Dave wrote:
> Park fees (included in the itinerary) are $ 30 p.p. per day.
> Your share of the cost of the Guide/driver and his vehicle would
> be another $40 - $60 per day.
I can understand $30 pp per day for park entry fees -- I'm paying to see
wildlife and (I would assume) that money will go towards helping preserve
it. Don't object to safari companies taking a cut either.
What I don't understand is the 40-60 bucks per day for guide/driver fees
(this is close to what I calculated as well). These tours are based on a
*minimum* of 5 people. That means that two people are getting about $250 a
day or $125 each - at least. The average daily wage in America is $100 a
day. In 5 days the guide and the driver are going to earn the average
Tanzanian annual wage, which is $600.
If someone went to America and participated in a tour where the guides made
$26,600 a week (the ave. annual income in the US) plus a tip, I'm pretty
sure they'd think it was gouging too.
I call it gouging because in no other developing country, have I come across
guides making North American wages. While I don't believe they should make
the average weekly wage (which is only $11), I do think American wages is
pushing it.
Just my opinion.
Liz
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