Currency and Banking

Details

Details of Currency and Banking

Currency and Banking

The official currency is the Tanzanian Shilling. They have coins for 50, 100, 200, and 500 shillings; and notes for 500, 1000, 2000, 5000, and 10,000 shillings. The US Dollar is also widely used, but may not be accepted in less touristy establishments. US Dollars will also not be accepted if they are older than 2006.

Currency can be exchanged at banks, currency exchange offices, and in most hotels. Hotels generally offer the least favourable exchange rates.

 Exchange Tanzania

ATMs that accept both Visa and MasterCard are available in most cities. You can withdraw only local currency from an ATM. US Dollars are able to be withdrawn only from Barclay Bank branches. The maximum withdrawal per transaction is 400,000 shillings. To withdraw more money you will need to complete multiple transactions. Be sure to alert your bank that you will be travelling to Africa.

You can usually pay by credit or debit card at most hotels, lodges, and big supermarkets. However as machines can sometimes be down, it’s recommended to always carry extra cash for such situations.