Currency in Southern Africa?? Dollars or Rand?

I'm doing a road trip through Botwana, possibly into southern Zambia, and
possibly into Zimbabwe. What currency will those countries accept? I can
bring dollars with me and change them as I go, but it would be much easier
to get Rand from an ATM while in SA and use them instead. Do those countries
accept or exchange Rand easily, or should I take dollars instead?

thanks
--riverman

In Botswana you can change Rands into Pula in most towns. Dollars may
be easier in the far north, and far west, but you shouldn't have
hassles.

It is not as easy in Zambia. Dollars are definitely easier to change,
and I recommend changing money either at a bank, bureau de change, or
with someone you ABSOLUTELY trust. Don't change money with the touts
at the borders, as you WILL lose your money.

Zimbabwe is probably easier to travel with US Dollars, however almost
all banks will change Rands. A word of warning: Don't use a credit
card in Zimbabwe. You will end up paying an absolute fortune when the
account comes. In Zambia and Botswana there are no problems using a
credit card if they accept them. In Zambia it's really only in Lusaka
that you can use a credit card. They're much more widely accepted in
Botswana, but don't rely on them.

To put it in a nutshell:

I'd take Rands into Zimbabwe and southern Botswana, and use Dollars
for the rest of the area.

Regards, and enjoy the trip,
Marc

On Sun, 28 Nov 2004 09:34:26 +0100, "riverman"
wrote:

I'm doing a road trip through Botwana, possibly into southern Zambia, and
possibly into Zimbabwe. What currency will those countries accept? I can
bring dollars with me and change them as I go, but it would be much easier
to get Rand from an ATM while in SA and use them instead. Do those countries
accept or exchange Rand easily, or should I take dollars instead?

thanks
--riverman