Cash on Safari

[Adam Stevens]

When I went to Zim I had read how much fresh new cash helps out the PH and staff. I bought mostly 100s 3-4k. And then some smaller for food and misc for travel days.

As for the tipping, I had a number in my head what I wanted to give the PH and then all the staff. And I let him tell me how much to give each tracker or camp staff based on that total.

Funny story. I had bought some road side biltong and other meat on the way into camp and got some pretty bad change back. Faded worn and looked like the first dollar bill USA ever made haha

I tried to use that same dollar bill in both Harare and Johannesburg airports and nobody won't take it. Laughed at me.

 

[spike.t]

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.

Here there are too many forgeries of the older notes....that's the reason for only newer notes being accepted

 

[Russ16]

I have a money belt that holds $3000 or there snouts if folded correctly. It’s supposedly to be wearable through scanning but I take it off and send it through with my shoes. It fits in standard belt loops. I carry another $500 to $1000 in my wallet in different dollar amounts.

My passport goes in a zippered breast pocket of my shirt.

Could you share where you got they belt?

 

[swashington]

Thanks everyone, as expected a ton of great advice and information here. Appreciate it.

 

[HankBuck]

I have a money belt that holds $3000 or there snouts if folded correctly. It’s supposedly to be wearable through scanning but I take it off and send it through with my shoes. It fits in standard belt loops. I carry another $500 to $1000 in my wallet in different dollar amounts.

My passport goes in a zippered breast pocket of my shirt.

@Hunt anything - did you find “folding & stuffing” that Money Belt extremely Tedious? I sure did, took a lot of time to fold $100 dollar bills length wise and carefully insert into belt then zip closed. Most I could fit was around $4000 and then it barely wrapped around my waist, look fat & conspicuous ——AND I had to take it off to go thru airport X-ray. I found that with only $100 dollar bills I could Not carry much more then $10,000 in cash without having cash too exposed. We need a $500 Bill made soon —— to help cover our $100,000 Safari !

 

[randallhebert]

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

Who are you hunting with? Hunted with Jamy Traut in Kaokoland and Panorama, then off to Swakopmund. Used US dollars for tips with no problem. Definitely do the Etosha park 2 night trip and the sand dunes trip in swakopmund. If you are going with JT miss Kirsten can line you up.

 

[DieJager]

I used a money belt for under my shirt. Only brought Euros with me.

What sucks is that my European country only issues 50 euro bills and not anything larger (anti-crime measure, they say) . You need a lot of bills to take a large amount of cash. Neighboring countries sometimes issues 100 or 200 bills but I stuck with the smaller bills . Also asked a money exchange for the larger bills but they asked a 10% commission. Uuhm no thank you.

In SA I used my credit card but in Namibia they wanted cash. I'm not comfortable with large amounts of cash with me so rather wire the money upfront and or use credit.

 

[Hammergun]

My wife and I split up our cash. We each have a money belt plus a pouch that we sling under our shirts. Since we also do side trips to Kruger and other tourist spots, I carry a "fake" wallet. I fill it with old gift cards and other official looking stuff and maybe fifty dollars in small bills. If I get robbed I'll just hand that over. I don't know if it'll work but it's worth a try.

 

[Philip Glass]

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,

It greatly depends if your outfitter allows you to batch the camp staff tip. If so then large bills are fine. If not then you will need an assortment of smaller bills. I much prefer the outfitters that allow me to do a lump sum for camp staff. I am the client and I detest the stress of tipping every single person individually especially when some of them I've never seen or interacted with.

 

[Rare Breed]

I’m interested in your method. Can you please share the name of the pouch that you use and where it can be purchased? Thanks

You bet. just google neck money or document pouches and they will pop up. $9 to $15 and makes me feel very secure

 

[Betterinthebush]

Who are you hunting with? Hunted with Jamy Traut in Kaokoland and Panorama, then off to Swakopmund. Used US dollars for tips with no problem. Definitely do the Etosha park 2 night trip and the sand dunes trip in swakopmund. If you are going with JT miss Kirsten can line you up.

