Another great option for your holiday is our Travelex Money Card. A pre-paid card that works exactly like your debit or credit card, take the stress out of carrying cash by loading all of your travel money onto your card before you leave. And if you underestimate how much you need, it’s super easy to top up your card online.
Order your cardWhat to spend your rand on
Soft drink in a restaurant
10 ZAR
Return trip on a cable car to the top of Table Mountain
225 ZAR
Postcard and stamp
8 ZAR
Three-course meal for two in Johannesburg
400 ZAR
Full-day safari tour at Kruger National Park
1400 ZAR
How the rand adds up
The rand (ZAR) arrived in 1961, the same year that South Africa became an official Republic. There are 100 cents to every rand, but one and two cent coins have fallen out of use due to inflation.
When it comes to tour guides, taxis and meals, it's customary to leave around 10% of your bill as a tip. Give this directly to your waiter/tour guide/taxi driver and if the service was really good, you can round it up to 15%.
Frequently used banknotes
The notes you'll use in South Africa are for the value of 10 (green), 20 (brown), 50 (red), 100 (blue) and 200 (orange) rand. Each note includes an image of Nelson Mandela as part of the design, as well as one of the many animals native to South Africa.
Buying South African rand online is easy
Free next-day home delivery on orders over £600