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Cash, credit and debit cards
What is likely to be the need for cash, and credit or debit cards while on the trip? I presume it depends on if you buy things in the lodges, or villages, etc. Are US cards without the European standard RFID chip usable?
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I don't think we spent more that three hundred in cash, but we carried about $900 in case we miss connected somewhere and needed to buy a $500 dollar taxi ride to Ngorongoro ... small bills including a hundred one's, all new bills. (post 2009, big heads), and new but of course small 'head' ones. I actually used most of my stash playing bank and making change for people who showed up with nothing but old fifties ... which are worthless in Africa. I had an RFID card with me, but I only used a non-RFID card (1% foreign transaction fee with my credit union).
Use of an ATM is only possible when there is an ATM to use.
I only did the Tanzania tour this time around, Sealord may be able to help with ATM recollection. Or if you read the info on your hotels, it may tell you there. I already mentioned being able to use credit cards at the hotels on the Tanzania tour, we had one hotel that only accepted cash, but that does not affect you. I have no idea what souvenirs you may be attracted to when you visit the Maasai. Like I said, I spent a lot there, over $200, I knew what I wanted before I went because I have been to Africa before, so was prepared.
Sealord reminded me that only notes over 2009 will be accepted. As long as you have a fair amount of small notes to give, it appears it is less important than was stressed on our last trip
That's the best I can tell you.
The $200 for the Arusha Nat'l. Park guide is for 2 or per person? Sounds like for the extra tours and gratuities for the director, drivers, etc. we should bring about $1,000 to $1,200 in cash (I guess if we're going to bring $1,000 we may as well be safe and bring $1,200). It sounds like about $200 in small bills and the rest in larger bills. Will they take 100 dollar bills, or is that too big? Should we stick to twenties and fifties?
Unlimited bottled water. In the hotels if you run out, order more, tell them you are with Tauck, it is free. After dining, take the left over water bottle with you ... someone. Money ... Bring $1,000 per couple, new bills ( post 2009), nothing bigger than a twenty, including 100 singles. If you do end up with local currency, they don't accept Kenya money in Tanzania, nor Tanzania money in Kenya. I never saw an ATM machine, nor a bank, and certainly not an American Express office. (;-)
Actually, my wife added a correction ... we used around two hundred singles. If you don't want change in local currency, it helps to be able to pay 'exact' amounts.