Well I don't think I will take a cruise ship to Africa then!!!!!!
$50 for a meal and drinks is damn good value especially with double the tip on that price? Here in NZ $50 would not buy you much in the way of a full evening meal especially with drinks on top.

The idea of a gift as a means of rewarding a PH for a job well done has merit although of course where does this leave the field and camp staff. While I do sport a grey a beard nowadays I don't want to arrive in Africa looking like Santa with a sack full of goodies.
Another problem with gifts is that until you get on Safari and meet your PH you won't know what sort of thing he would appreciate. Leaving behind your binoculars, knife, or heaven forbid, your rifle, could be seen as just off loading your stuff to save cost on luggage, unless of course the stuff you leave is high quality and better than the PH has aready has. Perhaps our PH friends can give us a few examples of how this practice has worked for them?

It is interesting to hear in this thread from those living in the tipping cultures. You all don't seem to like it much (as hunters anyway) but accept you have "abide" by the culture, whereas those of us not in that culture don't see it as just a quaint thing, but find it quite an obnoxious and demeaning practice.

Very interesting subject.