Carrying Cash in Africa

The best place to carry your cash when you travel in Africa is inside a money belt that you can wear under your clothes. It's also a good idea to bring money in various forms, in case you get low on cash, there's no place to change a traveler's check, or a vendor won't take a credit card. Below are some pros and cons of the various options you have when you bring your travel money to Africa.

Credit/ATM (Debit) Cards: ATM (debit) cards will work in most African capital cities, but beyond that you may not have too much luck unless you are traveling in South Africa. Credit cards are useful in major cities and luxury hotels but smaller establishments may not accept them. If you can use a credit card make sure you ask about the exchange rate and fees charged. Visa and MasterCard are generally more widely accepted than any other credit card.

ATM Locations in Africa:

• Visa ATM Locator
• MasterCard ATM Locations
• Barclays Bank in Africa

Cash: Always carry some cash with you, American dollars are probably the easiest to use throughout the continent. Carry an assortment of bills with you and take into account that many countries charge airport fees in US currency and some national parks will only accept US dollars for their entry fees. Note that some bureau de changes will only accept US dollar bills that have been issued after 1991.

Travelers Cheques: The safest form of cash is defintely travelers cheques since they can be replaced if they are lost and/or stolen. The only hassle with travelers cheques is finding a bank that will exchange them in more remote parts of Africa. Some banks can also charge a hefty fee for cashing your cheques, so when you find a good rate, change a lot at one time.