Often we tip people or businesses that have done a good job. This may be a waitress / waiter in a restaurant or possibly a hairdresser. But should you tip on a South African safari trip?

Many people do chose to tip on a safari, it may be tipping the tour guide or driver of your safari vehicle. Some people do it in cash usually American dollars or South African Rands.

If you prefer not to carry cash with you then most places also allow you to tip by using your credit card (you may wish to check if you will be charged for this).

Of course it is totally optional if you wish to tip someone, but here is a few examples of the amount people often tip:

A Ranger usually gets about $10 per guest per day in a shared vehicle. And you can expect this to be at least double that amount per guest in a private vehicle. General staff including cleaners and cooks are usually tipped about $5 per guest per day if the service they have provided is exceptional.

Thanks to golden beaches, colourful neighbourhoods, a rugged coastline and a landmark simply known as ‘The Mountain’, there are few cities in the world that are as spectacular as Cape Town. South Africa’s most famous city has all the above…and then some. The locals are unbelievably friendly, the sunsets are truly unforgettable, the food is as mouthwatering as you’ll find anywhere in the world and the nightlife can be experienced any night of the week. If you are planning a trip around the fascinating country that is South Africa, make sure to put by at least five days to explore this amazing city. It is the only way you will see the best bits, and believe me, there are many of those.

It’s also a great place to see wild life, particularly along the coast, with throngs of sea birds, sea lions and seals. Take a fishing boat trip and you may even see the mighty Great White Shark.

South Africa is the southernmost country within the continent of Africa. It is a very popular destination for tourists and especially for safari holidays, offering one of the best safari experiences you can expect due to the ideal climate and density of the animal population.

When choosing to stay in South Africa, you have a large number of options available to you when it comes to accommodation. Prices range drastically from staying in a simple hostel to a five start resort with spas, swimming pools and excellent food. You can tailor make your holiday to be whatever you want it to be. Many students visit South Africa as part of their travelling year (gap year) and chose to stay in low cost accommodation and see as many sites as possible, where as other people opt for a two week break away in a luxury hotel where they will be pampered the entire time.

If you are looking at making your next holiday a safari one then you have a wide range of options available to you when it comes to travel.

If you are going to be travelling to a number of locations for your safari holiday then you need to consider if you are going to go by car, plane, sea or even cycle. Yes, cycle. Cycling on safari holidays has grown in popularity over the last few years. It is a great way to explore the country and really take in the surroundings. It’s not for the faint hearted as you may be travelling for a few days and having to camp overnight but the advantages far out weight this.

If you are travelling by plane to a second or third destination then be sure to check the luggage restrictions as your allowable weight for your luggage will probably be quite a bit lower than the restrictions on a commercial long haul flight.

Some people opt to go on a safari holiday to South Africa alone. This can be for many reasons but often it is down to cost and choice of location. Safari holidays can be enjoyed by almost anyone as there are so many different types you can chose whether you want to be up trekking through the forest or enjoying it from the comfort of your vehicle.

Safaris can be enjoyed alone as you often are so overwhelmed by the magnificent sites you see and wildlife that you come in to contact with that there is little time to feel lonely, but travelling to South Africa and exploring the rest of the country can be unsafe if you are on your own.

Unfortunately South Africa does have quite a high crime rate and therefore it is advised to travel in a group or at least a couple.

If you are wanting to go it alone, make sure that you have all your transport pre-arranged and that you know exactly where you are going.

When talking about holidays to South Africa, many people think of Safaris and although these are extremely popular and South Africa is one of the best destinations for a Safari holiday it is also great for water parks.

There are many water parks in South Africa that offer fun for all the family and the great thing is you can spend all day there. The parks cater for family members wanting the thrill and exhilarating rush that some rides give you, Lazy River for those that wants something a little more relaxing and slow paced to beautiful settings to catch a few sun rays by the pools.

The prices are fairly cheap compared to many other water parks across the world with many of the parks charging as little as 150r which is approximately seven pounds fifty per person, so a relatively low cost day out for all the family.

If you are looking for something different to do in South Africa, something to really get your adrenaline going they what could be better that going shark diving?!

Just of the Cape coast you can go on arranged shark diving trips where you can come face to face with the legendary great white shark.

You are lowered into aptly named ‘Shark Alley’ in a small cage to get a once in a lifetime experience of the sharks up close. The sharks are fairly used to seeing the cages so will not attack them however they will brush past them and sometimes peep inside as they are naturally curious creatures.

This trip is not for the faint hearted but definitely is a must for the adrenaline junkie that’s looking for a new experience.

The dives use scuba equipment but do not go too deep into the water therefore no previous diving experience is necessary, just ensure that you book the trip through a reputable company and follow all of the safety instructions for an exhilarating experience with sharks.

Whilst on holiday in South Africa you may wish to hire a car so that you have the freedom to drive round at your own leisure and not have to take public transport. There are a few things to consider before hiring a car that will ensure that the process is as easy as possible and that you don’t encounter any problems along the way.

Ask for a car with English-speaking sat nav, this will save any hassle with taking your own and finding that the maps aren’t sufficiently up to date for South Africa.

Always carry your driving licence on you as this is law in South Africa.

Always travel along roads that are well sign posted and not in poor condition as you don’t want to cause damage to the car or end up stranded somewhere unfamiliar.

Ensure that you read the terms and conditions of your hire agreement carefully and your insurance agreement so that you know exactly what your covered for.

Most people have seen lions in a zoo or at a safari park in the UK but nothing compares to the experience of the lion Park experience in South Africa. Here you can either go on a self-drive guided tour or go in one of the parks silent electric cars to get right up close to the animals without cages or barriers.

The park also offers a ‘walking with lions experience’ where you can go into an enclosure with baby lions and cheetahs to see them and even help to feed the young lions right up close.

The park also offers a night drive experience that mimics the natural hunt process that lions follow in the wild, during this drive you can see the lions chasing and playing whilst you listen to the roars of the pride. This simulated hunt allows you to witness the behaviour of the lions much closer than you could safely do in the wild.

Many people would think that being disabled means that there are many things that you simply cannot do and many places that you cannot go, however this really isn’t the case, with a little more planning and a bit of help anything is possible.

There are now a number of companies that offer safari based holidays specifically designed with disabled people in mind. These companies cater for all levels of disability from wheelchair users to the blind and even people requiring kidney dialysis or constant oxygen.

The safari holidays are not compromised by a person’s disability as the company ensure that every need is catered for without fuss or complications and the cost of this convenience doesn’t have to be the earth.

The packages that these companies offer vary from luxury safari travel to budget style safari camping all of which are made perfectly suitable for any level of disability.

So, disabled or not, the world really is your oyster.