TRAVEL TIPS

MONEY & BUDGETING INFO

CURRENCY

The Rwandese Franc (RWF) is denominated in notes of RWF 500, 1000, 2000, and 5000, while coins are RWF 1, 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100.

Kenyan Shilling (KSH or KES) is denominated in notes of 1000/- 500/- 200/- 100/- 50/- and coins of 40/-, 20/- , 10/- , 5 /-, 1/- and 50 cents.

The Tanzanian Shilling (TZS) is denominated in notes of 10,000/=, 5,000/=, 2.000/=, 1.000/=, 500/= , and coins of 100/=, 50/= , 20/= , 10/= and 5/=

The Ugandan Shilling (UGS) is denominated in notes of 1000, 2000, 5000, 10000, 20000 and 50000 Shillings.

Coins are issued in denominations of 100, 200 & 500 shillings.

US Dollars, Sterling Pounds and Euros are acceptable everywhere. However we advise you to have a certain amount of local currency at all times.

‘Bureau de change’ are available at all airports and in the cities.

A commission is levied for changing of the foreign currency.

However, most of the Banks and establishments including Mist Rwanda Safaris will not accept US Dollar bills printed prior the year 2006.

ATM’s are also popular and seen in most areas (you may only draw in the local currency)

LOCAL CURRENCY EXCHANGE RATES (estimated)


1US$	Rwf 920 (Rwandan Franc)
1US$	Kshs 100.- (Kenyan Shillings)
1US$	Tshs 2196.- (Tanzania Shillings)
1US$	Ugs shs 3800.- Ugandan Shillings)

Money and Budgeting when travelling to Uganda and Rwanda

TIPPING & GRATUITIES

Tipping is not compulsory but always enthusiastically received if you are happy with the service and would like to tip. There are no set percentages for tips. Local culture believes the level of tips should be at the discretion of the client and any token of appreciation is gladly received. These are our suggestions: We recommend that you tip your guide direct at the end of your stay in camp; as a rough guideline you might want to tip from US$ 10-20 per day.

Please note that there are variations between all the EA countries on tipping and gratuities. Whilst the actual amount of money to tip is left at your discretion, we would like to offer some guidelines here below:

RWANDA and TANZANIA
Porter – per bag:	US$ 1.50- each time
Trekking porters in Rwanda	US$ 10 – 20.- per person/trek
Server in restaurant - per meal	US$ 2.- per person
Driver-guide - per day	US$ 10 – 20.- per person

UGANDA
Porters:	US$ 1 per piece of bag.
Trekking Porters:	US$ 10 – 20.- per person
Waiters – For drinks waiters:	10% of consumption.
Server in restaurant – per meal:	US$ 2.00 per person per meal or if service exceptional 10%.
Driver-guide - per day:	US$ 10 – 15.- per person/trek

KENYA
Porter – per bag:	US$ 1.- each time
Server in restaurant - per meal:	US$ 1.50- per person
Driver-guide - per day:	US$ 10. to 15.- per person

On average, we would recommend that you budget for US$ 100. – US$ 200 per person on a trip of 5-10 days, which would comfortably cover all tipping & gratuities.