Local Payment is an amount paid by you to your guide (in US dollars cash) on arrival on tour. It is usually collected on the first day or at the pre-departure meeting. It is a way of allowing your tour leader fund money which will be used by them to run the tour. It should be considered part of the cost of your tour and is not tips kitty money nor pocket money for the guide.
Many operators ask for a lump sum up front and do not explain where the money goes. At Acacia we're different! We itemise everything that is covered on tour in the Local Payment, and then allow you do decide whether you want to pay for those activities or save your money for something else.
So you can either:
- Pay all the Local Payment at the start, both Mandatory and Optional - Fully Inclusive Local Payment.
- Pay half at the start and choose what you pay for the rest of the tour – Basic Local Payment (Mandatory) and Flexible Local Payment (Optional).
Fully Inclusive Local Payment
Our Fully Inclusive Local Payment covers all parks, ferries and activities indicated in the tour highlights. By paying this up front, you can then relax, safe in the knowledge that your destinations are paid for and get on with enjoying your tour.
Basic and Flexible Local Payment
Our Basic Local Payment is mandatory and covers food and camping costs and at least one visit to a major game park per tour. You can then choose to add some or all of the other highlights as part of the Flexible Local Payment and pay for them as you travel.
Benefitting from Local Prices
By requiring you to pay on tour we ensure you pay local prices at the time you travel. On occasions, if local costs increase, a small increase in Local Payment may arise. Meanwhile, funds not used by the end of the tour are refunded amongst all passengers so you can be sure of receiving the absolute best value for money.
Please see specific tours for a detailed breakdown of Local Payments for that specific trip.