eSIM for Africa 
Viasimo's Africa eSIM starts at $7.00 for 1 GB over 7 days, running on local 5G networks where available. Plans last 3 to 180 days, arrive by email in minutes and install from your phone's settings, with no app.
Coverage depends on the plan: 21 to 29 countries
These plans do not all cover the same countries, and a bigger number is not always a superset. Pick your plan, then check your own countries in the coverage step before you pay.
Duration
Unlimited data · 3 Days ×1
$37.99
Does my phone take an eSIM? Check now
Dial *#06# on your phone. If you see an EID number, your phone takes an eSIM. Most phones sold since 2019 do.
Not sure it works on your phone? Check compatibilityWhich networks does the Africa eSIM use?
The host network is chosen automatically when you arrive.
- Data
- 1 GB – 20 GB or unlimited
- Validity
- 3–180 days
- Speed
- 4G LTE / 5G
- Hotspot / tethering
- Supported on most devices
- Activation
- Starts when you first connect in your destination
- Speed management
- Roughly 2-3 GB per day at full speed, sometimes less depending on the local carrier, then reduced
- Top-ups
- Add more data from your account, before the plan expires
- Text messages (SMS)
- Data only: use an app for verification codes
- Unused validity
- 180 days before it must be installed
How much data do you need?
The allowances below are our sizing recommendations, not measurements. The plan beside each one is the cheapest option on this page that covers it.
| You are | Plan for | Cheapest plan that covers it |
|---|---|---|
| LightMaps, messaging and the occasional lookup | About 1 GB a week | $7.001 GB, 7 days |
| TypicalMaps, social, photos and some browsing | About 3 to 7 GB a week | $27.995 GB, 30 days |
| HeavyVideo streaming, video calls and uploads | 10 GB a week or more | $50.9910 GB, 30 days |
| Working or sharingTethering a laptop, calls and cloud sync | 20 GB a week or more | $83.99Unlimited, 7 days |
eSIM, local SIM or roaming?
Charged per day
Your carrier roaming
Queue and plastic
A SIM at the airport
$7.00
Viasimo, one bundle
Only the Viasimo figure is a price: it comes from today’s live catalog. The other two rows are directional, not quoted rates.
Important to know
- This is a data-only eSIM. It carries no calls or SMS on its own number.
- Your existing number stays on your primary SIM, so calls and verification texts keep working.
- Your phone must support eSIM, and some carrier-locked phones cannot install one.
- Signal varies with location, terrain, congestion and your handset. Dense urban areas are consistently better served than remote ones.
- 5G only works where the host network has deployed it and your phone supports it. Everywhere else it falls back to 4G LTE.
- Unlimited plans run at full speed up to a fair-use limit, then continue at a reduced speed. Read the fair usage policy
Frequently asked questions
Does an eSIM work in Africa?
Yes. Your Africa eSIM connects automatically the moment you arrive, with no roaming fees and nothing to set up at the airport. Coverage runs on 4G LTE and 5G where the network has rolled it out, and falls back to 4G elsewhere.
Do I get 5G in Africa?
Yes, where it has been deployed. 5G runs on The local networks we use in Africa, and your eSIM uses it automatically on a 5G-capable phone, dropping back to 4G LTE outside covered areas. No country is covered everywhere, so 5G availability varies by location.
Does the Africa eSIM work in Namibia or Ethiopia?
No. Neither Namibia nor Ethiopia is on this plan's covered list, even though both are common on African itineraries. If your trip includes the Caprivi Strip, Etosha or an Addis Ababa connection where you want data, you will need a separate plan for those days. The page lists every covered country, so compare it with your route before you buy.
Will I have signal on safari in the Masai Mara or Serengeti?
Only in places. You can usually get a connection near park gates, some lodges and the Seronera area of the Serengeti, but long stretches of a game drive and the Ngorongoro crater floor are often out of range. Many camps offer wifi, sometimes over satellite and sometimes slow. Send anything important before you head out and save your safari documents offline.
What happens at the Victoria Falls bridge between Zambia and Zimbabwe?
You cross between two countries in a few hundred metres, and both are covered. Your phone may keep the network from the side you came from for a while, or switch back and forth near the border. That is normal. If data stops working once you are across, switch airplane mode on and off so the phone looks for the strongest local network.
Can an internet shutdown in an African country affect my eSIM?
Yes. Access Now recorded 30 internet shutdowns in 15 African countries in 2025, mostly around protests and elections. Because a travel eSIM connects through local operators, a government order to cut mobile data can cut your connection too. If you are travelling near an election, check the latest travel advice and download maps, tickets and contacts in advance.
Can I pay with M-Pesa using a data-only eSIM in Kenya or Tanzania?
