Best South Africa SIM Cards for Tourists: 2024 Detailed Guide

This article is for people looking for ways to stay connected while traveling South Africa. Traveling abroad, people often concern how to get Internet connection and stay in touch with people back home. This is also true for travelers to South Africa. Regarding connectivity options for South Africa, people often think of South Africa SIM card. Here we explain in details whether or not your should use it during your trip, best plans if using, updated prices and best alternative to prepaid SIM card. Do not miss out!

I. Where to Buy a Tourist SIM Card for South Africa ?

You can buy a tourist SIM for South Africa in 03 different ways.

1. Buy a prepaid South African eSIM card online before traveling

How to buy: Before arriving in South Africa, tourists can buy eSIM cards online through websites specializing in providing eSIM services for this country.

• Advantages: Convenient, saves time and reduces the risk of losing.
• Disadvantages: Can be difficult if there are remote activation or installation issues.

2. Buy a prepaid South African SIM at the airport

How to buy: Travelers can purchase a physical SIM at the mobile service counter at the airport.

• Advantages: High convenience when arriving at the airport, quick activation time.
• Disadvantages: Price may be higher than buying online.

3. Buy a prepaid South African SIM in cities

How to buy: Major cities in South Africa have many mobile stores. Tourists can buy SIM cards at these stores.

• Advantages: Easy to access, proactively check network quality right at the point of purchase.
• Disadvantages: Price may depend on location and requires time to search.

In conclusion, each location will have its own advantages and disadvantages. We need to consider price, availability and diversity to make the best choice.

II. What Are The Best SIM Cards for Tourists?

There are 04 main mobile network operators in South Africa offering prepaid packages for tourists. The plan prices and features can be changed over time. 

1. Best South Africa Vodacom SIM Card Plans and Price

Best South Africa Vodacom SIM card plans that you can choose as:

• 3 GB data + 30 minutes + 50 SAR credit + 30 SMS for 30 days = 299 SAR – 79,73 USD
• 5 GB data + 50 minutes + 100 SAR credit + 50 SMS for 50 days = 449  SAR – 119,73 USD
• 10 GB data + 100 minutes + 150 SAR credit + 100 SMS for 100 days = 699 SAR – 186,39 USD  

2. Best South Africa MTN (Mobile Telephone Networks) SIM Card Plans and Price

South Africa MTN SIM plans that you can choose are:

• 2 GB data + 60 minutes for 1 month = 99 SAR – 26,40 USD
• 4.5 GB data + 100 minutes for 1 month = 169 SAR – 45,06 USD
• 7.5 GB data + 200 minutes for 1 month = 299 SAR – 79,73 USD
• 15 GB data + 400 minutes for 1 month = 399 SAR – 106,39 USD 

3. Best South Africa Cell C SIM Card Plans and Price

A prepaid Cell C sim card costs $ 6,67 and comes with loaded credit: 

• 1GB data + 50 minutes + $5.3 calling credit and valid for 12 days

Moreover, you can buy weekly and monthly data bundles:

• 3 GB data + 3 GB data after midnight till 6 am and valid for 30 days 

4. Best South Africa Telkom Mobile SIM Card Plans and Price

There are some plans that you can choose as:

• 800 MB  for 1 month = 99 SAR – 26,40 USD
• 1.5 GB  for 1 month = 129 SAR – 34,40 USD 
• 3 GB  for 1 month = 189 SAR – 50,40 USD
• 6 GB  for 1 month = 289 SAR – 77,06 USD 
• 11.5 GB for 1 month = 389 SAR – 103,73 USD
• 18 GB for 1 month = 499 SAR – 133,06 USD
• 28 GB for 1 month = 689 SAR – 183,72 USD

III. Do I Need to Buy a SIM Card for South Africa Travel?

Yes. As a traditional way to stay connected and in touch while traveling, using a sim card for South Africa will bring many benefits to tourists, but it does have downsides.

The table below will compare sim cards with other connectivity options, helping you make the best choice. 

	Sim card	Free Wifi	Roaming	Pocket Wifi
Cost	Reasonable	Usually free	Exorbitantly expensive	More expensive than SIM card
Convenience and Flexibility	Easy to use after installation	Easy but requires  the availability of Wi-Fi networks	Requires  the availability of Wi-Fi networks	Easy but need to bring another device
Privacy	Good security	Less secure	Generally secure	Secure but may be affected if the device is lost
Connection speed	Good connectivity	Based on connection location	Based on network	Good but based on your devices
International available	Available as soon as you arrive in another country	Available at some specific locations	Need to activation of roaming services	Need to renting and returning a device

It can be seen from the table above, using a SIM card is an option worth considering for tourists in South Africa . This not only brings cost convenience, but also ensures a stable and safe connection throughout the journey.

IV. What to Prepare to Buy Prepaid SIM cards in South Africa?

V. What Types of South Africa SIM Cards Are Available For Tourists?

There are 02 main types of SIM cards available to tourists in South Africa. Which is the best type? Let’s explore together.

SIM and eSIM – the best choice for tourists. 

1. Prepaid physical SIM card in South Africa

A prepaid physical SIM card in South Africa is a type of SIM card for which the user purchases a specific amount or service package in advance before using it. 

It has some typical types as follows: 

• Data-only SIM Card: Provide users with mobile data for accessing the internet, using applications and sending/receiving emails. 
• Data + voice and text: Providing users with voice, text and data services in one SIM card. Therefore, tourists can contact relatives from afar. 
• International SIM Card: Allows users to use mobile network services worldwide when moving to different countries. This is suitable for tourists. 

