Money and Payments on Safari

Managing money on safari is simpler than it looks once you understand one core fact: the bush runs largely on cash. Card machines and ATMs thin out fast the moment you leave the cities, connectivity is patchy, and the small everyday costs — tips, curios, drinks, park entry — often need paper money. A little planning before you leave the last town saves a lot of scrambling later. This guide covers how to balance cash and cards, which currencies to carry, where and how to change money safely, and how to budget for the extras that the all-inclusive price doesn't cover. Get it right and money becomes a non-issue you barely think about.

Key things to know

• ➜Carry enough cash — the bush largely runs on it
• ➜Bring a widely accepted currency such as US dollars, plus local money
• ➜Cards work in cities and top lodges but rarely in remote areas
• ➜Get cash before leaving the city; ATMs are scarce in the bush
• ➜Keep small denominations for tips and small purchases
• ➜Budget separately for tips, drinks, curios and optional activities

Cash versus cards

In cities, airports and upmarket lodges, cards are widely accepted, and it's sensible to carry one for larger payments and as a backup. But the further you go into the bush, the more cash is king: many camps, community projects, roadside stalls and park gates can't or won't take cards, and connectivity for card machines is unreliable even where they exist.

The practical approach is a mix. Use cards where they work, but carry enough cash to cover everything you'll need between reliable ATMs — tips, incidental purchases, and any costs not prepaid to your operator. Notify your bank of your travel dates so your card isn't blocked, and bring a second card stored separately as a fallback.

• ➜Cards work in cities and top lodges; cash rules the bush
• ➜Carry enough cash to bridge the gaps between ATMs
• ➜Tell your bank your travel dates to avoid blocked cards
• ➜Bring a backup card, stored separately

Currency, changing money and ATMs

Carry a widely accepted major currency — US dollars are the most useful across much of the continent — alongside some local currency for day-to-day spending. For US dollars, bring clean, undamaged notes issued reasonably recently, as older or torn bills are often refused; a mix of small and larger denominations covers both tips and bigger payments.

Draw or change money in the cities before heading into the bush, since ATMs are scarce and sometimes empty or offline in remote areas. Change money only at banks, official bureaux or your hotel, never with street touts, and keep receipts. Carrying enough from the start beats relying on finding a working ATM deep in a national park.

• ➜US dollars are widely useful; carry some local currency too
• ➜Bring clean, recent, undamaged notes in mixed denominations
• ➜Get cash in the city before heading into remote areas
• ➜Change money only at banks, bureaux or your hotel

Budgeting for extras

Even on an all-inclusive safari, a number of costs fall outside the package, and it pays to plan for them in cash. Tips for guides and camp staff are the biggest, and can total a meaningful sum over a trip. Add premium drinks, curios and crafts, park fees if not prepaid, visa costs, and optional activities such as balloon flights.

Work out a realistic figure for these extras before you go, draw the cash accordingly, and keep small denominations handy so you're not overpaying or hunting for change. Store the bulk securely — in the camp safe or a money belt — and carry only what you need for the day. A clear extras budget keeps the money side of the trip calm and predictable.

• ➜Budget for tips — often the largest cash extra
• ➜Allow for drinks, curios, park fees and optional activities
• ➜Keep small denominations for tips and change
• ➜Store the bulk of your cash securely; carry only the day's needs

References & further reading

1. Sinclair, A. R. E., et al. (Eds.) (2015). Serengeti IV. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
2. Estes, R. D. (2012). The Behavior Guide to African Mammals. Berkeley: University of California Press.
3. Kingdon, J. (2015). The Kingdon Field Guide to African Mammals (2nd ed.). London: Bloomsbury.
4. IUCN (2024). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, Version 2024-1. www.iucnredlist.org.