Currency Exchange and Camp Tip Info Needed?
 

My sister and her husband are going to Botswana safari trip and Livingstone in June. Hope you can help me with the currency and tip info.

They will fly to JNB and stay overnight and fly to Botswana the following day. The hotel in JNB is prepaid. They only need to pay dinner for that night. Would restaurants there accept credit card or they have to pay cash? They will stay in Emporors Palace. Where is the best place to get currency exchange in JNB?

In Botswana they will be spending 5 days in Kwando camp (2 days in Lebala and 3 days in Little Kwara). The camps are prepaid. I just want to know what the tip amount they should prepare for 2 people. Is US dollar usually acceptable as tips or some other currency?

They will stay in Livingstone for 4 days. What kind of currency is used in Zambia? Where is the best place to exchange money there? Do tour operator (such as white water rafting)usually accept credit card or not? Do restaurants ususally accept credit card or not?

Thanks for the help!

Credit cards are accepted in South Africa. ATM machines are everywhere for local Rand. In Botswana, Victoria Falls, Zambia and SA you can use USD for tips.

There are lots of threads on this board regarding tipping. Do a search and you'll find "whatever you want to know about tipping" - whether guides/drivers, trackers, camp staff; porters, housekeeping in city hotels.

As I recall, with the exception of SA Rand, which can be reconverted to USD at the JNB airport, the other currencies can't... so if you have local currency from Bots of Zam, be sure to use it before departing these countries... use this for camp staff tips.

Also, all the restaurants at Emperor's Palce accept credit cardsas do all other businesses there. Not sure, but I would think even the camps in Botswana do if you have extra expenses. That was certainly true at the camps in SA and Chobe Natl Park, which is in Bots.

Tell them not to avoid the ATM's if at all possible. Rand is R6.98 to $1 -- last week anyway

Wangy26,

What dates are they at Lebala? i will be there from June 7 for a week more or less. Maybe we bump into each other?

USD works easy, as does any major currency. They also accept visa or mastercard. Dont bother converting to Pula.

Restaurants in SA is just like anywhere else in the world, so CC won't be a problem. However, they may need some basic change in rands to get around/emergencies best to do that at the airport exchange. Bear in mind, the lines may be long, the service slow. It takes forever!!!

Hari

Thank you all so much for the info. So restaurant in Emporors Palace all take credit card. Does anyone know if there is ATM machine in that place as well?

Do you know if ATM machine take regular bank ATM card? I don't think they want to use credit card in ATM since interest on cash advance is very high.

Hari, they will stay in Lebala on Jume 19 and 20.

Thank you all for the help.

They can get some SA rands at the ATMs at the airport when they arrive. It's useful to have some local currency with you. The machines accept regular ATM cards, same as in the US and elsewhere.

CW

You should never use our credit card for ATM withdrawals. Credit card withdrawals are considered cash advances and incur fees immediately.

As above, there are plenty of ATMs at the airport.

Sorry, i miss them by a couple of days.....