Tipping in South Africa
Visiting South Africa for business or leisure? Read our guide about who to tip in South Africa, when to tip - and how much to hand over. Then avoid any tipping missteps with our handy tip calculator. We’ll also cover how to save on currency exchange with Wise, so you can tip generously and still have more to spend on yourself!
Save with Wise when tipping in South Africa.
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Do you tip in South Africa?
It’s normal to tip for good service in restaurants, bars and cafes in South Africa - especially in touristy or business areas. Tips are also appreciated in hotels and serviced apartments - and other places where staff may not be so well rewarded, like spas or salons.
The amount you tip in South Africa will depend on where you are and what type of services you’re buying. As a general rule, expect to tip around 10% of the bill. If you get exceptionally good service, say thank you with a tip closer to 15-20%.
Whether you're tipping with cash or card, always use the local currency to save money. Use the Wise travel money card.
Tip in local currency with Wise South African rand travel card.
No matter where you are, it makes sense to tip in local currency. Want to save money on currency exchange so you can tip generously and still have more to spend on yourself?
With the Wise South African rand travel money card it’s easy to top up in your local currency, and switch to South African rand whenever you need to pay for your day to day expenses in South Africa.
With Wise you’ll always get the real exchange rate with no hidden costs. There’s just a low, transparent conversion fee - and then it’s free to spend any currency you hold. Simply top up your card and convert to the currency you need in real time using the Wise app.
No matter where your adventures take you, Wise has you covered. Hold and spend 40+ currencies with the same card, make ATM withdrawals and manage your account on the go using the Wise app.
Get your Wise debit card online in just a few simple steps and start saving on foreign transactions now.
Tipping in South Africa in restaurants & bars
Plan to tip around 10-15% in South African restaurants. However, the exact tip amount when eating out in South Africa depends on the place, occasion, and order size. It’s customary to give your waiter or waitress a slightly higher tip than you would a bartender, as they are likely sharing their tip with the kitchen staff.
In bars and cafes in South Africa you can round the bill to the next significant amount, or leave a small tip each time you order a drink. If you are in a fancy cocktail bar, where cocktail making is a craft - or have a particularly skilled barista make your cappuccino - you might wish to splash out and leave a bigger tip.
Suggested tip:
100 South African rands meal = suggested tip of 10 or 15 South African rands
10 South African rands for a drink = suggested tip of 1-2 South African rands
Eating out in South Africa? You can save on currency conversion fees when paying or tipping with our travel money card for South Africa
Tipping in hotels in South Africa
If you’re staying in a hotel in South Africa it’s standard practise to tip between 10-20%. In top end hotels with high service levels you’ll likely want to tip a range of staff, such as maids, bellboys, valets and front desk employees.
Who you tip, and how much, is ultimately at your discretion, and should be based on the levels of service you receive. To help you figure out how to budget and approach hotel tipping, check out our handy cheat sheet for tipping in South African hotels.
Staying in a hotel in South Africa? You can save on currency conversion fees when checking out or tipping hotel staff with our Wise travel money card for South Africa
| Hotel staff | Suggested Tip | Reasons to tip |
|---|---|---|
House-keeping | 5-10 ZAR | Housekeepers and maids are among the hardest working hotel staff. It’s common to say thanks for great service with a small daily tip. |
Luggage attendants / Porters | 1 ZAR / per bag | When you arrive at your hotel in South Africa you’ll probably need help getting your bags to your room. It’s customary to give a small tip to porters so don’t forget to have some small change when checking in! |
Concierge/ Receptionist | 10-15 ZAR | If the hotel concierge during your stay in South Africa offers exceptional service, you may want to tip. Tips aren’t needed if reception staff simply helped ordering a cab or booking dinner reservations. |
Valets | 5-10 ZAR / each time | If you’re driving, pay a small tip every time a valet retrieves your car from the hotel parking lot. |
Tipping taxi drivers in South Africa
It’s common to tip 10% in South Africa for a longer journey, and if you were helped with your luggage. For short journeys the easiest option is to round up the bill to the nearest significant amount in South African rands. Don’t forget, if you’re using local taxis rather than a ride-hailing service such as Uber, you’ll need to agree on the fare before your journey.
Suggested tip:
50 South African rands taxi bill = 5 South African rands tip for a longer journey
7.50 South African rands taxi bill = 0.50 South African rands tip for a short journey
Hopping on a cab from the airport in South Africa? You can save on currency conversion fees when traveling with Wise travel money card
Tipping tour guides in South Africa
Your tour guide can make or break your experience when travelling - so when you find a great guide in South Africa do tip them the standard 10%. Tips are equally welcome whether you’re taking a private, multi-day, or walking tour.
If you join a free tour in South Africa it’s worth tipping too. Tours like these often operate on a ‘pay what you like’ basis. Your tips may be the only income your guide makes.
Sometimes you may be asked to leave a TripAdvisor review if you enjoyed your experience instead of tipping. This might help guides earn commission - and help other travellers have their own great experience in future.
Going for a tour in South Africa? You can save on currency conversion fees when traveling with Wise travel money card
Tipping at a spa in South Africa
If you need a massage to unwind after your adventures in South Africa it is appropriate to leave a small tip to the therapist. Budget around 10-15% of the treatment price.
That means that for a massage costing you 100 South African rand, you might consider leaving a tip of 10 South African rands if the service was average, or as you’d expect - or say thanks with a 15% tip if the therapist provided an outstanding treatment.
Suggested tip:
100 South African rands massage bill = 10 South African rands tip to masseuse for a standard treatment
100 South African rands massage bill = 15 South African rands tip to masseuse for an outstanding treatment
Tips for tipping in South Africa
- Whenever you tip during your trip to South Africa it is important to use the local currency, that is - South African rands. Otherwise you’ll leave your service providers with cash they can’t use without paying high fees on currency exchange. Prepare some small change in the local currency before leaving the airport if you can, to tip drivers and hotel porters. Get free ATM withdrawals with a travel money card
Tip in the local currency
- Service charges may be added to the bill automatically when you’re in a restaurant, hotel or bar in South Africa. Double check your bill before deciding whether or not to tip. In some countries adding a service charge is a common practice, in others less so. Save where you can pay with Wise travel card
The tip may already be included in your bill
- Don’t get caught out in an embarrassing situation at a business dinner. As tipping etiquette varies by country, it’s important you familiarise yourself with international tipping standards, to avoid doubt and awkward moments! Manage business multi-currency banking from your phone
Tipping on a business trip
- Tipping is a great way to acknowledge and reward great service. If the service charge is not already added to your bill, then tipping is at your discretion - but will always be appreciated. The staff working in restaurants and hotels in South Africa often have tough jobs for lower end wages - think twice before canceling any gratuity tip request on their payment terminals.
Use your own judgement
Tipping in other countries:
Tipping in South Africa FAQ
Save on trip to South Africa with your Wise Travel Card
Tip and spend in local currency with Wise South African rand travel card.