Will be heading to Namibia the latter part of May by way of Johannesburg.
If I can get away with it, I don't want to take any foreign currency with me. My outfitter will accept Dollars. I will use my credit card where I can. I will want to purchase souvenirs in Windhoek and O.R. Tambo Airport on the way home. I'm thinking somewhere in the range of $125.00 U.S. would do it. Namibia accepts the South African Rand, but when converted from U.S. Dollars it's around 1,100 ZAR. It's not much money, but would be a lot of big bills to carry around and I would have to keep what I don't spend. Would Namibia and South African merchants accept Dollars or would this be setting me up to be taken advantage of because of the exchange rate?
Thanks for any suggestions.
MauserK98

I found that if you let your credit card company know where you will be it will not turn your card off.

In South Africa the business wanted Rands. The exchange rate for USD small amounts was very high.

Many PH's will take USD and hold on to them to make the change to Rands so that they get the best exchange rate. Other hold the USD until they come to the States on business (convention times).

Mauser,

Get some Rand on the way over at the airport Currency Exchange and if you have some Rand left over convert them to dollars on the way back. Actually I've never converted to any foreign currency other than Euros for trophy fees that had to be paid in cash in Cameroon. It really is non-issue. If I had to buy something my PH always paid and I reimbursed him in USD.

Mark

There's an ATM in the airport in Windhoek. Not a problem.

Couple of other points. 1) saving some of the bills/coins is a nice momento to the hunt; and 2) Namibia has a really dastardly scheme where if you have purchased anything significant, you can get a refund of the 15% VAT, but the window to get the money back is beyond airport security, so you pretty much have to spend it in the souvenier shops.

When we were in Namibia U.S. currency was pretty universally accepted but I'd exchange some cash just for pocket money.

+1 on the previous answers.

Any of the shops you go to in Windhoek or JNB will accept your VISA or MC credit cards. The transaction will go thru in Rand or Namibian dollars, depending on where you are, and will comvert to USD that evening. If you pay cash in USD for souvenirs, they will give your change in local currency.

If you have a chance, go to the carvers market in Okahandja for carved wood and stone items, but let your PH do the bartering and payment.

Any small fees such as parking, gas, watching the car (that was a new one for me my first trip), or stopping traffic so that you can park will be paid out of pocket by your PH.

Elsada has a very nice collection of jewelry at the lodge, and they have shirts, hats, and other things for you. Tell her in an email and she will have all the local currency waiting there for your arrival.

Can't wait to hear about your trip!

I found that it was very handy to have some Namibian currency with me. One place we stopped had pay toilets in the Ladies room. My wife needed access and the PH had wandered off somewhere, so I was glad to have some local cash.
A cup of coffee at a gas stop is a welcome sight sometimes. Converting 20 USD or so into their cash should be plenty.

As you are going in through Joburg, buy some rand there for pocket change. $100 should be enough. What you don't use or give for service, you can cash back in Joburg on the way out.

Do NOT think you can buy Namibian dollars in Windhoek, and then go back through Joburg expecting to exchange for $US as the South Africans will not do it.

Regards