Cash or Card?

Tanzania is predominately a cash society when you venture outside of the popular tourist destinations! They deal in two types of currency, both US Dollars and the Tanzanian shilling - but it depends on where you are visiting as to which currency will be best!

Tourist businesses such as safari companies, hotels and lodges like to deal in US$ as it is more stable that the Tanzanian shilling. Hotels and lodges will also accept most credit cards and cash.

If you want to venture further into the local communities, then it's likely you will be dealing in cash and the Tanzanian shilling!

We would advise that you take some cash on your safari to Tanzania if you feel comfortable carrying it, however, we would not recommend carrying a lot of cash! You may want cash for tipping your guide at the end of your trip or for tipping staff at the end of your stay in a particular lodge or accommodation. It's also really common for there to be 'staff' at some of the public toilets in the parks and you may wish to tip them as well, but there is no obligation.

You may need to pay for drinks at some of your accommodations and it is useful to have cash on you to do that. If they do have a card payment system, sometimes it may struggle to connect to the Wi-Fi and get signal!