2. Prepaid Tourist South Africa eSIM

eSIM work similarly to physical SIM cards in terms of functions, but built into the device and allowing users to prepay to use mobile network services. You can install and activate it 100% online with a QR code. 

However, not all devices can use eSIM, only esim-compatible devices can work. So you need to check if your device works with eSIM before placing an order.

It is like a physical SIM card. It has some types such as data or voice, text plans, and international types that users can choose.

To help you better understand the difference between eSIM and SIM card in South Africa, follow the table below: 

	Prepaid  South Africa  SIM card	Prepaid eSIM for South Africa
Pros	Affordable Easy to change services Popular and easy to buy	No need to change SIM cards when moving between countries, saving time Convenient for fixed setup equipment Users can easily manage and control their services Buy online, you can buy SIM anywhere, anytime. Just scan the QR and get the SIM, no need to remove it. eSIM is attached to the device so there is no risk of losing it
Cons	Experience hassle and waste of time when traveling internationally Service restoration will becomes complicated if the physical SIM Card can be lost or damaged	Some devices and mobile carriers may not support eSIM, limiting user choice Must be an unlocked phone (network unlocked) to use

► Our recommendation: 

• eSIM is the best choice for tourists to South Africa with an eSIM-supported device.
• If your device is compatible with eSIM and only needs to maintain basic communication through calling apps and using the Internet, choose the data only eSIM plans. 

VI. South Africa eSIM – Alternative to Physical SIM Cards to Get Internet in South Africa

Using South Africa eSIM brings users many conveniences. Below is information about eSIM in South Africa that you should know. 

The pros of prepaid South Africa eSIM. 

• eSIM saves space and reduces the risk of SIM card loss. This creates great flexibility, especially when users have multiple devices or frequently change phones. 
• eSIM allows users to manage their mobile network services through the application or settings directly on the phone. They can easily monitor and control data, calls, and messages.
• For international travelers, eSIM helps them easily connect to mobile networks in many countries. 
• eSIM provides a high level of security Information is securely stored on the device’s integrated chip, reducing the risk of information loss. 

This benefit makes eSIM a convenient and flexible choice, especially for those who want to travel and stay connected anytime, anywhere.

eSIM providers in South Africa. 

Gigago – a reputable eSIM provider offers multiple data plans for tourist to South Africa at competitive prices and comprehensive support.

For South Africa, Gigago offers multiple data plan options, starting from 1 GB for 7 days with $5.00 . What is great about Gigago’s South Africa eSIM is that its plans’ costs are diversifying, varying between $5.00 – $28.90 . Thus, it does not matter how Internet users you are and how long your trip is in South Africa, there is always an option for you with Gigago.

VII. How long does a tourist SIM card last in the South Africa?

VIII. How to Use South Africa Prepaid SIM Cards and eSIM

Below, we will show you how to use South Africa Prepaid SIM Cards and eSIM, depending on your needs. 

1. Using prepaid South Africa tourist SIM Cards

• Buy SIM card: you need to buy a prepaid travel SIM card. You can look for SIM Cards at cell phone stores or retail stores.
• Choose the suitable package: Select the package or service you want to use. There are 4 carriers in  South Africa like Vodacom, MTN, Cell C, Telkom Mobile, you can choose from. Carriers often offer a variety of options, including plans with data, calls, and texts.
• Registration and activation: During the SIM Card purchase process, you will need to provide identification and fill in registration information. Then the SIM Card will be activated.
• Deposit: Deposit money into your account to use the service. You can deposit money online, mobile app, retail store, or card deposit machine.
• Check Settings: Check your phone’s settings to make sure it is using the correct network configuration for your chosen carriers. 
• Service Usage: Now you are ready to use the service of a South Africa SIM Card. You can make calls, send messages, and use mobile data according to the plan you have chosen.

2. Setting up and activating South Africa eSIM 

For travelers to set up and activate an eSIM in South Africa, you can follow these steps: 

• Compatibility Check: Make sure your mobile phone supports eSIM and is eSIM capable in South Africa. Some modern smartphones support eSIM, but you’ll need to check in your phone’s settings to confirm compatibility.
• Buy eSIM: You can buy eSIM either at mobile internet carriers’ stores or from resellers. The earlier requires your private registration while the latter does not. It is advised to go with eSIM providers / resellers for the best convenience.
• Providing Registration Information: During the eSIM purchasing process, you may need to provide personal information and identification documents to register. The carrier will use this information to activate the eSIM.
• Receive activation code: After purchasing eSIM, you will receive an activation code or QR code from the network operator.
• eSIM Activation: to complete the eSIM activation process, you need to select a plan, set up network settings, and enter the necessary information.
• Check Connection: After activation, test the eSIM connection by trying to make a call, send a text message, or use mobile data. 

Remember: 

It is necessary to thoroughly check your phone and choose a network package that suits your budget when using South Africa eSIM. If you have difficulty, please contact store staff or your carrier’s support hotline for detailed support.

IX. FAQs

X. Conclusion

In short, the decision between choosing a South Africa SIM Card or an eSIM when traveling should be based on the specific needs of each traveler. Physical SIM Cards are often suitable for people who want to easily switch between devices and like to promote flexibility in managing mobile network services. In contrast, eSIM brings convenience when traveling between countries, while helping travelers conveniently manage network services through online applications. Therefore, choose the right type to have a great trip. I hope you have a good trip.