Dear Val,

My two brief safaris in Tanzania also required a cash payment. I brought $1000 USD and split it between my daughter and I, but in the end it was not enough money (we were there 3 weeks and had a private safari guide).

It was near impossible to get USD from an ATM and although I was told I could get them from Barclays in Moshi if I had my passport with me, they wouldn't give me USD. Also, quite often outside the cities the ATMs are not working or are so filled with bugs you won't want to go in them.

So, I went to the ATM at Barclay's in Moshi and took out a billion (well it felt like that but it was closer to a million) Tanzanian Shillings. Then walked across the street to the bureau of exchange and exchanged for USD. The stack of USD was much, much smaller and I felt better carrying it, but I was very nervous doing this whole transaction alone as they count all the money right in front of the glass window.

Nonetheless, I never had any problems with theft or being threatened in any way. The most threatening thing was the assault of vendors selling crafts, but if you don't have a pocketbook on you and firmly say no, I do not have any money, they will get tired and move on.

Yikes, that sounds awful, Gruezi. I imagine you paid dearly in the exchange rate, too! My tour operator wants payment in traveler's cheques so I'm going to end up with a wad of cheques as my bank only sells them in $100 and $50 denominations. Royal Bank is on the Plus network so perhaps I'll open an account with them.

live42day, I'll be sure to post trip reports!

Val.

Val,

Honestly, I live in Switzerland and Tanzania was so shockingly cheap for me I never blinked an eye about exchange rate - have no idea what it was.

Funny, my daughter said to me earlier tonight, "you know mom, if we lived in Tanzania we would be really, really rich." 'Tis true, 'tis a pity but 'tis true.

Have a wonderful trip.

I am missing that country and it's lovely, lovely people!

gruezi

Hi Val!
We have just returned from 4 weeks in Tanzania and Kenya. In Tanzania, we used US$ and Tsh - both were accepted everywhere, with a few exceptions (Tsh only for petrol, for example). One way to reduce the amount of cash you would be carrying would be to purchase your visas ahead of time. We acquired ours through the mail from the Tanzanian (and Kenyan) embassy in Ottawa and it was very easy and quick - we received both visas within a week of mailing in our applications. We printed the required forms off the embassy websites.

Most of the lodges (and shops like Shoprite) in Tanzania took Visa or MC for both the accommodation and meals. We used both US$ and Tsh for guides and other tips, and everyone seemed quite happy to accept either. We went with many small US bills - $1 $5, $10, $20 - we didn't even take US$50 bills. We split the cash into small ziploc sandwich bags and hid it throughout our carry-ons and camera bags. My husband also wore a money belt. We did drive the teller at the bank crazy requesting our US money in small bills that were in good shape but, in the end, no one seemed to mind if the bills weren't pristine.

I suspect that getting US dollars in Tanzania would be difficult. We had the opposite problem - trying to get lodges to give us Tsh (which we were not able to obtain ahead of time in Canada, Heathrow or even the airport in Nairobi) for our US$. We needed cash for petrol and were practically running on fumes before we could get Tsh. Next time I would somehow arrange to get Tsh ahead of time.

We had no problem in either country (Tanzania or Kenya) with our BMO bank cards, although we did have difficulty last year in Botswana. Robin

oh and btw, if you bring back Tanzanian dollars you wont be able to cash them in, at least we couldnt, our bank would not take them so make sure to spend as much as you can before coming home.

Oh, I know, live42day - I have odds and ends of lots of soft currencies at home all waiting for when I return to the same country...

It's been mentioned over and over that you cannot purchase KSH or TSH outside of their countries. Always best, on arrival Kenya or Tanzania (and most other destinations) to stop at the ATM to get some local currency. ATM offers the best exchange rate.

Likewise, in Kenya or Tanzania it's often difficult to exchange remaining KSH or TSH at airport before returning home to USD or other home currency and you loose on the exchange. Best to use the last you have for your guide/driver or camp staff tips.

If you still have a few notes remaining amounting to less than USD$20, put them into your photo album! Or give them to young children... they love foreign currency.

I purposefully save them for my photo album!

I've read through the above comments. I'm a little confused, some are saying to bring US dollars and you can exchange to shillings, but others seem to be saying most places accept US dollars. When they accept US dollars, are they then tacking on an exchange rate?

I'm probably bring $750 US for 10 days to pay for visa, laundry, souvenirs, tips, drinks, emergency funds etc. Should I exchange any of that to TZ shillings when I get there? If I need some TZ shillings, it sounds like it is best to get it straight from an ATM to get the best exchange.

Maybe I'll just bring $400 US and get another $400 from the ATM in shillings?

Also, anyone use an ATM there? When I want to get my money out, do I ask for it in US dollars or do I have to request it in Shillings (thereby having to do some math in my head)

Sandi: I had no problem purchasing Kenyan shillings at my local Bank of Montreal here in Canada. I ordered them and received them within 5 days. Tanzanian shillings were not available either here or at Heathrow, but we did purchase some at the airport in Nairobi when we arrived from Heathrow.

After entering Tanzania at Isibania/Sirari, we had a terrible time obtaining further Tanzanian shillings, which we needed to purchase petrol. Even at the crater, we couldn't get shillings and they wouldn't take $US. It wasn't until Arusha that we could finally obtain Tsh readily. Next time, we would know enough to get all that we need before leaving Nairobi.

mrscherry: ATMs in Tanzania will give you Tsh, not $US. We found $US accepted everywhere, even in the smallest, out-of-the-way markets. However, we always prefer to give tips in the local currency. Robin

US dollars were accepted everywhere, even preferred in many cases. Most of the prices in shops are stated in US dollars. In cases where they aren't, they usually use TZS1000 to US1. That's under the going rate, but not really worth going through the hassle of getting shillings. I haven't used TZ shillings on most of my Tanzania trips. Everyone was fine with accepting dollars for tips. At the Maasai village, they asked if we would exchange the smaller bills used for purchases for larger bills; they were easier for them to exchange.

One note: All your bills should be newer (2003 or 2004 and newer) and of the "big head" design where available. You should also be sure that none of the bills are torn or marked in any way. The overseas banks won't accept them, so neither will the Tanzanians. Avoid using US$100 bills, as they are the counterfeiter's bill of choice and are looked upon with suspicion.

canadian_robin - My bank also has Kenyan Shillings, but the exchange rate is "terrible" so I won't bother. I only exchange enough in Kenya for local purchases... maybe $100 worth. Otherwise, it's USD. And, have only used USD in Tanzania. Your case though, as a self-drive, and need to purchase petrol, it's understandable that only local currency would be accepted.

Of course an ATM in a foreign country will dispense their local currency. Haven't seen one (Europe, Asia, etc) to pour out USD. Anymore than an American ATM would dispense Shillings or other currencies.

As to the USD$100 notes... depends on which country. Seems in Tanzania these are prefered along with the USD$50, as they get a slightly better rate of exchange than $20s, $10s. To me it's a few pennies and I don't sweat it!

In Kenya, on the other hand, the USD$100 notes are often refused as they feel these are more easily counterfeited. Guess that's why Uncle Sam will soon be issuing new USD$100 notes.