Calling and internet in South Africa

Mobile coverage in Johannesburg and Cape Town with SIM card South Africa

It is not cheap to use a Dutch mobile phone in South Africa. Due to roaming charges to be paid outside Europe, the cost of calls and internet usage can be very high.

Moreover, during intercontinental travel, a lot of data is often used. Travellers try to solve it by buying extra data bundles from their own Dutch providers like KPN and Vodafone, but that doesn’t offer a cheap way out either. The best way to always be reachable in South Africa and to use mobile phones there worry-free is to buy a local prepaid SIM card.

A local South African SIM grants access to networks of South African providers and offers local rates for calls and internet. It will definitely save you a lot of unnecessary expenses.

Where can I buy a prepaid SIM card for South Africa?

You can buy a prepaid SIM for South Africa both in Belgium and in the Netherlands so you can quickly and easily arrange everything before you leave. The SIM card can be ordered on the Airport Telecom site and is delivered to your home free of charge. It is also possible to pick up the ordered SIM in Zaventem or at the Airport Telecom shop at Schiphol, which is easy to find on the Schiphol Plaza map. Having a SIM card arranged before departure gives the security of being reachable immediately on arrival in South Africa and saves a lot of time searching for similar solutions in Johannesburg, Cape Town or Port Elisabeth.

Prices of SIM cards South Africa

The prices of prepaid SIM cards depend on the size of data bundles. Local SIMs are often sold with only 1GB or 2GB and this amount of data goes up quickly. When buying prepaid SIM cards, we recommend you check how much data these cards offer and choose a SIM that best suits your travel plans and how you want to use your phone during the trip.

Which prepaid SIM for South Africa is the best

Airport Telecom offers two options of SIM cards for South Africa: a 10GB SIM and Unlimited SIM. Both can be ordered as a physical SIM and as an eSIM.

The 10GB data SIM is a good choice for travellers who spend a lot of time in places with free wifi. This SIM also offers 500 local calling minutes and normally has enough data for the situations where you find yourself outside accommodations with free wifi.

For travellers who want the freedom to use their phones without any restrictions during their stay in South Africa, the Unlimited SIM is an ideal solution. As the name suggests, with the Unlimited SIM in the phone, you can use worry-free unlimited data for mail, navigation, Whatsapp, Skype, Facetime etc. This card additionally offers unlimited calling within South Africa.

Mobile network in South Africa

The 4G mobile network in South Africa works well and in populated areas you can use the mobile phone almost everywhere. Many hotels and restaurants provide free wifi access. There are also free wifi hotspots at airports, libraries and sometimes shops.

However, if you are going to use your phone with your own subscription outside these accommodations, the cost of calls and internet can add up considerably. To avoid these high expenses, you can use a local South African prepaid SIM card.

Keep in mind that mobile phone coverage can be limited in vast nature reserves and game parks in South Africa.

Making calls in South Africa

Area codes in South Africa start with 0, e.g. 011 for Johannesburg and 021 for Cape Town. Mobile numbers start with 06, 07, or 08.

The international country code for South Africa is +27. When calling local South African numbers from the Netherlands, dial: +27 – area code without 0 – subscriber number. The local South African number 021 XXX XXXX thus becomes +27 21 XXX XXXX

From South Africa to the Netherlands dial: +31 – area code without zero – subscriber number: +31 XXXX XXXXX

With a prepaid SIM for South Africa in your Dutch mobile phone, you will get a local South African +27 number.