Advice for travel money - PLEASE PLEASE READ

Cacciotti

Sorry to sound like begging in the title but this is a massive worry for me at the moment, if anyone can help, or knows someone that can, I will really appreciate it!
I am in some desperate need of advice. My girlfriend and I are going to be going on an Overland safari of Africa for 3 months. As it can sometimes be hard to obtain cash out there we have been recommended to take our money as follows: ¼ GBP, ¼ USD and ½ using Traveller’s cheques/Credit Cards. This means we are going to need to be taking around £3000.00 in cash.
However the problem we have is that we are going to be in Egypt for 1 month prior to this, so it is a lot of money to be carrying around with us for all that time. As we will be staying in hostels we aren’t feeling comfortable leaving it in deposit boxes/lockers at these places.
The only solutions we have come up with so far is getting Traveller’s Cheques changed up in Kenya, or wiring the money to ourselves (via Western Union or something similar) but both these ways could end up costing us anything upto about £300!
I considered getting it couriered to our hotel in Kenyan so it would be waiting for us there, but Fed-Ex won’t send cash, is this possible with another company? Or is there a secure postal service that could do this?
Preferably, does anyone know if banks (particularly in Cairo) allow you to use a safety deposit box, or even rent some space in their vault for a month? This would be my ideal solution but I’m not sure if it’s possible. We are trying to get in touch with some Cairo banks at the moment, but are still waiting for replies.
Can anyone think of any other suggestions, or even, someone that I can ask for advice?
Any help will be greatly appreciated!!!

ema_o

Presumably you will be able to change / take money out in Africa at some point. Was the advice of split of money based on the amount you are taking or was it general advice which is perhaps more suited to a shorter break? If someone was only going for a couple of weeks the split of money would give them cash to last 1 week and travellers cheques to change for the second week.
If it was me I would contact the safari and find out when you will first be able to get to somewhere to withdraw money / change travellers cheques, then just take enough cash to last until then (with a bit extra for emergencies). I certainly wouldn't carry that sort of cash around at all, not even between the airport and somewhere safe to deposit your money as you have suggested.

LesD

http://goafrica.about.com/b/2006/06/30/carrying-cash-in-africa.htm

jollyme

Don't forget the good old Nationwide flex account with it's free withdrawels from atm's. You won't always be able to find a bank machine or may have withdrawal limits impossed on you by the bank where you are using the atm.