Money in Africa, country by country.

Africa is a study in contrasts for the money side of a trip. In Morocco you will use cash for most things and get the dirham, a closed currency, from a bank ATM on arrival, while in South Africa you can tap a card or phone for almost everything and keep only a little cash for tips. The quirks worth knowing ahead are the closed dirham and the nightly tourist tax in Morocco, the 15% VAT you can claim back on goods in South Africa, and the fact that tipping is customary in both places.

One rule holds across the region: always pay in the local currency, never US dollars, on any card terminal or ATM, and let your own bank do the conversion. Below is every country we cover in Africa, with a quick read on how card friendly it is and what to watch, then a full money guide for each. Start with where you are headed.

MoroccoMorocco runs on cash. The dirham is a closed currency you can only get once you arrive, so plan to withdraw it from a bank ATM on landing, keep small notes for souks, taxis and tips, and use cards mainly for city hotels and bigger restaurants.Cash-firstTourist tax to expectWatch ATM fees

NamibiaNamibia is card-friendly in towns but cash matters on the long empty roads, so carry Namibian dollars or rand for fuel stops, tips and remote lodges. The new bit for US travelers: since April 2025 you must pay a visa, about US$88, so sort it online before you fly.Cards in cities

South AfricaSouth Africa is very card-friendly, so you can tap almost everywhere. Keep some cash for tips, petrol attendants and car guards, use bank ATMs carefully, and remember the 15% VAT is refundable on things you take home.Card-friendly

Compare across countries: the cost of a day, ranked,where Americans travel most, and how tipping compares to home.