Table of Contents
Best Currency to Change & Where to Change It
When travelling to Tanzania, for a Safari Tour (or otherwise) it is best to convert some money into the local currency: Tanzanian Shillings.
If it is your first time travelling to Tanzania, you may not have realized how difficult it can be to get your hands on some outside of Tanzania. If you do manage to get some shillings before you fly, it may be quite expensive and not at all cost-effective. The only other option is to brave the card charges at an ATM or exchange another currency; which may be an issue if the exchange desk doesn’t accept the money you have, or charges you way above and beyond the normal exchange rate. So many problems! Well, we have been through it so you don’t have to.
So here are the best currencies to take to Tanzania and how to get the best exchange rate.
How to get the best Exchange Rate
The first tip for getting the best exchange rate in Tanzania is to stay clear of the obviously touristy exchange desks. That may be the desk in your hotel, at the airport or a kiosk close to a public transport hub. The rates there will be more expensive due to the high concentration of tourists. To get the best exchange rate, you may need to venture slightly off the beaten track to a local establishment. The best thing to do is ask your guide where a good currency exchange point is or alternatively, ask a staff member at the hotel where they would go to change money. The place where the tourists don’t go is the place to get the best exchange rate in Tanzania.
When taking another currency to Tanzania, it is preferential to take higher value notes. In Tanzania (like many places) you will get a better exchange rate for the large notes. It is advised to take a range of different notes but be sure to organise the notes so that you only exchange the largest notes.
US Dollars
By far the best currency to take to Tanzania is the US Dollar. Like most African countries, the US Dollar is universally accepted. Almost every exchange desk in Tanzania will accept the USD and you will not have an issue trading them for local currency. On the off chance that you have not applied for a Tanzanian VISA you can pay $50 for one upon arrival- another reason to take USD.
The only issue you might face is finding a place to swap your cash into US dollars before you depart – if you live in Central London you’ll be fine, but if you’re situated anywhere else in the country you might have a harder time. Here are some resources you can use to find a post office with US dollars available:
https://www.postoffice.co.uk/travel-money/us-dollars
GBP – British Pounds
Although it is not as universally accepted as the USD, most places will change pounds for Tanzanian Shillings. For those who are travelling from Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland, you may have an issue with your regional notes being accepted. In Tanzania, it is the Bank of England notes that are accepted. Tanzanians may not be familiar with regional notes for Scotland, Wales and Northern which is the reason they are often refused. In those cases, it is safer to change your currency to US Dollars before travelling. In my experience, getting English notes regionally is a nightmare.
Euros
Tanzania has a huge population of European tourists and ex-pats. This makes the Euro one of the best currencies to take to Tanzania. You are very likely to be able to exchange Euros and get a good rate. The Euro is accepted easily at the Airports and in many places in Zanzibar, Dar Es Salaam or Arusha.
WeSwap Card
The newest way to get currency at great exchange rates is to use a travel card. The idea is to swap the currency you have for the currency you need. You can apply for a WeSwap travel card and have access to almost every major currency, without any hidden charges or inflated exchange rates. What’s more, the WeSwap card is free. Although the Tanzanian Shilling is not on the card just yet, WeSwap is forever growing and adding new currencies. It is a perfect place to find one of the best currencies to exchange in Tanzania.
