Get the best South African rand exchange rate by comparing travel money deals from the UK's top foreign exchange providers
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You receive R17,866.43 | Exchange rate 23.8219 | Insured delivery Free | Buy Now |
| Currency Online Group ❯ | ||||
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You receive R17,853.23 | Exchange rate 23.8757 | Insured delivery Free | Buy Now |
| Travel FX ❯ | ||||
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You receive R17,691.68 | Exchange rate 23.5889 | Insured delivery Free | Buy Now |
| eurochange ❯ | ||||
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You receive R17,691.68 | Exchange rate 23.5889 | Insured delivery Free | Buy Now |
| NM Money ❯ | ||||
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You receive R17,647.50 | Exchange rate 23.53 | Insured delivery Free | Buy Now |
| ACE-FX Delivery ❯ | ||||
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You receive R17,580.38 | Exchange rate 23.4405 | Insured delivery Free | Buy Now |
| John Lewis ❯ | ||||
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You receive R17,580.38 | Exchange rate 23.4405 | Insured delivery Free | Buy Now |
| Waitrose ❯ | ||||
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You receive R17,577.00 | Exchange rate 23.436 | Insured delivery Free | Buy Now |
| Tesco Bank ❯ | ||||
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You receive R17,561.15 | Exchange rate 24.0399 | Insured delivery £19.50 | Buy Now |
| Travel Money Club ❯ | ||||
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You receive R17,512.86 | Exchange rate 23.4184 | Insured delivery Free | Buy Now |
| Sterling ❯ | ||||
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You receive R17,511.23 | Exchange rate 23.3483 | Insured delivery Free | Buy Now |
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You receive R17,474.85 | Exchange rate 23.2998 | Insured delivery Free | Buy Now |
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You receive R17,436.15 | Exchange rate 23.2482 | Insured delivery Free | Buy Now |
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You receive R17,397.64 | Exchange rate 23.4206 | Insured delivery £4.99 | Buy Now |
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You receive R17,393.55 | Exchange rate 23.1914 | Insured delivery Free | Buy Now |
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You receive R17,302.33 | Exchange rate 23.4184 | Insured delivery £8.99 | Buy Now |
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You receive R17,161.05 | Exchange rate 22.8814 | Insured delivery Free | Buy Now |
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You receive R16,830.15 | Exchange rate 22.4402 | Insured delivery Free | Buy Now |
If you're travelling to South Africa, it's important to shop around and compare currency suppliers to maximise your chances of getting a good deal. We can help you to find the best South African rand exchange rate by comparing a wide range of UK travel money suppliers who have South African rand in stock and ready to order online now. Our comparisons automatically factor in all costs and commission, so all you need to do is tell us how much you want to spend and we'll show you the top suppliers who fit the bill.
Compare before you buySome of the best travel money deals are only available when you buy online. By using a comparison site, you're more likely to see the full range of deals on offer and get the best rate.
Order onlineAlways place your order online, even if you plan to collect your currency in person. Most supermarkets and high street currency suppliers offer better exchange rates if you order online beforehand.
Combine ordersIf you're travelling with others, consider placing one large currency order instead of buying individually. Many currency suppliers offer enhanced rates that improve as you order more.
The best South African rand exchange rate right now is 23.8219 from Currency Online Group. This is based on a comparison of 18 currency suppliers and assumes you were buying £750 worth of South African rand for home delivery.
The best South African rand exchange rates are usually offered by online travel money companies who have lower operating costs than traditional 'bricks and mortar' stores, and can therefore offer better currency deals than their high street counterparts.
For supermarkets and companies who sell travel money online and on the high street, it's generally cheaper to place your order online and collect it from the store rather than turning up out of the blue and ordering over the counter. Many stores set their 'walk-in' exchange rates lower than their online rates because they can. By ordering online you're guaranteed to get the online rate and you can collect your order from the store as usual.
Timing is key if you want to maximise your South African rand, but the best time to buy will depend on the current market conditions and your personal travel plans.
If you have a fixed travel date, you should start to monitor the South African rand rates as soon as possible in the period leading up to your departure so that you've got time to buy when the rate is looking favourable. For example, if the South African rand rate has been steadily increasing over several weeks or months, it could be a good time to buy while the rate is high.
Some people prefer to buy half of their South African rand as soon as they've booked their holiday, and the remaining half just before they depart. This can be a good way of maximising your holiday money if the exchange rate continues to rise after you've bought, but will also help to minimise your losses if the rate drops.
You could also consider signing up to our newsletter and we'll email the latest rates to you each month.
If you need your South African rand sooner and don't have time to wait for the rates to improve, you can still save money by comparing rates from a range of different providers before you buy. Online travel money suppliers usually have better South African rand rates than high street exchanges, but supermarkets are a good compromise if you want to collect your currency in person and still get a decent rate. Just remember to buy or reserve your South African rand first before you collect them from the store so you benefit from the supplier's better online rate.
One South African rand (R) can be subdivded into 100 cents (c).
There are five denominations of South African rand banknotes in circulation: R10, R20, R50, R100 and R200; and six coin denominations: 10c, 20c, 50c, R1, R2 and R5.
| Denomination | Sterling equivalent |
|---|---|
| R10 | £0.42 |
| R20 | £0.84 |
| R50 | £2.10 |
| R100 | £4.20 |
| R200 | £8.40 |
| Denomination | Sterling equivalent |
|---|---|
| 10c | £0.004 |
| 20c | £0.01 |
| 50c | £0.02 |
| R1 | £0.04 |
| R2 | £0.08 |
| R5 | £0.21 |
Waitrose has the best South African rand rate right now at 23.4405. You'll need to order online to guarantee this rate; it may be lower if you turn up unannounced and buy over the counter. You can buy your South African rand online and collect them from your nearest Waitrose travel money store if you don't want to wait for home delivery.
There's no evidence to suggest that you'll get a better deal if you buy your South African rand in South Africa. While there may be better exchange rates available in some locations, your options for shopping around may be limited once you arrive, and there's no guarantee the exchange rates will be any better than they are in the UK.
Exchange rates aside, here are some other reasons to avoid buying your South African rand in South Africa:
Lastly, it can be handy to have some cash on you when you arrive at your destination so you can pay for any immediate expenses like food, transport and tips. You don't want to be searching for the nearest currency exchange when you've just landed and you're desperate for a cup of tea - or a cocktail!
Sending money to a company you might not have heard of before can be unsettling. We routinely check all the companies that feature in our comparisons to make sure they meet our strict listing criteria, but it's still worth knowing how your money is protected in the unlikely event a company goes bust and you don't receive your order.
Your money is not protected if you pay by bank transfer. If the company goes bust and you've paid by bank transfer, it's unlikely you'll get your money back. For this reason, we recommend you pay by debit or credit card wherever possible because they offer more financial protection.
Debit cards are the most popular payment method and they offer some financial protection. If you pay by debit card and the company goes bust, you can instruct your bank to make a chargeback request to recover your money from the company's bank. This isn't a legal right, and a refund isn't guaranteed, but if you make a chargeback request your bank is obliged to try and recover your money.
Credit cards offer full financial protection, and your money is protected by law under Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act. Section 75 states that your card issuer must refund you in full if you don't receive your order. Be aware that many credit cards charge a cash advance fee (typically around 3%) for buying currency, so you may have to weigh up the benefits of full financial protection with the extra cost of using a credit card.