We recommend you only take money in US dollars, except if you are travelling to South Africa and Namibia, where the currency is the South African Rand. You can get your money exchanged for both of these currencies before you travel or at many outlets and banks in South Africa.

We recommend you only take money in US dollars, except if you are travelling to South Africa and Namibia, where the currency is the South African Rand. You can get your money exchanged for both of these currencies before you travel or at many outlets and banks in South Africa.

In most cases Visa, MasterCard and American Express are widely accepted. For travel to Rwanda, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe, you may need to pay in cash for purchases at local shopping outlets.  

Perhaps one of the biggest and most pleasant surprises awaiting the traveller to Southern Africa is the level of technological development and basic infrastructure in the region.

Despite being in some of the remotest places on Earth, most camps, lodges, and hotels have facilities for accepting payment by credit card. On safari, almost all major expenses (all meals, activities, and often drinks) are covered in the costs of accommodation such that any extras tend to be very limited, and can generally be paid by credit card.

In urban centres, particularly in South Africa, ATMs are to be found in most shopping malls and banks, and will accept all major credit cards, i.e. Visa, Mastercard, or American Express credit cards (provided your credit account has a cash withdrawal facility).

All major international airports in South Africa have ATMs, and you can withdraw money as soon as you land (generally at a better exchange rate than if you were to exchange cash or travellers checks at a bank).

In a word, no, you will not have to carry lots of cash as any expenses which cannot be charged to a credit card (departure taxes, curio purchases, tips) will amount to very little.