Not directly. M-Pesa accounts are tied to a local SIM and phone number, which a data-only eSIM does not have. Visitors usually pay by card in Nairobi, Arusha and lodges, and carry cash for markets, tips and rural stops. Some travellers buy a local SIM just for mobile money while using the eSIM for data.
How much data do I need for 7 days in Africa?
For 7 days in Africa, Viasimo sells 1 GB for $7.00 and unlimited data for $83.99. Our sizing recommendation, not a measurement: maps, messaging and the occasional lookup, about 1 GB a week; maps, social, photos and some browsing, about 3 to 7 GB a week. The data calculator on this site works it out from how you actually use your phone.
Installing, keeping your number, topping up and hotspot work the same everywhere: see how it works →
Africa: what to know before you land
An Africa plan suits trips that cross borders: a Cape Town to Victoria Falls overland run, a Kenya and Tanzania safari, or Morocco followed by Egypt. Expect strong 4G in South African, Kenyan and Moroccan cities, slower and patchier service in much of West and Central Africa, and long offline stretches inside national parks.
- Emergency
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- 19 police
- 122 police
- Plugs
- GCDEM 220–240V in most countries
- Currency
- Many local currencies, plus the CFA franc across much of West and Central Africa
Main airports
- JNB O. R. Tambo International Airport, Johannesburg
- CPT Cape Town International Airport
- NBO Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, Nairobi
- CAI Cairo International Airport
Cape Town to Victoria Falls by road
The classic southern overland route runs from Cape Town or Johannesburg north through Botswana to the Chobe river, then across to Victoria Falls on the Zambia and Zimbabwe border. All four of those countries are on this plan, so one eSIM carries you through, but the quality changes a lot along the way.
- South Africa: the strongest networks on the continent by Opensignal's measure, with good 4G along the N1 and Garden Route and 5G pockets in the big cities.
- Botswana: towns such as Maun and Kasane are connected, but the Okavango Delta and Central Kalahari are largely offline. Camps run satellite wifi, often slow.
- Kazungula and the Victoria Falls bridge: you change countries in minutes here, and the phone may hold on to the previous network on the far bank. Toggle airplane mode once if data stalls.
- Zimbabwe and Zambia: Victoria Falls town and Livingstone have usable 4G; the stretch between towns does not.
Namibia, a common addition to this loop, is not on the covered list, so check before you add a Caprivi Strip detour.
Kenya and Tanzania safari circuit
A typical East African trip pairs the Masai Mara with the Serengeti and Ngorongoro, often finishing on Zanzibar. Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Rwanda are all covered, which also makes this plan useful for gorilla trekking add-ons in Bwindi or Volcanoes National Park.
Nairobi, Arusha and Kigali have good 4G, and Rwanda in particular scored well on time with signal in Opensignal's African survey. Inside the parks it is a different story: expect signal near main gates, some lodges and the Seronera area of the Serengeti, and long gaps on game drives and on the Ngorongoro crater floor. Fly-in camps in the Mara conservancies may offer only lodge wifi.
If you cross overland at Namanga between Nairobi and Arusha, your phone moves from a Kenyan to a Tanzanian network and may take a few minutes to reconnect. Keep your safari voucher, park fees receipt and e-visa saved offline in case you are asked for them at the post.
Tanzania had several internet shutdowns in 2025, according to Access Now, so check news close to your dates.
Mauritius, Seychelles, Réunion and Madagascar
The Indian Ocean islands are popular as a beach finish after a safari, and all four are on this plan. Mauritius has dense coverage across the main island, including the beach strips at Grand Baie and Flic en Flac. Seychelles is well covered on Mahé, Praslin and La Digue, though boat transfers between them lose signal mid-crossing. Réunion is a French overseas department with French operators, but a Europe plan won't necessarily include it, so this plan is the one to use there.
Madagascar is the outlier. Antananarivo and Nosy Be have reasonable 4G, and Opensignal recorded surprisingly good average download speeds for the country, but the long overland drives on Route Nationale 7 towards Isalo and Tuléar go through large stretches with no signal at all. Download offline maps and guide notes before leaving the capital.
On a cruise that calls at these islands, the plan works when the ship is in port or close to shore and connects to a land network. Once you are at sea, there is nothing for it to attach to.
North Africa: Morocco, Tunisia and Egypt
North Africa is covered by Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria and Egypt on this plan, and the networks here behave differently from those south of the Sahara. Morocco and Tunisia both averaged above 20Mbps in Opensignal's African comparison. Coverage is good in Marrakech, Fes, Tunis and Cairo, and along the main Moroccan motorways and rail lines, including the Al Boraq high-speed line between Tangier and Casablanca.
