per cent. | |
| Taxis | "Keep the change" or ten per cent, as appropriate. | |
| Porters | Between R3 and R5 per person for normal baggage. | |
| Tour guides and drivers | Drivers would get around a British pound per person per day, or a couple of US dollars per person per day if you are from North America. Tour guides get the same or possibly more, depending on the "level" of the tour. |
Navigation flag O- please click to continue
Ron McGregor's web site - Welcome to South Africa - NavPanel -
NAVIGATION PANEL - choose your next destination