Cash on Safari

[swashington]

Hey all, I am getting ready to leave in a few weeks and know that I have to take some cash for incidentals and tips. I need some advice on what bills I should take with me. If for example, I take $1000: I don't think 10 $100 bills would be appropriate. How should I break it down for good use.

Thanks in advance,

 

[JimP]

On both of my hunts I took enough cash to cover the PH's tip. I had obtained enough SA Rand from my bank to take over for the rest of the trips and a few incidentals that I didn't want to use a credit card for.

Most outfitters will have a tip breakdown on their web site where you can figure out what you need. We also have a very long thread on the forum here about tips, the first part of it will break down how much for each person. You can tip more or less. On my last hunt my PH got a couple hundred more than was suggested along with my tracker. Some say to tip the help in US dollars where the outfitter will exchange it for the help. I just use rand for the help, it avoids the middle man.

Other than that I just use my US credit card for anything that I purchase in SA, I let my CC company know that I am going to be out of the US to avoid problems using it.

 

[Cme1983]

Take 500 in 20’s. That will cover any small tips or nuisance fees that you encounter and the rest in 100’s. Don’t overcomplicate things too much.

 

[Hogpatrol]

I take a hundred in fives. OMMV.

 

[TOBY458]

Take a few $5 & $10 bills for the airport extortionists. Then like $1000 in $20s and the rest in $100s.

 

[Beck]

Take a variety of bills keeping in mind small 5-$10 expenses, and for your PH tip you'll need 100's. I usually have around $4k in cash, and I usually return with a little bit of extra

 

[Mtn_Infantry]

I take about $100 each in 5’s & 10’s (carry in my wallet) as well as $10-20 in singles. Sometimes I’ll get $100-200 in rand as well depends where i am and what the plan is. I like to keep the 1’s, 5’s & 10’s in my wallet in case i need to “tip” someone they don’t see the rest of the money.

I keep another $500 or so in 20’s, and the bulk of my cash in 100’s secure elsewhere. I normally bring a lot more cash than I need as opportunities might arise to shoot other species and cash is king.

 

[Betterinthebush]

I’ve not been to the continent yet. My PH was very helpful in guiding me through the process of tipping and bringing cash. What I’m doing is applicable strictly for me and if any readers are also going to NW Namibia.

My wife and I leave in 2 months. There will be no credit swipe available and (apparently) very poor cell (which is the way I want it). So, in order to pay trophy fees nightly/as needed, I’m wiring him enough to cover anticipated TF’s and a couple $K extra in case I go bananas and start knocking over everything that I see. If I hit or go under my TF target, the extra goes to the PH as tip and he will remit the balance back to me in Swakopmund.

He told me how much to tip the camp already and etiquette in doing such. He told me that by wiring money in advance and picking up some from the bank on day of arrival is safer and less hassle and to just bring ~$4-500 broken down into a couple 100s, and the rest in 20s&10s.

YMMV

 

[spike.t]

Remember newer usd notes and no pen marks..tears etc....and I know you aren't coming to zambia but a reminder to people who might be ....for tips or money to change only bring usd 100 and usd 50 notes....smaller notes at the change shops you get around 30% less on the rate

 

[Rafiki]

On my last trip I made a spreadsheet of all known items that I needed cash. The list of items was based on notes I'd take from a previous. That exercise brought out a few surprises but in the end I came out about as perfect as possible.

I do use my credit card where I can.

This forums tipping guide is quite helpful.

 

[HankBuck]

Hey all, I am getting ready to leave in a few weeks and know that I have to take some cash for incidentals and tips. I need some advice on what bills I should take with me. If for example, I take $1000: I don't think 10 $100 bills would be appropriate. How should I break it down for good use.

Thanks in advance,

@swashington - it’s 2025, do you consider taking $1000 “carrying cash”? That’s lunch money ! When I went on Safari in 2006 I carried $10,000 cash and had my 18 yr old Son carry another $10,000 —- we were a bit “Stuffed” wearing fat money belts and plump wallets. Unless they start printing new $500 Bills soon we won’t be able to carry a meaningful amount of cash — with Safaris now costing $50,000–$100,000. I know some disagree but I Always carry ample cash when traveling - it can come in handy.

