In message
"Liz" wrote:
> 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 - $60 per day.
>
> What I don't understand is the 40-60 bucks per day for guide/driver fees
> (this is close to what I calculated as well).
Did you read what Dave said?
"Guide/driver *and his vehicle*"
So that includes an expensive vehicle and its maintenance and the petrol
(distances are quite big, there's a lot of stop/starting and slow 'crawling'
in the Parks and the vehicles go through a lot of fuel).
Tracks are rough, and the vehicles take a lot of pounding.
Good companies change vehicles at least every three years, some more often.
AIUI, the Tanzanian driver/guides (it's usually one person) gets about
20-25US$ per day plus tip (probably varies by company). And they don't by
any means work steadily all year round. They might be out all the time in
the high season, hardly seeing their families then, but in the off-season,
they might not work for weeks.
A good driver/guide is the one single factor that will 'make' your safari,
and is the area I'd least want to skimp on, together with a reliable
company, with enough flexibility to be able to deal with the unforeseen.
That's the price. If it isn't worth it *to you*, choose somewhere else.
Liz
--
Virtual Liz at http://www.v-liz.co.uk
Kenya; Tanzania; India; Seychelles
New Aug '03: Namibia
"I speak of Africa and golden joys" |
