We have provided links to sites below, for you to use.

Remember foreign currencies, like the stock market, fluctuate daily, so the international currency exchange rates and currency converters below will just give you an indication of the current exchange rates for many different international currencies, and they are meant to be used just as a guide. The exact amount of a local currency you will receive will be determined by the prevailing exchange rates when you exchange your currency, unless you make prior arrangements to "book" a specific exchange rate. However, this procedure is beyond the scope of this information page.

Using Foreign Currency Exchange Rates and Currency Converters to Compare Buying Power

So here's a link to one of our favourite stores (especially for grocery shopping and clothing), Woolworths in South Africa, for you to browse through as well! Check out items you would normally buy at home and see how much they cost at Woolworths. Do the same for other places you are interested in visiting too. Although we don't know where you'll be going to in Africa, we think you'll probably make some surprising discoveries about the buying power of your exchanged money, considering the current exchange rates for many African currencies!

Woolworths is one of the premier department stores in South Africa, & they carry the Marks and Spencer brands, from the U.K.

When you are actually travelling, it's useful to take along a foreign currency conversion calculator, preferably one that can also handle the local currencies of the places you will be visiting, as well as the major international currency exchange rates needed.

Sites with Foreign Currency Exchange Rates and Currency Converters

The local banks in South Africa tend to have much higher bank charges and less competitive exchange rates. So when we were in South Africa, we often used other foreign currency exchange conversion services, like Master Currency, to exchange our traveller cheques to the local currency, South African Rand (ZAR).

You can get indication rates of various currencies from XE.com's Quick Currency Converter. (Please note: the following links open as pop-up windows.)

If you are interested in travelling to other parts of Africa and the currency you need is not shown in the main currencies option, just use the more currencies option on XE.com's Personal Currency Assistant instead. Please remember these will be indication rates only - the foreign currency conversion rates you will get for your own transacations will be determined when you finalize your foreign exchange transactions.

Happy planning... and make your exciting dream vacation to Africa come true!

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