Money Matters: ATM - CC - Cash

[Goggo EJ]

All park ATMs are run by FNB and the bank at Skukuza is FNB. As Saraf says, the other ATMs are all mini ones that rely on shop cash availability.

[DinkyBird]

Ctm7943, to be safe, rather carry some cash, and pay for purchases at the restaurants and shops with your credit card; but also expect that at times the 'lines may be down' and you will need cash. The same for petrol.

[Carla + Tony]

We have just returned from a 2 week visit to the Kruger (July 30th till August 12th). The only ATM in the park which accepted an international bank card was at Skukuza. We tried several mini ATM's (a. o. at Lower Sabie, Letaba and Satara) but never managed to get any cash. We were told by the staff in the shops the mini ATM's only accept South African bankcards.
We ended up having to go back to Skukuza every so many days to get more cash. Was a bit of a pain.
Two years ago we were able to get cash from every camp that had a mini ATM. Don't know why it changed.

[Elsa]

You can pay with credit cards now but occasionally the lines will be down so always an idea to have enough cash in case.

[ctm7943]

Just returned yesterday or our 1st ever trip to SA & KNP.
We withdrew a bit of cash at an ABSA bank @ JNB (no fee for BoA).
I must admit, in KNP we had absoultely no worries about carrying cash. We paid for all of our food, supplies (cooler bag,map etc.) @ shops, some souveniers, additional game drives, gas/petrol & a car wash @ Satara - with cash. Never made an ATM withdrawal in KNP.
But they were available:
Sku - FNB Bank & ATM, We saw FNB Mini ATMs @ Lower Sabie, Croc Bridge, Satara & Orpen

[bert]

Always use the Skukuza ATM at the postoffice
Never had any trouble with withdrawels

[Timepilot]

But they were available:
Sku - FNB Bank & ATM, We saw FNB Mini ATMs @ Lower Sabie, Croc Bridge, Satara & Orpen

We had no problem at Skukuza with the standard ATM terminal but we found out that the mini-ATM's do not accept foreign cards. Skukuza has a max of R2000 withdrawel so there were a couple of withdrawels done which of course cops a transaction fee on this end - PITB!

[Tokmino]

Hi forumites, when I got my foreign exchange here in Canada I was given a lot of R100 and R200 bills. Are these accepted in most places, like paying for petrol, or will I have a problem. Thanks for any advice.

[DinkyBird]

Totally acceptable - what is issued by banks/atms here in SA too

[Lesego]

Please note that the FNB ATM facilty at Letaba Rest Camp in the Kruger National Park, has been removed as from today (10 February 2016), by the service provider.

A slimline mini FNB ATM is available in the camp's shop. Instead of holding cash like a conventional ATM, clients are presented with a slip which they can then cash at the retailer's till. The following restrictions apply:

1. The cash withdrawal is dependent on the sales at the shop for the day.
2. International banking cards are not accepted.

The closest conventional ATM is available in Phalaborwa.

[inyanga 1]

That`s really a shame. The oversea visitors will have problems. Why no international Cards?
So most probably the visitors will buy less in the shops.

i have had no problems using my uk cards in the shops and at those fuel stations that accept cards in the park.

so much safer than carrying cash

- not a sanparks issue - but remember if you leave an atm
you are probably carrying cash
wherever in the world you are.
try doing so in pairs !

[Goggo EJ]

The Skukuza ATM was upgraded a while ago, and is attached to the bank branch there. I do not think they will remove that one! The branch does well with the staff complement at Skukuza and always seems busy.

[Timepilot]

@Merlin11 - apart from the ATM at Skukuza, all of the rest are mini ATM's which do not accept international debit cards. The camps that used to have a full size ATM were always a stopping place to get cash - but these all seem to be gone now.

[Yoda]

From a safety and protection point of view, it is much better to use a credit card, than a debit card.
Not sure of the bank rules in the US, but in the UK, if there is a fraud on your debit card/account, it is much more difficult to get the funds re-imbursed.

[saraf]

I think the FNB mini-atm's in the shops will only accept South African debit cards. Please note that the ATM at Letaba has been removed so the only full ATM now is in Skukuza.

I do as Yoda does and put purchases on my Credit Card, the fraud detection is better than my bank's unfortunately. The debit card only goes with me for withdrawing cash.

Petrol stations can take international cards now but as always if you are filling up and paying with a card, just check that the machines are working.