The gaps are in the desert and the mountains. On a Merzouga or Zagora desert trip, signal fades in the dunes, and desert camps may have none. The Atlas passes and the Siwa and White Desert routes in Egypt are similar. Opensignal also found Tunisian users without any signal more than 5% of the time, the highest share in its survey, so expect dropouts outside Tunis and the coast.
If you take the ferry from Tangier to Spain, the Africa plan stops at the Moroccan coast; Spain needs a Europe plan or a separate eSIM. Some travellers do Morocco plus Egypt on one ticket, which is where a regional plan saves you buying two.
Researched October 2026 · 5 sources
- insights.opensignal.com The state of mobile network experience in Africa (Opensignal, 2024)
- accessnow.org Resilience and resistance: internet shutdowns in Africa in 2025 (Access Now)
- victoriafalls-guide.net KAZA UniVisa for Zimbabwe and Zambia (Victoria Falls Guide)
- gsmaintelligence.com The Mobile Economy Africa 2025 (GSMA Intelligence)
- unusualnomad.com Best eSIM for Kenya and Tanzania safari (Unusual Nomad)
Thirteen days from Cape Town to Zanzibar via Victoria Falls, Chobe and the Masai Mara
A six-country route for a first big Africa trip, linked by flights: Cape Town and the Cape Peninsula, both sides of Victoria Falls with a Chobe day trip into Botswana, then Nairobi and a Masai Mara safari, ending on Zanzibar.
When to go July to October is the best overall window: dry season for game viewing in Chobe and the Masai Mara, with the wildebeest river crossings most likely from late July to September, though Victoria Falls is lower by October and Cape Town is cool and wet in July and August.
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Day 1 Cape Town
Cape Town: Table Mountain and the Waterfront
Take the cableway up Table Mountain early, before the wind or cloud closes it, and walk the paths on the summit plateau. In the afternoon, visit the colourful houses of the Bo-Kaap and the Company's Garden, then spend the evening at the V&A Waterfront with the mountain behind the harbour.
Signal Strong 4G and 5G on Vodacom or MTN across central Cape Town and on the mountain's summit.
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Day 2 Cape Town
The Cape Peninsula
Drive or take a tour down the peninsula via Chapman's Peak Drive to Cape Point and the Cape of Good Hope in Table Mountain National Park. Stop at Boulders Beach near Simon's Town to see the African penguin colony, and return along the False Bay coast through Kalk Bay.
Signal Good around Simon's Town and Kalk Bay; patchy on Chapman's Peak Drive and inside the Cape Point reserve.
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Day 3 Cape Town
Robben Island and Kirstenbosch
Take the morning ferry from the Nelson Mandela Gateway to Robben Island for the tour led by former political prisoners, booking ahead. In the afternoon, walk the treetop Boomslang walkway at Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden on the mountain's eastern slopes.
Signal Gaps on the Robben Island ferry; limited signal on the island itself. Good at Kirstenbosch.
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Day 4 Victoria Falls
Fly to Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
Flight Cape Town or Johannesburg to Victoria Falls, about 2 to 2.5 hours.
Fly to Victoria Falls, buying the KAZA Univisa on arrival if your nationality is eligible, as it covers Zimbabwe and Zambia. Walk the rainforest trail on the Zimbabwean side for the full width of the falls, then take a sunset cruise on the upper Zambezi.
Signal Your phone switches to Econet in Zimbabwe. Good in Victoria Falls town; spray can affect phones on the rainforest trail.
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Day 5 Victoria Falls
Across the bridge to Livingstone, Zambia
Walk or take a taxi across the Victoria Falls Bridge into Zambia. Visit the Zambian side of the falls and the Knife-Edge Bridge, and, from about August to January when water is low, join a guided trip to Devil's Pool on Livingstone Island. Return across the bridge in the afternoon.
Signal Your phone may switch between Zimbabwean and Zambian networks, Airtel or MTN, on the bridge; toggle airplane mode if data stops.
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Day 6 Victoria Falls
Chobe National Park, Botswana
About 1.5 hours by road from Victoria Falls to Kasane, plus border formalities.
Join a day trip across the Kazungula border into Botswana for Chobe National Park. Take a boat safari on the Chobe River in the morning, watching elephants, hippos and buffalo at the water's edge, then a game drive along the riverfront in the afternoon. Return to Victoria Falls in the evening.
Signal Your phone joins Mascom or Orange Botswana in Kasane. Signal fades on the river and inside the park.
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Day 7 Nairobi
Fly to Nairobi: the Giraffe Centre and Karen
Flights from Victoria Falls or Livingstone to Nairobi, direct on some days or via Johannesburg.
Fly to Nairobi, applying for Kenya's electronic travel authorisation before you go. In the afternoon, visit the Giraffe Centre in Langata and the Karen Blixen Museum. Book the late-morning elephant visit at the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust for tomorrow if you have not already.
