Money & Currency
The currency is the South African Rand (ZAR). Coins: 10c, 20c, 50c, R1, R2, R5. Notes: R10, R20, R50, R100, R200. Mandela's portrait adorns all notes.
Exchange Rate
1 EUR ≈ 19–21 ZAR (fluctuates). Simple rule of thumb: Rand amount divided by 20 = Euro. So: R200 ≈ 10€, R1,000 ≈ 50€.
Cash or Card?
- Credit cards (Visa, Mastercard) are accepted almost everywhere — hotels, restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations. American Express less so.
- Cash is needed for: tips, parking attendants, informal markets, small restaurants, township tours.
- ATMs: Widely available. Use only ATMs in shopping centers or bank branches (safety!). FNB, Nedbank, Standard Bank, and ABSA are the major banks.
- Fees: South African banks charge about 30–60 ZAR per withdrawal. Therefore, withdraw larger amounts less frequently.
Tipping
Tipping is essential in South Africa — many service workers earn the majority of their income through tips.
| Situation | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| Restaurant | 10–15% of the bill |
| Safari Ranger | 100–200 ZAR per person/day |
| Safari Tracker | 50–100 ZAR per person/day |
| Gas Station Attendant | 10–20 ZAR |
| Parking Attendant | 5–10 ZAR |
| Porter/Bellhop | 20–50 ZAR |
| Housekeeping | 20–50 ZAR per day |
| Uber Driver | Via the app (10–15%) |
