South Africa eSIM
Stay connected across South Africa. Install before you fly.
- 5G on Vodacom and MTN
- Instant on arrival
- Refund if it doesn’t activate
Choose your plan
All prices NZD7 days
15 days
30 days
Good to know
Calls and texts
South Africa plans are data only. Use WhatsApp or FaceTime for calls.
Your phone
It needs to support eSIM and be unlocked. Check your phone
Refunds
If your eSIM doesn't activate, we'll replace it free or refund you in full.
South Africa eSIM plans at a glance
Cheapest
1 GB for 7 days, $7.37
Best value
20 GB for 30 days, $45.47, about $2.27 a gigabyte
Unlimited
From $25.19. Cheapest per day is 30 days at $5.86 a day
Network coverage in South Africa
Your Travelren eSIM can use Vodacom and MTN, South Africa's two largest networks, both with 5G in the cities, plus Cell C on 4G. Signal is strong in Johannesburg, Pretoria, Cape Town and Durban, in the Garden Route towns, in the Winelands around Stellenbosch and Franschhoek, and at Kruger's main rest camps such as Skukuza.
Keep reading
It thins on the long roads through the Karoo, in the Drakensberg, in Wild Coast villages and across the more remote parts of Kruger and other game reserves. When load-shedding power cuts happen, cell towers whose backup batteries run down can also go offline for a while, and having more than one network gives your phone a better chance of finding another tower.
- Networks
- Vodacom, MTN, Cell C
- Speeds
- 5G, 4G
What works in South Africa
Works well
- Uber and Bolt in the cities, widely recommended over hailing cars on the street
- Google Maps and Waze on the Garden Route and in the Winelands
- SANParks bookings and checking Kruger gate times
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- WhatsApp, which most guesthouses, guides and drivers use
- EskomSePush for load-shedding schedules when power cuts are running
Watch out for
- Remote parts of Kruger, the Karoo and the Drakensberg have gaps
- Load-shedding can take individual towers offline for a while
- Data only: no South African number for calls or SMS codes
Arriving in South Africa
International flights arrive at Johannesburg's O.R. Tambo (JNB) and Cape Town International (CPT), with King Shaka (DUR) serving Durban, and all three have strong coverage. South Africa uses the rand (ZAR).
Keep reading
Cards and contactless are accepted almost everywhere, including restaurants, supermarkets and fuel stations, where an attendant fills the tank and expects a small tip. Tipping of around 10 to 15 per cent is normal in restaurants. Ride-hailing apps are widely recommended over flagging down cars, particularly at night, and self-drive is the most common way to see the Garden Route and Kruger, so offline maps are worth downloading before long drives.
Installing your South Africa eSIM
Install your South Africa eSIM at home over WiFi using the QR code in your order email: on iPhone it's Settings, Mobile Data, Add eSIM, on Android the SIM manager in Settings. The APN configures itself. On landing at Johannesburg, Cape Town or Durban, set the eSIM as your data line and turn on data roaming for it.
Keep reading
Keep your home SIM on for SMS codes from your bank if you need them, with roaming disabled on that line to avoid charges.
Common questions
Which networks does the Travelren eSIM use in South Africa?
Vodacom and MTN, both with 5G in the cities, and Cell C on 4G. Your phone uses the strongest available network, which gives wider coverage than relying on one operator. There's no APN to set; once data roaming is on for the eSIM, it connects automatically.
Will my eSIM work in Kruger National Park?
In and around the main rest camps, such as Skukuza, and near the southern gates, usually yes. Out on the game-drive roads, especially in the north and the more remote sections, signal drops away. Many private lodges have WiFi. Download a park map and save your bookings before heading in.
Does load-shedding affect mobile data in South Africa?
It can. During scheduled power cuts, cell towers switch to backup batteries, and if a cut lasts longer than the battery, that tower goes offline until power returns. With more than one network available to your eSIM, your phone can often find another tower. EskomSePush shows the schedule whenever load-shedding is running.
Should I use Uber or Bolt in South Africa?
Yes. They're widely used and generally recommended over hailing cars on the street, especially at night. Both operate in Johannesburg, Pretoria, Cape Town and Durban, and both need mobile data, so have the eSIM running before you leave the airport.
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How much does Telstra charge to roam in South Africa?
South Africa is in Zone 2 of Telstra's International Day Pass: A$10 a day with 2 GB of data a day, checked September 2026. AT&T's International Day Pass is US$12 a day. A Travelren plan costs a single amount for the length of your trip.
When does my South Africa plan start?
When your phone first connects to a network in South Africa. Installing the eSIM early doesn't use any of the plan's days, so you can set it up at home and it starts counting when you land in Johannesburg, Cape Town or Durban.
Will the eSIM work on the Garden Route?
Yes, in and around the towns, including Mossel Bay, Knysna, Plettenberg Bay and Storms River, with quieter stretches between them. Inland routes through the Karoo have longer gaps. Download offline maps for the whole route before you leave Cape Town.
Can I use the eSIM in neighbouring countries?
No. It covers South Africa only, so it stops working when you cross into Lesotho, Eswatini, Botswana, Zimbabwe or Mozambique. If your trip continues across a border, you'll need a separate plan for the next country.
Africa regional plan
Visiting more than just South Africa?
One Africa eSIM covers South Africa, Botswana and Egypt, plus 7 other countries.
$50.39
Not flying yet?
Tell us when you go and we’ll email you a reminder to set up your South Africa eSIM three days before you fly. One email. That’s it.