A Guide to Currencies and Money in Africa

If you're planning a trip to Africa, you'll need to find out the local currency for your destination and plan the best way to manage your money while you're there. Most African countries have their own unique currency, although some share the same currency with several other states. The West African CFC franc, for example, is the official currency of eight countries in West Africa, including Benin, Burkina Faso, Guinea-Bissau, Cote d'Ivoire, Mali, Niger, Senegal and Togo. 

Similarly, some African countries have more than one official currency. The South African rand is used alongside the Namibian dollar in Namibia, and alongside the Swazi Lilangeni in Swaziland.

Exchange Rates

Exchange rates for many African currencies are volatile, so it's usually best to wait until you arrive before exchanging your foreign cash into local money. Often, the cheapest way to obtain local currency is to draw it directly from the ATM, rather than paying commission at airport bureaus or city exchange centers. If you prefer to exchange cash, convert a small amount upon arrival (enough to pay for transport from the airport to your initial hotel), then exchange the rest in town where it's cheaper. Make sure to download a currency converter app, or use a website like this one to double check the latest exchange rates before agreeing to a fee.

Cash, Cards or Traveler's Cheques?

Traveler's cheques are outdated and very rarely accepted in Africa, especially in rural areas. Both cash and cards have their own set of pros and cons. Carrying large amounts of cash on your person is inadvisable in Africa from a safety perspective, and unless your hotel has a trustworthy safe, it's not a good idea to leave it in your hotel room either. If possible, leave the majority of your money in the bank, using an ATM to draw it in small installments as required. However, while cities in countries like Egypt and South Africa have a wealth of ATMs, you may be hard-pressed to find one in a remote safari camp or on a tiny Indian Ocean island. If you're traveling to places where ATMs are either unreliable or non-existent, you'll need to draw the cash that you intend on spending in advance. Wherever you go, it's a good idea to carry coins or small notes for tipping the slew of people that you'll meet on your journey, from car guards to gas station attendants. 

Money & Safety in Africa

So, if you're forced to draw large amounts of cash, how do you keep it safe? Your best bet is to split your cash, keeping it in several different locations (one rolled up in a sock in your main luggage, one in a secret compartment in your backpack, one in a hotel safe etc). In this way, if one bag is stolen, you'll still have the other cash stashes to fall back on. Don't carry your wallet in an oversized, obvious purse—instead, invest in a money belt or keep notes folded in a zipped pocket instead. If you decide to go the card route, be very aware of your surroundings at ATMs. Choose one in a safe, well-lit area, and make sure not to let anyone stand close enough to see your PIN. Be aware of con artists offering to help you make your withdrawal, or asking you for help making theirs. If someone approaches you while you're drawing money, be careful that they're not acting as a distraction while someone else seizes your cash. Staying safe in Africa is easy—but common sense is essential. 

Official African Currencies

Algeria: Algerian dinar (DZD)

Angola: Angolan kwanza (AOA)

Benin: West African CFA franc (XOF)

Botswana: Botswanan pula (BWP)

Burkina Faso: West African CFA franc (XOF)

Burundi: Burundian franc (BIF)

Cameroon: Central African CFA franc (XAF)

Cape Verde: Cape Verdian escudo (CVE)

Central African Republic: Central African CFA franc (XAF)

Chad: Central African CFA franc (XAF)

Comoros: Comorian franc (KMF)

Cote d'Ivoire: West African CFA franc (XOF)

Democratic Republic of the Congo: Congolese franc (CDF), Zairean zaire (ZRZ)

Djibouti: Djiboutian franc (DJF)

Egypt: Egyptian pound (EGP)

Equatorial Guinea: Central African CFA franc (XAF)

Eritrea: Eritrean nakfa (ERN)

Ethiopia: Ethiopian birr (ETB)

Gabon: Central African CFA franc (XAF)

Gambia: Gambian dalasi (GMD)

Ghana: Ghanaian cedi (GHS)

Guinea: Guinean franc (GNF)

Guinea-Bissau: West African CFA franc (XOF)

Kenya: Kenyan shilling (KES)

Lesotho: Lesotho loti (LSL)

Liberia: Liberian dollar (LRD)

Libya: Libyan dinar (LYD)

Madagascar: Malagasy ariary (MGA)

Malawi: Malawian kwacha (MWK)

Mali: West African CFA franc (XOF)

Mauritania: Mauritanian ouguiya (MRO)

Mauritius: Mauritian rupee (MUR)

Morocco: Moroccan dirham (MAD)

Mozambique: Mozambican metical (MZN)

Namibia: Namibian dollar (NAD), South African rand (ZAR)

Niger: West African CFA franc (XOF)

Nigeria: Nigerian naira (NGN)

Republic of the Congo: Central African CFA franc (XAF)

Rwanda: Rwandan franc (RWF)

Sao Tome and Principe: São Tomé and Príncipe dobra (STD)

Senegal: West African CFA franc (XOF)

Seychelles: Seychellois rupee (SCR)

Sierra Leone: Sierra Leonean leone (SLL)

Somalia: Somali shilling (SOS)

South Africa: South African rand (ZAR)

Sudan: Sudanese pound (SDG)

South Sudan: South Sudanese pound (SSP)

Swaziland: Swazi Lilangeni (SZL), South African rand (ZAR)

Tanzania: Tanzanian shilling (TZS)

Togo: West African CFA franc (XOF)

Tunisia: Tunisian dinar (TND)

Uganda: Ugandan shilling (UGX)

Zambia: Zambian kwacha (ZMK)

Zimbabwe: United States dollar (USD), South African rand (ZAR), Euro (EUR), Indian rupee (INR), Pound sterling (GBP), Chinese yuan/ Renminbi (CNY), Botswanan pula (BWP)