Signal In Kenya this plan uses Airtel, with good 4G in Nairobi. Its rural reach is smaller than the market leader's.
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Day 8 Masai Mara
Nairobi National Park and the flight to the Mara
Light aircraft from Nairobi Wilson to the Masai Mara, about 45 minutes to 1 hour.
Take an early game drive in Nairobi National Park, where lions and rhinos roam against the city skyline, and visit the Sheldrick elephant orphanage. Fly from Wilson Airport to a Masai Mara airstrip in the afternoon and take your first evening game drive with your camp's guide.
Signal Good in Nairobi National Park near the city. In the Mara, signal is limited to areas near some camps and gates.
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Day 9 Masai Mara
Masai Mara game drives
Head out at dawn for a full day of game drives across the reserve's open plains, looking for lions, cheetahs, elephants and, in season, the wildebeest herds. Many camps offer bush breakfasts and picnic lunches so you can stay out all day. Visit a Maasai village with a guide in the evening if you wish.
Signal Long stretches of game drives have no signal; many camps rely on their own wifi, sometimes via satellite.
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Day 10 Masai Mara
The Mara River
Drive to the Mara River, where hippos and crocodiles gather and, from late July to September, the wildebeest herds may cross. Crossings cannot be predicted, so be prepared to wait. Alternatively, take a dawn balloon flight over the plains, followed by a champagne breakfast.
Signal Little or none along the river; send any messages before you leave camp.
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Day 11 Zanzibar
Fly to Zanzibar: Stone Town
Light aircraft to Nairobi, then a flight to Zanzibar, about 1.5 hours. Arrange Tanzania's eVisa and the government's mandatory inbound travel insurance, which now covers the mainland and Zanzibar, in advance.
Fly back to Nairobi and on to Zanzibar. In the late afternoon, walk Stone Town's alleys to the Old Fort, the House of Wonders and the Anglican Cathedral on the site of the former slave market. Eat at the Forodhani Gardens food market by the sea at sunset.
Signal Your phone switches to Vodacom or Airtel Tanzania. Good 4G in Stone Town.
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Day 12 Zanzibar
Zanzibar: a spice farm and Prison Island
Take a guided spice tour on a farm outside Stone Town to see cloves, nutmeg and vanilla growing. In the afternoon, take a boat to Prison Island to see the giant tortoises, then snorkel on the reef nearby. Return to Stone Town for an evening walk.
Signal Good on the spice farms near town; gaps on the boat and limited signal on Prison Island.
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Day 13 Zanzibar
Zanzibar's east-coast beaches
Transfer to the east or north coast, such as Paje, Jambiani or Nungwi. Walk out at low tide to see seaweed farms, join a dhow trip at sunset, or visit the Jozani Forest for red colobus monkeys on the way. Fly home from Zanzibar's Abeid Amani Karume Airport.
Signal Good in the main beach villages; weaker in Jozani Forest and at some remote resorts.
Staying connected on this route
- Download offline maps and send important messages before game drives in Chobe and the Masai Mara, where most of the day is offline.
- M-Pesa needs a local number, so on this data-only eSIM rely on cards in cities and carry cash for tips in camps.
- Check FCDO health advice before travel: the October 2026 update for Kenya mentions an Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and related screening.
Itinerary sources · 5
- gov.uk GOV.UK: Kenya warnings and insurance
- whc.unesco.org UNESCO: Mosi-oa-Tunya / Victoria Falls
- sanparks.org South African National Parks: Table Mountain National Park
- magicalkenya.com Magical Kenya: Kenya Tourism Board
- whc.unesco.org UNESCO: Stone Town of Zanzibar
Information and verification
Each block below says what was checked and when. Anything we cannot date, we do not claim.
- Prices and plans
- Every price and allowance on this page is read from the live catalog, not typed in.
Africa eSIM prices
| Data | Price | Per day |
|---|---|---|
| Unlimited | $37.99 | $12.66/day |
| Data | Price | Per day |
|---|---|---|
| Unlimited | $59.99 | $12.00/day |
| Data | Price | Per day |
|---|---|---|
| Unlimited | $114.99 | $11.50/day |
| Data | Price | Per day |
|---|---|---|
| 3 GBBest value | $18.99 | $0.63/day |
| 5 GB | $27.99 | $0.93/day |
| 10 GB | $50.99 | $1.70/day |
| 20 GB | $104.99 | $3.50/day |
| Unlimited | $319.99 | $10.67/day |
| Data | Price | Per day |
|---|---|---|
| Unlimited | $634.99 | $10.58/day |
| Data | Price | Per day |
|---|---|---|
| Unlimited | $949.99 | $10.56/day |
| Data | Price | Per day |
|---|---|---|
| Unlimited | $1,889.99 | $10.50/day |
Destinations
