South Africa

South Africa has a strong tipping culture. In many customer-facing industries, salaries are low and workers make much of their money from tips. Restaurant staff will expect around 10%, but leaving 12%–15% will generate bigger smiles. Drivers never pump their own gas in South Africa; you’ll be expected to pay at least 5 ZAR (0.28US) to the person filling your tank, or 10-20 ZAR (.56-$1.11US) if the attendant also checks your tires, oil or water.

Then there are South Africa’s informal parking attendants. While larger cities and towns have areas with pay-as-you-go street parking, in most places, you can park at the side of the road for free … sort of. Ubiquitous car guards will offer to keep an eye on your car while you’re away, and they come in a range of helpfulness levels.

Some will go the extra mile, stopping traffic to help you back out into a busy street. Others are opportunists who approach as you pull out your keys, claiming they were keeping a close eye on your car while you were shopping. Reward car guards according to the service they provide – an R5 coin (5 ZAR or 0.28US) is the standard thank you, but R10 is more appropriate for someone who provided a more useful service