How to send money to South Africa from Kenya with the best KES-ZAR rate

Always compare ways to send money from Kenya to South Africa to get the best options for fees, speed, and reliability.

For KES/ZAR

• Key Currency is our top pick for sending KES to ZAR. For example, sending 1,000,000 KES to ZAR will cost you KSh0 in fees, and you will receive 126,798.21 ZAR. The delivery time is minutes - 3 days, but it depends on the day you make the transfer.

• Cheapest way to send money to South Africa from Kenya is with Key Currency. The cost is made up of a fee of 0 KES and an exchange rate for buying Rand with Kenyan Shilling that is 0.25% different to the mid-market rate.

• Of the 1 companies compared, Key Currency currently offers the fastest money transfers to South Africa from Kenya. Sending KSh1,000,000 to South Africa through Key Currency will be minutes - 3 days.

Our analysis included 1 providers that operate between Kenya and South Africa.

Through this, you get a comprehensive view of all the options you have in Kenya when you need to send money to South Africa.

The exchange rate determines how many KES the recipient will get in South Africa when you send Kenyan Shilling.

When calculating the costs of money transfers between Kenya and South Africa, here's what really matters:

• The Mid-Market Rate: Today, the KES-ZAR mid-market rate equals to 0.128 ZAR per Kenyan Shilling.

• Fees may also be added on top, and usually vary depending on how much KES you are sending to South Africa.

• For the best combination of rates and fees, we suggest using Key Currency.

Today, the average exchange rate between Kenyan Shilling and Rand is 0.128.

The KES-ZAR rate fluctuates constantly, so timing your transfer to South Africa can help you save a lot of money.

Sometimes, waiting a day or two can help you get more ZAR for the same amount of KES. You can also opt for a forward contract to lock in rates between Kenya and South Africa.

A bank transfer is the most cost effective option for sending money from Kenya to South Africa. The company offering the best bank transfer price is Key Currency.

Here are all the ways to send money from Kenya to South Africa:

Bank transfers

The default option for sending money from Kenya to South Africa is often a bank transfer.

Using a money transfer company such as Key Currency for transfers from Kenya to South Africa, allows for sending via a bank transfer while benefiting from lower fees and more favorable exchange rates. 


Debit and prepaid cards

Sending money from Kenya to South Africa with a prepaid or debit card is easy with .


is a leader in accepting card payments for transfers between Kenya and South Africa.

Credit cards

We recommend using a bank transfer or a debit card deposit instead of a credit card, as many companies do not allow direct deposits with a credit card and are usually more expensive and come with cash advance fees!

Always choose providers that are regulated by financial authorities to ensure funds are safe when transferring from Kenya to South Africa.

If you don’t know what the key regulatory bodies for money transfers are between Kenya and South Africa, please refer to our directory of financial regulators worldwide.

Some services have limits on how much you can transfer from Kenya to South Africa. This applies when receiving money in South Africa as well.

Different companies will offer different rates or lower fees for different transfer amounts.

For example, we recommend using Key Currency if you need to send large amounts of KES to South Africa.

This being said, always check with the recipient and understand any declarations needed on large amounts of money leaving Kenya, or entering South Africa.

There are different ways to receive money in South Africa. You can do a direct bank deposit, cash pickup, use a mobile wallet or receive money into a multi-currency account.

If you (or the recipient) want a direct transfer to your bank account, Key Currency is the best money transfer company for bank transfers between Kenya and South Africa.

And if you need cash right away, check if cash pickup is an option for transfers between Kenya and South Africa.

Mobile wallet services and payment apps like PayPal, Xoom, and CashApp are popular too, but they come with more limitations and higher costs compared to money transfer providers like Key Currency.

When you're sending or receiving money between Kenya and South Africa, you have to be ready to show some ID.

The exact documents you need might vary. Usually in Kenya this will be a government ID like a passport or driver's license. This will be similar if you need to open an account or collect cash in South Africa.

If you're making a big transaction between Kenya and South Africa, a provider may ask you for proof of address or may want to know where your money comes from.

Key Currency is a great option for sending from Kenya as the sign up process is pretty straightforward, even for larger transactions.

When sending large amounts of money between Kenya to South Africa there will be tax implications to consider.

Some KES-ZAR transfers may need to be reported to tax authorities, particularly where inheritance or property sales are involved.

Tax limits and personal allowances differ in South Africa based on age, income and a few other elements. When in doubt, please contact a tax professional in Kenya or South Africa to discuss your personal circumstances.