Anton and Wanda Esterhuizen from Estreux Safaris. It will be my first safari, so we are doing a combination hunt (6 days), tour/photo Damaraland/Etosha/Skeleton Coast (3 days), fishing/touring Swakopmund (3 days) for our anniversary.

We’re so stoked for this, I’m just about coming unhinged waiting...

 

[JG26Irish_2]

On my first trip to SA, I took about $3000 cash in 100's and 50's for tips and incidentals. Once on Safari, there really are no opportunities to spend money much. I used credit card for payment of the few souvenirs purchased. My only wish was that I had brought more 20's and 50's. That hunt was a "Practice" hunt and the fees were modest. So, I was able to tip generously.

My next hunt will be more extensive and I am planning accordingly. I paid the safari fees using a debit card. Made arrangements with the bank in advance so they would not withhold funds. That went mostly OK, but we still had to call the bank and jump thru some hoops with them.

 

[Javaman]

I’m interested in your method. Can you please share the name of the pouch that you use and where it can be purchased? Thanks

Amazon is your friend on this, or REI.

 

[Hunt anything]

Could you share where you got they belt?

I’ll ask my wife, most likely Amazon.
@HankBuck , it was tedious folding the $100’s, a $500 bill would be nice that’s for sure.
For my upcoming trip I’m going to wire a couple thousand to the outfitter to cover some trophy fees and such so I don’t have to take a lot of cash. This I normally do anyway.

 

[JimP]

Most outfitters will allow you to just go home and then wire them the money for all the extras that you shot or extra expenses.

All you have to do is to talk to them and see if they will allow you to do it and then make the arrangements to do so.

 

[Rare Breed]

I’ll ask my wife, most likely Amazon.
@HankBuck , it was tedious folding the $100’s, a $500 bill would be nice that’s for sure.
For my upcoming trip I’m going to wire a couple thousand to the outfitter to cover some trophy fees and such so I don’t have to take a lot of cash. This I normally do anyway.

that’s why i use neck pouch. took $4,000 with it plus passport

 

[Hunt anything]

that’s why i use neck pouch. took $4,000 with it plus passport

My wife uses a neck pouch. My main reason for the belt is if by some chance you get robbed they would find something around your neck, I don’t think they have gotten around to stealing belts yet.

 

[Denvir Tire]

A few safari's ago, I was traveling to Windhoek though OR Tambo airport in Johannesburg. Spent the night at Afton Lodge, and next morning, going through security, my carry on/backpack bag was selected for further inspection. At a nearby table, in full view of everyone at the security checkpoint,
it went something like this....

"How much cash in your bag?"
"Five thousand US dollars"
'Why are you carrying so much cash?"
"I must pay for my vacation in Namibia, there's no CC machine in the bush"
"How do I know it's only 5K?'
silence....
"Must I remove the money and count it?'
silence accompanied by growing alarm....
"Why did you not declare the money in SA?"
"Because I'm not traveling to SA, only passing through SA"
now a short silence between us both, full eye contact....
"In the future, you must declare cash when entering SA"
hands me my bag and off i go....

I've been bringing cash to SA and Namibia for a long time, this was the first incident along these lines. This September, I'll keep my cash on my person. I don't believe paper money will trigger the metal detectors in use at OR Tambo, only the US Full Body Scanners can see it.

 

[roverandbrew]

I bring all hundreds and hit up a money exchange location outside in town when I arrive.

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

I take an around my neck pouch for my passport and cash. Goes inside my shirt

I’m interested in your method. Can you please share the name of the pouch that you use and where it can be purchased? Thanks

Wearing these neck pouches, under a shirt might be okay. However, we use to see a bunch of expats wearing these on the outside while going to and from Angola. Nothing says "tourist" more, except maybe taking a piece of masking tape and writing the word "tourist" on it and placing one on your forehead and one on your back.

Regarding cash, don't tip locals with US small bills. Get some local currency for that. As others have mentioned, currency exchange places usually only deal in $100s, 50s, and 20s. When the new generation of US currency came out, the Angolans referred to it as "Big Heads." They wouldn't accept the older bills and they indeed had smaller pictures of dead presidents.