Cash withdrawals in southern Africa

[bPeteb]

We're off to Southern Africa in three weeks and have just received our pre-tour info.

In amongst it is a statement that says you can't use an international debit card to withdraw cash, anywhere. It mentions you can withdraw from Visa and Mastercard credit cards. Maybe it's just poorly worded? We intended to withdraw ZAR when we get to Johannesburg, hopefully at a bank ATM the airport, using our Visa debit card linked to our savings account.

Do we need to replan? Do we need to get all of our cash before we leave?

We start in our holiday in Livingstone where we've been asked to pay for our tours in USD, then across to Zimbabwe, Botswana, Namibia and South Africa.

I'm about to go in search of USD as the info says USD, undamaged, post 2009, nothing bigger than $20s. Now I'm thinking I need to get the ZAR?

 

[AIRwin]

This is what I've heard from someone who used to live there:

• You can use debit visa or Mastercard to withdraw
• You can also use them to tap and pay
• Preferable to tap and pay instead of withdrawing cash due to better forex rates

 

[bPeteb]

This is what I've heard from someone who used to live there:

• You can use debit visa or Mastercard to withdraw
• You can also use them to tap and pay
• Preferable to tap and pay instead of withdrawing cash due to better forex rates

Thanks AIRwin. Seemed an odd statement.

Maybe it was specific to Zimbabwe but it was in the general information where it suggests taking sufficient cash for the whole trip.

 

[AIRwin]

Thanks AIRwin. Seemed an odd statement.

Maybe it was specific to Zimbabwe but it was in the general information where it suggests taking sufficient cash for the whole trip.

Meant to specify that they used to live in JNB

 

[Fruitloop50]

We were in Livingstone last month and used debit cards at an ATM to withdraw kwacha. Used both Visa (ING) and Mastercard (Macquarie).

Went inside the bank to exchange some of the kwacha into USD and they had plenty of new low denomination notes. It probably wasn't a great exchange rate but it was convenient for our day trip to Zimbabwe.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Thanks AIRwin. Seemed an odd statement.

Maybe it was specific to Zimbabwe but it was in the general information where it suggests taking sufficient cash for the whole trip.

Given the crime and theft common in Africa generally, that would be quite risky. Though yes you need some cash.

At one place we stayed at in Kenya the Manager stole cash from our room safe. His strategy was to steal about 10% and hope that the client would not notice till later, or perhaps even did not know exactly what was put into it. We knew exactly as the tour we were going on would only accept $US in cash as payment.

We know it was him, and he kept changing his story on who had access to the safe key, and where it was kept. Plus going back through reviews we discovered a few people with the same issue. More probably would have but the 10% theft probably had some unsure where and when they lost the 10%. We kicked up a huge stink, and the English owners eventually sacked him not long after.

Plus the other person at the hotel who was going our tour also had 100% stolen, and they had just arrived from Scotland, and we from Australia, both on different flights. We had not read the reviews as we did not book the hotel.

 

[bPeteb]

We were in Livingstone last month and used debit cards at an ATM to withdraw kwacha. Used both Visa (ING) and Mastercard (Macquarie).

Went inside the bank to exchange some of the kwacha into USD and they had plenty of new low denomination notes. It probably wasn't a great exchange rate but it was convenient for our day trip to Zimbabwe.

That's great info. Thankyou

 

[RooFlyer]

I'm also going there, in a month, so thanks for bringing this up. I’ll check with my operators to see if they say the same thing.

 

[avstand]

Hi all, I’ve just spent three months in South Africa, Lesotho, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

1. In Livingstone, I recommend just getting some Kwacha from an ATM on your way into town (your driver can take you on the way from the airport) - my debit mastercard worked. There are several ATMs in Livingstone where you can withdraw without any additional fees (FNB and Atlasmara both worked for me - Access and Ecobank are apparently free too but I can’t vouch for that personally). If one machine isn’t working, don’t worry - just try another! Hotels, restaurants, tour operators and supermarkets all take credit cards. You can also pay by card for entry into Victoria Falls (on both sides).

2. You will need some USD cash on arrival in Zimbabwe (particularly to pay for your visa and any initial taxi), I’d recommend at least $100 per person. This is worth getting in advance in Australia IMO. Small notes are good to have too. There are ATMs where you can get further cash as needed but these do impose fairly hefty withdrawal fees (US$5) and sometimes don’t have cash. They also won’t provide small notes, though you can get change by making a small purchase at a supermarket. Again, cards are widely but not universally accepted.

3. I had no problem withdrawing rand in South Africa with my Australian debit cards, but didn’t use much cash. Cards are almost universally accepted. There are multiple ATMs at Johannesburg airport.

Let me know if you have any questions at all! Sounds like a wonderful trip.

 

[avstand]

Given the crime and theft common in Africa generally, that would be quite risky. Though yes you need some cash.

At one place we stayed at in Kenya the Manager stole cash from our room safe. His strategy was to steal about 10% and hope that the client would not notice till later, or perhaps even did not know exactly what was put into it. We knew exactly as the tour we were going on would only accept $US in cash as payment.

We know it was him, and he kept changing his story on who had access to the safe key, and where it was kept. Plus going back through reviews we discovered a few people with the same issue. More probably would have but the 10% theft probably had some unsure where and when they lost the 10%. We kicked up a huge stink, and the English owners eventually sacked him not long after.

Plus the other person at the hotel who was going our tour also had 100% stolen, and they had just arrived from Scotland, and we from Australia, both on different flights. We had not read the reviews as we did not book the hotel.

I’m sorry you had this experience. That sounds awful - I would have been furious. I can say that I’ve had no issues at all in Zimbabwe or Zambia, and both feel very safe. South Africa was another story…!

 

[bPeteb]

Thanks so much for the info avstand. ATMs with our debit cards it is.

I bit the bullet and went and bought mixed denomination USD during the week. We need some for a tour in Livingstone that is cash only, plus for our border crossing into Zimbabwe. We can exchange along the way when needed.

They had ZAR as well and we need 7000 to hand over to our tour leader when we join in Vic Falls so I got that instead of standing at an ATM at the airport at JNB. What USD we don't use we'll just bring back.

 

[RooFlyer]

There are multiple ATMs at Johannesburg airport.

Are there any in the baggage collection area? Or just around the landside area of Arrivals?

 

[avstand]

Are there any in the baggage collection area? Or just around the landside area of Arrivals?

From memory they are landside only.