How to buy a prepaid SIM card for South Africa?

If you’re travelling to South Africa soon, you’re probably busy packing and planning the last details of your itinerary. However, another practical thing you should think about is how you’ll be getting around and communicating while you’re there.

To make the most out of your trip, consider swapping your UK SIM for a South Africa SIM card. This will help you avoid additional expenses and also allow you to use translation apps and maps without having to rely on Wi-Fi.

Also, if you need a cost-effective way to handle your finances across borders, check out the Wise card from the money services provider Wise. It can help you get ready for your stay in South Africa and save money while travelling abroad. You can pay and withdraw cash like a local for low fees* and at the mid-market exchange rate.

Why should you buy a prepaid SIM card when travelling to South Africa from the UK?

Using a South Africa SIM card during your vacation is a great way to save money. International calls or data usage usually aren’t included in UK monthly plans and they’re an extra expense. So, better to have a South Africa SIM card than to get charged extra by your provider for using your phone abroad.

Another reason is that having a local SIM makes it easier to stay in touch with friends and family. You’ll have better network coverage and be connected all day long, since you won’t have to rely on Wi-Fi. Also, having a South Africa SIM card will allow you to use translation apps and maps whenever you need to, which is essential when travelling.

If you’re still not entirely convinced, you could rely on international roaming instead. Various networks, such as VOXI or Virgin Mobile, have global roaming packages that include South Africa. Others, like Tesco Mobile, Sky or Three, will have you pay roaming charges as you go.

How much does a SIM card cost in South Africa?

There are plenty of tourist SIM card options in South Africa and they often cost a few pounds only. For example, MTN’s 10 GB package costs £4.

eSIMs are slightly more expensive, but you can still find a good deal. With Holafly, you can get 5 days of unlimited data which you can share with others for £24.

How to buy a prepaid SIM card for South Africa?¹

There are many selling points in South Africa where you can buy a prepaid SIM card. You can get one at official mobile operator stores, as well as supermarkets and convenience stores.

Some of the biggest mobile network providers in South Africa are Vodacom, MTN, Cell C and Telkom. Their stores can be found across all larger cities. You can pay with cash, as well as your credit card or debit card.

Where can you buy a SIM card for South Africa in the UK?

You can order a South Africa SIM before leaving the UK and have it delivered to your address. A few deals available at the moment are the ones at SimCorner and TravSIM.

The SimCorner package costs £29 and has 6 GB of data you can use in 15 days. TravSim has multiple SIM options. For example, a 14-day SIM with 10 GB of data costs £18³.

Can you buy a South Africa SIM card at the airport?¹

You can buy a local SIM card at multiple airports in South Africa, such as OR Tambo International in Johannesburg or Cape Town International. There are official stores and kiosks in the arrivals area, so you won’t be able to miss them.

Best prepaid SIM cards for South Africa

Here are some of the best SIM card options for a vacation in South Africa.

Vodacom⁴

Vodacom offers three travel bundles that are valid for 30 days, so your stay should be fully covered. The smallest one has 3 GB of data for around £13, the second one includes 5 GB of data for £19 and the biggest bundle has 10 GB of data for around £30.

All of them have other features, such as SMS, special rates for international calls and local minutes.

MTN⁵

MTN has data-only and combo prepaid SIM deals that are suitable for tourists. The data packages are called BozzaGigs and they come in three sizes - 10 GB, 15 GB and 20 GB. The 10 GB plan costs just £4, the 15 GB one will set you back £5.5, while the biggest package is still affordable at around £6.

If you also want to be able to make some local calls, the combo deals include between 60 and 400 minutes. The largest one also has 15 GB of data and costs just under £17.

Cell C⁶

If you decide to go with Cell C, their data bundles will be the best option for staying connected during your trip. They have various options available, but the 7-day and 30-day deals are most suitable for tourists.

You can get a 7-day bundle with 4 GB of data for just over £4. On the other hand, Cell C’s 40 GB 30-day plan costs around £21.

Best e-SIM cards for South Africa

Buying an eSIM is the easiest way to stay connected while you’re in South Africa. You can even get one before leaving the UK, as long as you activate it when you arrive.

Don’t forget to make sure your phone is compatible with eSIMs. And if it is, here are some of the best eSIM cards for South Africa.

Airalo⁷

Airalo has plans for South Africa, regional plans and even eSIMs with global coverage.

They sell five different South Africa eSIMs. The first one is valid for 7 days, the second one for 15 days and the other three have a 30-day validity period.

The cheapest plan costs $4.50 for 1 GB of data, followed by $8 for 2 GB. The 30-day plans have 3, 5 and 10 GB of data each. The prices are the following, in the same order: $11, $13, $21 and $32.

Holafly⁸

The main advantage of Holafly eSIMs is that they have unlimited data. You can also share up to 500 MB with others daily via hotspot. This is a good choice for everyone travelling in a group.

They have six plans available, ranging from 5 to 30 days. The deal gets better the more days you get. For example, the 5-day South Africa eSIM costs £24, the 15-day plan is £39, while the 30-day unlimited data eSIM will set you back £67.

Maya Mobile⁹

At Maya Mobile, there are 24 South Africa eSIM data packages, unlimited passes included. The cheapest one is the 5-day £5 pass, which includes 1 GB of data. The 30-day unlimited package costs £105.

One good option somewhere in the middle is the 10-day £22 eSIM. With this pass, you get to use 10 GB of data during your stay.

Spend like a local in South Africa with Wise

While you’re picking a South Africa SIM card for your trip, you’ll also want to check out options for holiday spending.

The Wise card, from the money services provider Wise, is a convenient choice. Order a card for a one-time fee of £7, and you can spend and withdraw like a local in South Africa and 150+ more countries. You can also send money to pay for a rental car, accommodation, or the like while still in the UK.

With the Wise card, your pounds are automatically converted at the mid-market exchange rate whenever you spend. You’ll just pay a small conversion fee, or no fee if you already have the currency in your Wise account*.

Please see the Terms of Use for your region or visit Wise fees & pricing for the most up-to-date information on pricing and fees.

Join Wise today 💰

Sources used:

Sources last checked on date: 15-July-2024