Tipping in South Africa

Unlike the light-tipping norms elsewhere, South Africa does have a tipping culture, and a restaurant tip is expected. At a sit-down restaurant, 10 to 15% is normal for good service, and servers genuinely rely on it.

Some places add a service charge for larger groups, so check the bill; if it is there, you need not tip on top.

Two local customs surprise visitors. Car guards, who watch over your parked car in a lot or on the street, are tipped a few rand when you return (more if they helped you park or it was a while).

And South African petrol stations are full-service: an attendant fills your tank, checks oil and cleans the windscreen, and is tipped a few rand for it.

For taxis, round up the metered fare, and for Uber or Bolt, a small tip in the app or in cash is appreciated. Hotel porters and housekeeping, a few rand is a kind gesture. Tips are in rand, in cash. For the wider picture, see the South Africa money guide.

Common questions

Quick answers.

More on South Africa

The little money things nobody warns you about.

• Do I need cash in South Africa, or can I use cards?Short answer: a card for most of the day, and rand cash for markets, car guards, petrol attendants and tips. Use ATMs in secure spots and mind the skimming scams. Here is how to handle it.
• Taxis in South Africa, and the airport e-hailing baysUber and Bolt make getting around South Africa's cities easy, but the airports have a pickup quirk and there is some turf tension worth understanding. Here is the app to use, where it collects you, and what to avoid.
• Common money scams in South Africa, and what they cost youSouth Africa is a magnificent country to travel in and most visits are trouble free, and the money scams here are unusually well documented, which makes them unusually avoidable. But we are not going to pretend the context is ordinary. The US State Department has South Africa at Level 2 with crime, terrorism, unrest and kidnapping indicators, and it notes that kidnappers target foreign travelers specifically to make them withdraw cash or hand over account passwords. So the advice is partly about the con at the cash machine, and partly about limiting what anyone can take. Read the full advisory for the wider picture; this page covers money.
• Staying connected in South Africa.South Africa has a real price gap hidden in plain sight: an ordinary MTN data bundle and a Vodacom tourist bundle can differ by four times for the same gigabytes. The catch on both is RICA, the registration law, and whether it is worth your first afternoon.
• What does getting sick in South Africa cost a visitor?South Africa has two health systems living in one country. The private one is excellent, and it is where a visitor belongs; the private hospitals where a visitor belongs ask for a substantial deposit or proof of cover at admission. The public one is overstretched, and it is not the plan.