 

[pilar]

I take about $100 each in 5’s & 10’s (carry in my wallet) as well as $10-20 in singles. Sometimes I’ll get $100-200 in rand as well depends where i am and what the plan is. I like to keep the 1’s, 5’s & 10’s in my wallet in case i need to “tip” someone they don’t see the rest of the money.

I keep another $500 or so in 20’s, and the bulk of my cash in 100’s secure elsewhere. I normally bring a lot more cash than I need as opportunities might arise to shoot other species and cash is king.

This is what my wife and I do $1’s 5’s , 10’s , 20’s , then $2000 in $100’s
Remember to check what is allowed to bring in by country
Mozambique is $5000 max import

 

[Rare Breed]

Hey all, I am getting ready to leave in a few weeks and know that I have to take some cash for incidentals and tips. I need some advice on what bills I should take with me. If for example, I take $1000: I don't think 10 $100 bills would be appropriate. How should I break it down for good use.

Thanks in advance,

Here is what I do. Talk to your ph to find out who will be on your truck each day and what do they do? For example in SA it will be one to two trackers and PH. In Zim add another tracker, government game scout and park scout. Then think about cook, camp manager and person washing clothes. I do an excell spread sheet for each of my 8 safaries. This then enables me to know tip amount for each. I carry $100’s only for my ph. The rest is in 20’s and 10’s

 

[Rafiki]

@swashington - it’s 2025, do you consider taking $1000 “carrying cash”? That’s lunch money ! When I went on Safari in 2006 I carried $10,000 cash and had my 18 yr old Son carry another $10,000 —- we were a bit “Stuffed” wearing fat money belts and plump wallets. Unless they start printing new $500 Bills soon we won’t be able to carry a meaningful amount of cash — with Safaris now costing $50,000–$100,000. I know some disagree but I Always carry ample cash when traveling - it can come in handy.

Good lord.

 

[dlmac]

Remember newer usd notes and no pen marks..tears etc....and I know you aren't coming to zambia but a reminder to people who might be ....for tips or money to change only bring usd 100 and usd 50 notes....smaller notes at the change shops you get around 30% less on the rate

When hunting in Europe, Russia and a few other places they wanted new crisp 100s. Same in S America, truth is the black market etc prefer them. All Blood money (Blood diamond theory...escape money should be in NEW 100s). Maybe my experiences have been different.

 

[HankBuck]

Good lord.

@Rafiki - if a Problem comes up and the “Good Lord” is Not around — cash $$ is the next best thing !

 

[Green Chile]

Mike T. made a great point...they need to be crisp and not well used. I have exchanged $ with PHs that were left tips with old bills that they couldn't use in Africa. I brought them home and deposited them but they can't use them in Africa without taking a real beating on the exchange. In fact, a pro move would be to ask your PH if he's in good shape or needs you to bring crisp $ to exchange with him. You're doing his family a big favor.

 

[wesheltonj]

Find out who gets paid in Dollar and bring Dollars them. For those who get paid in Rand, use an ATM and get it there. Also you can also get Dollars in RSA at an AMEX office. Zimbabwe the ATM’s dispense Dollars.

 

[Hogpatrol]

The story I got from my PH was the old ones aren't wanted because there are too many counterfeits and the RSA banks wouldn't take them.

 

[Hunt anything]

I normally take around $5000 in cash split between my wife and I. I carry most in a money belt but will have $500 to $1000 in my wallet on the slim chance something happens, I can hand over what’s in my wallet with minimal loss. The money in my wallet is a mix of $20’s $50’s and $100’s.
I will use an Africa only credit card if I need to put something on credit. When I get home that card goes in the drawer and doesn’t come back out until I head back to Africa.
My money belt is an actual belt that goes in pant loops and not just around the waste under my shirt.