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Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania each have their own currency, payment systems and money quirks. Here's everything you need to know before you land.
USD widely accepted in upscale hotels, shops and tourist areas. Always negotiate in local currency at markets.
Visa and Mastercard widely accepted in Nairobi. Less reliable in Mombasa outside hotels.
M-Pesa is dominant — and world-class. Get a Safaricom SIM at the airport and register for M-Pesa. You can pay for matatus, markets, restaurants, petrol. It works everywhere.
Equity Bank, KCB, Co-op and Stanbic ATMs reliable in Nairobi. Carry cash for upcountry.
USD accepted in hotels and some restaurants. Notes must be clean and printed after 2009 — torn or old notes are refused.
Visa accepted in Kampala's upscale hotels and supermarkets. Carry cash for most markets and transport.
MTN Mobile Money and Airtel Money are both strong in Uganda. Get a local SIM at Entebbe airport and register immediately — you'll need it for boda boda payments.
Stanbic, DFCU, Centenary Bank ATMs in Kampala are reliable. Limited outside the capital — carry enough cash if travelling outside Kampala.
USD widely accepted in Dar es Salaam hotels, safari operations and tourist services. Required for national park fees.
Visa and Mastercard work at larger hotels and supermarkets in Dar. Less reliable elsewhere.
Vodacom M-Pesa (separate from Kenya), Tigo Pesa and Airtel Money all operate. Get a local SIM at Julius Nyerere airport. Less ubiquitous than Kenya's M-Pesa but growing.
CRDB, NMB and Stanbic ATMs reliable in Dar. Dispense TZS — bring USD for national parks.
USD is the universal East Africa backup. Carry $200–$300 in mixed denominations ($5, $10, $20, $50). Small bills are often more useful than $100 notes outside cities.
Get a local SIM with mobile money in each country. M-Pesa (Kenya), MTN Mobile Money (Uganda), Vodacom M-Pesa (Tanzania). Register at the airport kiosk — it takes 10 minutes.
Tell your UK/US/Nigerian bank you're travelling to East Africa. Banks often freeze cards on unfamiliar transactions. Do this for all cards you're bringing.
ATMs in major cities are generally reliable. But they run out of cash before big match days. Withdraw enough the night before a match — don't rely on game-day ATM access.
You'll get significantly better rates exchanging USD or GBP in Nairobi/Kampala/Dar than you will at a UK or US bureau de change. Don't over-exchange before you leave.
Official receipts from licensed forex bureaus protect you if questioned. Don't use unlicensed street changers — counterfeit notes are a real risk.
Our AFCON 2027 packages include in-country transport and hotel — reducing how much local cash you actually need to manage.
View AFCON packages →