""Baksheesh" technically means "tip" in Arabic (as well as several other languages), but it's really a stand-in word for all manner of passing extra money, frequently under the table. Call it a fee, a commission, a kickback, whatever. Feed the giraffes? A little baksheesh. Pet a zebra? No problem. Step into the big cats enclosure and hold a lion cub or two? Just a little more baksheesh."
"This concept of paying off-the-books money for otherwise off-limits activities or experiences is rare in the United States. And as a naive college student in Egypt, my first foreign country experience, I soon got annoyed at outstretched hands asking for "baksheesh." But, thanks to the Cairo Zoo, I also realized that, in the right circumstances, a little baksheesh can open the door to unique travel opportunities."
Small unofficial payments known as baksheesh allow visitors to access restricted interactions, such as holding lion cubs at the Cairo Zoo for a fee. Baksheesh functions as under-the-table tipping, commissions, or kickbacks in several languages. Initial annoyance at persistent requests can transform into appreciation when such payments unlock unique travel moments. Examples include early, off-hours entry to Angkor Wat after paying guards, leading to less crowded, different perspectives and access to areas where monkeys outnumber tourists. These informal payments can thus widen opportunities for closer encounters and exclusive experiences across various destinations.
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