Tipping in Uganda

[sunnysally]

Does anyone have experience with tipping in Uganda? I've searched online and the TripAdvisor forums, but haven't been able to find a straightforward answer. We will have a private driver and I plan to tip him or her $25/day. Base on what I've read, I will ask the driver if he or she has a preference for dollars or shillings. For the lodges, I've read conflicting advice. Some people say that because it is place in a communal box that tipping in dollars is ok as the lodge will do the exchange prior to distribution. Others say that it is better to tip in shillings. 

I would prefer to tip in shillings so I don't have to carry as much in dollars, but I do have concerns about ATM availability and stock of cash.

[lightbulbsun]

We tipped mostly in shillings when we were in Uganda, but I think it's fine to ask what the preference is. I think we brought around $200US with us which we kept in cash, but we ended up taking most of it home. Lack of ATM availability is a concern. We would usually take the max out when we found one.

When are you going? I loved our trip there!

[mich1]

Not Uganda, but when we tipped our driver in South Africa, we tipped in rand so they didn’t lose value exchanging it.

[sunnysally]

Mar 13, 2019 10:53:46 GMT -5 lightbulbsun said:

We tipped mostly in shillings when we were in Uganda, but I think it's fine to ask what the preference is. I think we brought around $200US with us which we kept in cash, but we ended up taking most of it home. Lack of ATM availability is a concern. We would usually take the max out when we found one.

When are you going? I loved our trip there!

We are going in July. We've been to SA, but that seemed much easier since we were in several cities between safaris. Our Uganda trip is 90% isolated. We are even doing a 7 hour hike between lodges because it is faster and more comfortable than the drive! The trip promises to be really amazing and my only real concern is tipping. If our experience is anything like SA, I know we will be well taken care of and it is important to be to show appreciation. I also feel like tourists contributing to the local economy in a real way encourages local conservation efforts.