Liz wrote:
> 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. 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.
OK - let's talk about it. The Guide/driver with you doesn't get that money.
They're paid a salary of no more than $250 - $300 a month and depend on tips
for the rest of their income. And believe me, they do NOT work every week.
Far from it. If they have some work every month, they are fortunate.
The money goes to the safari company. They imported the vehicle, with a 100%
duty added to the cost. Toyota Land Cruisers
have become the vehicle of choice for Tanzania operators - not the ones
that look like the Lexus.. no, the model that resembles a Land Rover.
If it's a (for example) $50K vehicle, then it costs $100K when it is in the
country. At that point, there are additional expenses to modify it with
the pop-up roof, special seats, 2-way radios, plus all the licenses, insurance.
Then it goes on the road, rarely seeing pavement. Almost all of its time
will be spent on dirt roads, some of them rugged. Maintenance is
a constant expense - and every part that is needed also has to be
imported with a 100% duty.
Bottom line: the safari business in east Africa is really a transportation
business - and you should always choose an operator that is good at it.
That way, you are going to be seeing your wildlife in a late-model,
well-maintained vehicle that won't break down at the most inopportune
time in the middle of the Serengeti. And because the operator is
successful with his business, his Guides will also be good ones - who will
earn the tip you generously and gladly give them at the end of the trip.
Finally, it is common for a vehicle to leave on safari with 2 clients - not 5.
You see them every day in Tanzania (or Kenya).
All of the operators who are friends of mine do not impose minimums.
If they have 5 clients in the vehicle - that's a way to actually make some
money. The safaris that go out with 2 will perhaps break even.
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