Saturday, February 1, 2014

How much money should I take to Africa?

How much money should I take to Africa?
I'm spending spring break in South Africa and Kenya volunteering. The place I'm doing it transports me to & from the airport and all meals are included. I'm a poor college student, so I'm not going shopping or anything. I figure what I'll be buying is like 20 bottles of water (I drink water like it's my job), a couple of Cokes, like peanut butter crackers or something for my hypoglycemia...and like 2 meals in the airports on my way there and back home. And I guess like tipping people or something... I'll have a credit card, and I don't want to have a bunch of rands & whatever they use in Kenya left over. Does anyone know about how much money I would need for that? I have absolutely no clue how much stuff costs in Africa. I randomly found about 60 rands in my house. Is that enough? Angie - it was with my now deceased grandmother's things. She used to go to Africa and India all the time.
South Africa - 7 Answers
Random Answers, Critics, Comments, Opinions :
1 :
where did the 60 rands come from? i mean you said you know nothing about how much things cost there...well how do you just randomly have their money lying rendomly in your home? haha. ....sorry to hear about your grandmother. was she volunteering in Kenya as well? anyways, i hoped someone answer helped you out....and its really good to volunteer! i hope you enjoy your time.
2 :
no much money need
3 :
Lol@angie. R60 wont get you much though, its nothing Realy edit: also it depends when last did your grandmother go to africa?, our money changed a while ago. If its the old kind you may have a problem using it.
4 :
Budget around R10 for each take-away snack item (a bottle of water, a soft drink, a cup of tea or coffee, or a chocolate bar), about R50 for a casual sit-down meal at the airport, and R5 to tip a porter if you need one. If your R60 is old money it won't work (you may be able to change it at a bank).
5 :
It doesnt really matter how much you take the local indigenous will either mooch it from you or steal it from you.
6 :
R60 will not be enough (that's if you can still use it) As previous poster said, you should budget about R10 per bottle of water, peanut brittle snacks about R10 each... as are cokes etc. I would say if you were coming for about two / three weeks you'd do fine with R500 if you spent wisely. No luxuries etc... I have no idea about Kenya!
7 :
At the airport and most shops you'll be fine with your credit card, but the banking charges may rocket a bit. I agree with Blue Ice, Helen and GemMouse. For an average take away you can budget about R60/ meal, but you may come off it with R40 even, depending on what & where you buy. I have no idea about Kenya either, sorry... :( PS. If you want to know if your Rands are still usable then look at the pictures; R200 is orange with a leopard on the front R100 is blue with buffalo on the front R50 is dark pink with a lion on the front R20 is brown with an elephant R10 is green with a rhino R1, R2, R5 are silver coins (there is a new R5 that has bronze in the middle also) The cents are all bronze.

Read more other entries :