John and his family from England have just finished an incredible safari in the Maasai Mara wild. Ole Sekari, his tour guide from Ekorian, made the experience unforgettable.
Then comes the guest’s problem: they don't have cash.
For travellers from increasingly cashless markets such as Finland, Sweden and most of Europe, paying by card or digitally is part of everyday life. Yet across some of Africa's most remote safari destinations, tipping can still depend heavily on cash. That means a guest can want to tip, have the money and still be unable to tip.
The cashless traveller is already here
Travel has changed. Guests now book flights online, pay for lodges by card and rarely travel with large amounts of cash. Many budget for their trips in advance, including how much currency they exchange on arrival. Yet these same guests are arriving at safari lodges in the Mara, Amboseli and Laikipia
But when it comes to tipping?
The experience can suddenly become cash-first. For a guide or lodge staff member, that can mean a missed tip simply because the guest didn't have cash.
The people behind the experience shouldn't miss out
A safari is not created by the lodge alone.
It is the guide whose expertise in tracking and knowledge of the wild turns a game drive into an unforgettable experience. The chef whose food becomes part of the story. The housekeeper whose attention to detail makes a tent or lodge feel like a luxury retreat.
And the many other people whose work often goes unseen but makes the entire experience possible.
These are the people guests want to thank. But as travel becomes increasingly cashless, the way guests show their appreciation is changing too. A guest may want to tip their guide, chef or housekeeper, yet have little cash on hand.
So the question becomes: “Can tourists easily tip the people they want to thank, using the way they already pay?”
The future of tipping should follow the future of travel
Travel is becoming increasingly digital. Tipping should not be left behind.
For Africa's tourism and hospitality industry, the opportunity is simple: make it easier for guests to recognise the people who make their experiences unforgettable, using the payment methods they already trust.
With Shukran, properties can offer guests a secure, cashless way to tip their teams. Tour guides and service workers can receive their tips through Shukran Pocket, with access to individual and group tips.
Because sometimes, the difference between a great experience and a missed tip is simply having a way to say thank you.
Don't let a cashless guest mean a missed tip
Whether you're a tour guide or a service worker, your tips should be easy to receive, access and manage.
Download the Shukran app and get started with Shukran Pocket
