Tanzania in cash.
The Serengeti of a million hooves, snow-crowned Kilimanjaro, spiced Zanzibar. Here the dollar is king — recent bills demanded — and every safari tip is prepared in advance.
Helvetica Exchange prepares your USD travel envelope at Rue Pierre-Fatio 19, 1204 Geneva (Rive district) — the posted rate, no separate commission, Monday–Friday 08:30–18:30 and Saturday 09:00–17:00. Reserve and your rate is held for 3 hours during opening hours; ID from the LBA thresholds.
The cities, chosen.
Serengeti & Ngorongoro
The planet's greatest animal migration, and a crater that is Noah's ark.
Serengeti game drives — Lions, leopards, the migration — included in the safari package, tips apart.
Ngorongoro Crater — Twenty kilometres of concentrated wildlife between 600 m walls.
Zanzibar
Stone Town of carved doors, powder beaches and spice farms.
Stone Town — Swahili lanes, Darajani market and Freddie Mercury's house.
Spice tour & Prison Island — Vanilla, cloves and century-old giant tortoises.
Kilimanjaro
Africa's roof, 5'895 m — five climates in one ascent.
The Machame ascent (6–7 days) — Agency packages US$2'000–3'000; team tips US$250–350 in cash, planned from Geneva.
A Materuni day — Waterfall and Chagga coffee at the giant's foot, no climbing.
Getting around.
Cessna bush flights link the parks (Arusha–Serengeti ~US$200), 4×4 with driver-guide on safari. Fast ferry Dar es Salaam–Zanzibar (2 h). Dollars printed before 2009 are refused everywhere.
Cash & banknotes.
US dollars issued after 2009, mixed denominations: 50s and 100s obtain the best local rate, 1s, 5s and 10s serve the daily tips. Guide-driver US$20–30 a day, camp cook US$10–15 — in separate envelopes on the last day.
| Rate reservation | held 3 hours, during opening hours |
| Counter hours | Mon–Fri 08:30–18:30 · Sat 09:00–17:00 |
| Commission | none — the margin lives in the posted rate |
Before you go.
Which bills to bring?
US dollars issued after 2009, mixed: 50/100s get the best rate, 1/5/10s pay the daily tips. Marked or old bills are refused.
How much for safari tips?
Guide-driver US$20–30 a day per vehicle, camp cook US$10–15 — separate envelopes on the last day. On Kili, US$250–350 for the team.
Indicative amounts — rate reservable for 3 hours · Rue Pierre-Fatio 19, Geneva · Guide complet en français