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South Africa eSIM
4 data plans · from $9.99 · one-tap install by email
Choose your plan
Travelling as a group? Buy everyone an eSIM in one checkout and the discount is applied automatically — no code needed. See group pricing
4 data plans · from $9.99 · one-tap install by email
Travelling as a group? Buy everyone an eSIM in one checkout and the discount is applied automatically — no code needed. See group pricing
Streaming, sharing, heavy use
$23.99
$2.40/GB
Buy →
Connects automatically to the strongest signal across Vodacom.
Setup
Set up your eSIM before you travel — it takes about a minute. Scan once, switch it on when you arrive, and you’re online.
On iPhone (iOS)
On Android
8 plans for South Africa, from 3 to 20 GB. Validity runs from 1 day to 30 days. None of these run on 5G — South Africa is LTE only on the networks we resell. We would rather say so here than let you find out on arrival.
5 plans can be topped up without installing a second eSIM. Plans run on Vodacom.
Counted from our live catalogue, not a marketing figure — the plan list above this section is the same data.
No regional bundle covers South Africa — a single-country plan is the only option here, which is usually the cheaper one anyway.
A travel eSIM for South Africa is a digital SIM your phone downloads — no plastic card, no airport pickup counter. You buy online, tap the install link we email you (a QR code is included too), and it installs a second line alongside your existing SIM. It stays dormant until you arrive in South Africa, then connects automatically to Vodacom on LTE. Your home number keeps working for calls and texts; the eSIM simply carries your data.
Maps, messaging and rideshare apps are light — roughly 300–500 MB a day. Add photos, social and the occasional video and you’re closer to 1 GB a day. For a one-week trip a 5 GB plan is comfortable; for two weeks, sharing, or heavy use, choose 10 GB or more, or a reloadable plan you can top up on the go. South Africa plans start at $9.99 across 4 sizes, with the per-GB price shown on every one so the right choice is obvious.
No. A travel eSIM for South Africa is a local data plan, not international roaming — you pay the price you see up front, with no per-megabyte bill from your home carrier. Set the eSIM as your data line and switch data roaming off on your home SIM, and there are no surprises when you get home. Full refund any time before you install, so there’s no risk in buying ahead.
Biltong
Dried, cured meat (usually beef or game like ostrich and kudu), spiced with coriander, vinegar, and black pepper.
Butcheries, supermarkets, and specialty biltong shops everywhere.
Boerewors
A thick, coiled sausage made of coarsely minced beef (sometimes mixed with pork or lamb) and heavily spiced. A staple of any South African braai (BBQ).
Local braai spots, markets, and butcheries.
Bobotie
The national dish of South Africa. Sweet and spicy minced meat baked with an egg-based topping, usually served with yellow rice.
Traditional restaurants, especially in Cape Town (Cape Malay areas).
South Africa connectivity guide
Two separate things shape connectivity in South Africa. The first is RICA, the registration law: buying a local SIM is reported to require your original passport plus proof of where you are staying. The second is the power grid: scheduled outages have, in recent years, been able to take mobile towers down with them. A travel eSIM installed before you fly deals with the first entirely and lets you plan sensibly around the second.
Read the full South Africa guide →Bunny Chow
A hollowed-out half or quarter loaf of white bread filled with a rich, spicy curry.
Durban is the absolute best place, but Indian restaurants nationwide serve it.
Chakalaka
A spicy vegetable relish usually made with beans, tomatoes, onions, and grated carrots.
Usually served as a side dish at a braai or with pap (maize porridge).
Malva Pudding
A sweet, sticky, caramelized sponge pudding containing apricot jam, usually served hot with custard or ice cream.
Most traditional restaurants and steakhouses.
Koeksister
A traditional Afrikaner confectionery made of braided dough that is deep-fried and immediately plunged into ice-cold syrup.
Bakeries and supermarkets.
Melktert
A sweet pastry crust containing a creamy filling made from milk, flour, sugar, and eggs, dusted with cinnamon.
Coffee shops and farm stalls.
Potjiekos
A slow-cooked meat and vegetable stew cooked outdoors over hot coals in a cast-iron pot (potjie).
Guesthouses, safari lodges, or at a local friend's house.
Braaibroodjie
A grilled sandwich cooked over coals at a braai, traditionally filled with cheese, tomato, onion, and chutney.
Braai events and some local markets.
Table MountainCape Town
Ride the rotating cable car or hike to the top of this flat-topped mountain for unparalleled views of the city and ocean.
Half day · book ahead
Kruger National ParkMpumalanga/Limpopo
One of Africa's largest game reserves. The premier destination for spotting the Big Five and experiencing incredible biodiversity.
2-4 days · book ahead
Robben IslandCape Town
The island prison where Nelson Mandela spent 18 years. Tours are guided by former political prisoners.
Half day · book ahead
V&A WaterfrontCape Town
A bustling harbor area with world-class shopping, dining, the Zeitz MOCAA art museum, and the Two Oceans Aquarium.
Half day
Blyde River CanyonMpumalanga
One of the largest green canyons on Earth, offering spectacular viewpoints like God's Window and the Three Rondavels.
1 day
Cape of Good HopeCape Peninsula
The dramatic southwesternmost tip of Africa, known for rugged scenery, hiking, and nearby penguin colonies at Boulders Beach.
Half day to 1 day
Apartheid MuseumJohannesburg
A powerful and sobering museum detailing the history of South Africa's state-sanctioned system of racial discrimination.
2-3 hours
Kirstenbosch National Botanical GardenCape Town
Set against the eastern slopes of Table Mountain, this is one of the most beautiful botanical gardens in the world.
2-3 hours
Addo Elephant National ParkEastern Cape
A malaria-free park famous for its massive elephant population and the opportunity to see the Big Seven (Big 5 plus whales and great white sharks).
1-2 days · book ahead
Drakensberg MountainsKwaZulu-Natal
A spectacular mountain range featuring incredible hiking, waterfalls, and ancient San rock art.
2-3 days
Domestic Flights
Airlines like FlySafair, Airlink, and LIFT operate between major hubs (Cape Town, Johannesburg, Durban, George).
700-2500 ZAR one-way.
Rental Car
Widespread availability at airports. Roads are generally well-maintained, though rural areas may have potholes.
300-800 ZAR per day.
Intercity Bus
Companies like Intercape and Greyhound offer comfortable, long-distance luxury coaches between major centers.
400-800 ZAR.
Gautrain
A modern, secure rapid transit railway system linking OR Tambo Airport, Johannesburg, and Pretoria.
100-250 ZAR.
Minibus Taxis
Informal shared minivans used by the majority of locals. They operate on specific routes without set schedules.
10-25 ZAR.
Ride-hailing
Uber, Bolt
Highly recommended for getting around major cities safely, especially at night. It is much safer than hailing a random street cab.
Paying for things
Basics
| New Year's Day | January 1 | Public holiday; banks and offices closed. Beaches are extremely crowded. |
| Human Rights Day | March 21 | Public holiday; minor closures. |
| Freedom Day | April 27 | Commemorates the first democratic elections. Parades and public events. |
| Workers' Day | May 1 | Public holiday; many businesses closed. |
| Youth Day | June 16 | Public holiday; commemorates the Soweto Uprising. |
| National Women's Day | August 9 | Public holiday; minor disruptions. |
| Heritage Day | September 24 | Often celebrated as 'Braai Day'. Locals gather for barbecues; some stores closed. |
| Day of Reconciliation | December 16 | Marks the start of the heavy domestic summer holiday season. |
Recurring dates — the day these fall on moves year to year.