Max69

ya, I have been reading this board for awhile but finally I am a member.
I am planning a trip for March 2007 to Kenya and Egypt.
I was saving about $500.00 plus souvenirs. I don't really know how much souvenir money I need.

ShayTay

Welcome to the board, Max69! I guess the question you ask is one that you'll have to answer for yourself. Have you done international trips before? If so, did you do a lot of souvenir shopping? Are there any specific items that you'll be looking for? Are you comfortable bargaining? (You'll have to do that in both countries.)

Max69

Shay Tay,
I want to buy various dresses and bracelets. I have travelled 3 times before and usually collect books of the area, clothes and small souvenirs that take very little space in the suitcase.
I am curious to see the various outfits for sale on The Nile cruise.
Possibly I will find a red dress in Kenya too.

ALadyNCal

After reading this thread (and a few others), I have a couple of questions.

1. I know it's been said to bring lots of small denomination U.S. bills ($1s/$5s), but on a long trip that can be quite allot to carry around and keep safe. Is it not just as good to get local currency from an ATM (periodically) and use it for tipping and purchases? Our trip includes Kruger, Cape Town, Garden Route, V Falls, and Botswana (fwiw).

2. If you do bring U.S. currency for the tipping, is there anything wrong with bringing large bills ($100s) for the tip for the guide?

Thanks

cw

I'll just add to the previous question: is it customary in South Africa to tip in US dollars rather than ZAR?

Thanks.

cw

ShayTay

You will be able to use ATMs to get rands in South African cities and towns, such as in Cape Town and along the Garden Route. Pull out as much as you are comfortable carrying, to avoid the ATM fees you're charged every time you use one. Use rands in SA; they don't want your US dollars, as they have a strong currency and don't need the hassle of exchanging money. You'll get large bills out of the ATM and will probably need some smaller bills for porter tips, so you might want to make a small purchase at the airport to get change.

I don't think you'll find ATMs in Vic Falls or Botswana if you're staying at safari camps. You don't need Zim dollars or Botswana pula, anyway. Use US dollars in those locations. I only exchanged for pula in the Gabarone airport to buy stamps for postcards. Dollars (and credit cards) were fine at the camps. If you're at a camp long enough to use a large-denomination bill, I don't think they would mind at all.

One point: I compared what the net exchange rates were for my cash vs. credit card purchases in SA. Because my card company added an exchange fee onto the purchases which was greater than the ATM fee, I paid more by using my credit card instead of cash...just a thought.

Tax Tip: In South Africa, you should receive a "tax invoice" on most of your purchases. If you show those invoices and the goods purchased at your SA departure airport prior to checking in, you get the Value Added Tax (VAT) back. Actually, you'll get a check that you cash in the Departures area. They'll exchange it into dollars, but will charge really high fees. I just took the rands and did more shopping. I also kept some rands (especially the small bills) for my next trip.

If you are departing from Cape Town, you can go to the tax office at the V&A Waterfront with your tax invoices and have all the paperwork done there. Then, go to the Express line at the Cape Town airport and show them the filled-in paperwork and goods.

sandi

A $100 bill is fine, but where will you be that you have the same guide long enough to tip $100. Assuming $20/day for a couple for 5 days, then $100 is fine, but if less time, you're not likely to get change back in USD, rather local currency.

Just figure out how many days at one place, number of people who have to be tipped, amount per person or combined staff tips - then break it out into the denominations needed.

If in local currency, this too can be a stack of bills, so not that much different than USD or Euro or Sterling.

Though I've rarely had $1,000 with me, even if lots of $1s and $5s, surprisingly, they don't take up that much room. But as mentioned above, I don't keep all my money in one place in my bag and always have my money and credit cards with me.

It's easily doable, so not much to fret about.

ALadyNCal

Thanks for the helpful info

I was considering the $100s because we have a 9 or 10 night campin safari in Botswana + thought that if giving the guide U.S. currency was OK, then maybe large bills for that instance -- unless he would have difficulty cashing/spending them...

ShayTay

The large bill might be easier for him to cash, but I'm not sure...any safari guides out there?

Who are you doing the camping safari with? I'm considering that, next time I go to Botswana.

ALadyNCal

ShayTay -- CC Africa. I still need to write up my trip itinerary and post it. This is our first trip to S.A. + Botswana

cw

ShayTay,

Thanks for the information re: rand v. US$ in South Africa. It is what I suspected.

Our first trip also to South Africa, so we'll have to figure a 9-night budget for tips. I'll check, but assume that other camp expenses can go on the cc. I was aware of the surcharge, and realize the drawbacks.

Thanks.

cw

matnikstym

in doing research for my next trip, if you are going to Zimbabwe, don't bring any bills higher than a $20, they won't take the $100 bill as it's the most counterfeited bill in the world.