A recent survey by SafariBookings.com, an online platform for booking safaris, asked more than 400 safari operators to evaluate tourists by country of origin on several travel-related traits, including punctuality, treatment of staff and adherence to guide instructions.
Overall, the survey found American visitors were widely favored: more than 85 percent of operators described their American guests as pleasant or very pleasant to host and work with. Operators attributed this positive view to Americans’ friendliness and generous tipping habits.
At the other end of the spectrum, tourists from Italy received the least favorable assessments. About one in five operators reported that Italian guests were often rude to staff, frequently late and prone to ignoring their guides’ directions.
The survey also revealed variation by nationality on specific behaviors. Travelers from the Netherlands were identified as least likely to leave tips. British tourists were noted as among the hardest to please overall, while German visitors scored highest for punctuality. In general, visitors from countries where English is a native language tended to receive better ratings than those from non–English-speaking countries.
Regional preferences among operators also emerged: safari operators in East Africa showed a strong preference for American visitors, while operators in South Africa tended to prefer guests from the United Kingdom and Canada.