Currency, Withdrawing Money, and Credit Card for South Africa

In South Africa, the currency is the Rand (ZAR).

The current exchange rate is approximately 1 € = 20.48 ZAR (as of May 2025).

Card payments are widely accepted in cities; you rarely need cash anymore - for example, for tips or at gas stations.

The best way to withdraw cash is at an ATM on-site. > see also tips for the ideal travel credit card for South Africa.

Other information online is outdated. I have been to South Africa 10 times, most recently in January and February 2025, and I have traveled throughout the country.

I have traveled in South Africa ten times now - most recently in February 2025. Whether in Kruger National Park, Cape Town, or the Drakens Mountains: I personally test all the tips on-site. If anything changes, I will update this article because I will be back in South Africa soon.

In South Africa, the currency is the South African Rand (ZAR). The current exchange rate is about 1 € = 20.48 Rand (as of May 2025). Since the rate often changes, I recommend checking the current rate before your trip - for example, with the 'Currency' app or 'XE Currency'. Both work offline, and converting Rand to Euro is automatic.

There are banknotes worth 10, 50, 100, and 200 Rand. Additionally, there are coins worth 5, 10, and 50 cents as well as 1, 2, and 5 Rand.

Credit cards are accepted almost everywhere in South Africa (read my tips here). You only need cash in a few situations - for example, for tips, parking attendants, or at remote gas stations. I have traveled in South Africa ten times, most recently in February 2025. All my tips are based on personal experience - from Cape Town to Kruger National Park.

My recommendation: Use a credit card that does not charge fees for payments or withdrawals abroad. This saves a lot of money overall.

I recommend bringing a small amount of Euro as a backup on your trip - but really just as a reserve. In practice, you only need South African Rand. No US dollars; that is completely pointless. For the locals, US dollars are of no use; we are in South Africa, where the Rand is the currency.

Since you should not carry a large amount of cash in South Africa (read more about safety here), I rarely have cash in Rand. I always withdraw cash right upon arrival at the airport ATM. Never more than 100 € in Rand. You actually don't need more.

Bringing Euro for exchange is unnecessary, in my opinion. This is advice from old times - mostly from banks that don't offer good travel credit cards. With the right credit card, you withdraw Rand directly at the ATM without exchange fees and without going through the bank.

I recommend always taking a "backup" in Euro (it could also be US dollars). However, due to the crime rate, you should carry very little cash. My tip: Keep the amount low. I usually take 50 - 100 Euros (maximum) in cash.

Bringing cash in Euro for exchange is pointless in my view. This is advised by old-fashioned banks that do not offer good fee-free credit cards for South Africa or travel in general.

The most common payment method in South Africa is your credit card. You don't need to exchange cash in Rand at your local bank beforehand - that's expensive, cumbersome, and simply outdated.

I pay for almost everything with my card or withdraw cash in the local currency directly upon arrival at the airport. With a good travel credit card for South Africa (my recommendations for credit cards in South Africa can be found here), you won't pay any withdrawal or foreign currency fees.

Therefore, my recommendation: Withdraw cash in local currency with a good travel credit card directly upon arrival at the airport. This not only saves you a trip to your bank in Germany but also a lot of time and money. We don't withdraw more than 100 € in Rand (about 2000 ZAR) upon arrival. On my last trip, I even had half of the Rand left over.

Warning: In some remote regions, you must be prepared to pay only in cash. Generally, this does not apply to the Garden Route, Kruger National Park, or the Winelands. My credit card was always accepted in the Drakens Mountains as well.

I always withdraw my cash directly on-site at the ATM - preferably right after arriving at the airport. This way, I save myself the trip to the bank in Germany and unnecessary fees.

Important: Use only well-secured ATMs, ideally in banks, airports, or shopping centers. I advise you to withdraw cash only during the day and in busy areas. Avoid ATMs on the street or in dark alleys - they carry a higher risk of card fraud.

Be sure to read my information and tips on safety in South Africa.

With the right credit card, you can withdraw cash in local currency without additional fees. You can read which cards I recommend in my separate article on travel credit cards for South Africa.

Even though you can pay for almost everything with a card in South Africa, there are situations where you should definitely have cash on hand. I recommend always keeping a small amount in Rand readily available - ideally in small bills or coins.

You need cash mainly for:

I personally always have about 500 to 1,000 Rand in cash with me, well distributed and not all in one place.

In South Africa, cashless payments are becoming increasingly common - even for small amounts. Particularly in cities, restaurants, accommodations, and tour providers, card payments are now standard. I pay for almost everything with my credit card - even at market stalls or in national parks.

Important: Many German EC cards do not work in South Africa. You need either a credit card (Visa or Mastercard) or a debit card that is usable worldwide (e.g., from an online bank, not a traditional bank as those cards are expensive).

Note: Many (traditional) banks charge foreign fees of up to 2% on top of the exchange rate. With a good travel credit card, you can avoid this. Make sure to activate your card for use abroad before your trip - with modern banks (like DKB), this is simple through their app. And when asked whether you want to pay in Euros or Rand: Always choose Rand to avoid unnecessary extra fees (Dynamic Currency Conversion).

Tipping is an integral part of everyday life in South Africa and is considered good manners - especially since many people in service industries rely on this extra income. Therefore, be sure to set aside some cash for tips and have small bills and coins on hand.

Here's an overview of what is common:

My tip: I always collect small change in a separate bag right after withdrawing cash - this way, I always have something on hand while out and don't have to deal with large bills in public.

I hope you found this article helpful and that it answered your questions. If you have any ideas or questions, we would love to hear your comments here on the travel blog.

If you have no questions: We still welcome your feedback and would appreciate it if you shared the article with friends or saved it on Pinterest. You can find the tips later.

Would you like to always receive the best travel and insider tips? Then follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Threads, or subscribe to my newsletter to get regular updates and exclusive tips.

♥ Do you enjoy using my tips? Say thank you with a coffee ☕️

My articles are the result of intense research, personal experience, and honest recommendations - completely without AI. I write them to help you plan your travels stress-free and with genuine, tested tips.

If you appreciate my work and simply want to say thank you, I would be happy to receive a small tip in my virtual travel fund. Every contribution helps me continue creating high-quality content with passion for you, independently. Thank you!

Trust is important: In some of my articles, you will find referral links (affiliate links). If you book or buy something through one of these links, it won't cost you any extra - but I receive a small commission. This way, you can support me without any extra effort and help keep this blog alive. Thank you for being part of my community and sharing my passion for authentic travel!