South Africa eSIM
Prepaid South Africa travel data from $3.99 USD (1 GB, 7 days). No physical SIM and no contract: you get a QR code by email and install it from your phone's settings. Check your phone
Choose your package
How many days?
Count arrival and departure days.How much data?
Plan details · 5 GB, 7 days
- Coverage
- Single country
- Plan type
- Data only
- Activation
- On network connection
- Hotspot
- Supported
- Top-up
- Not available
Need a particular mobile operator? before you buy.
Full plan terms, coverage & refunds
Data-only eSIM
Validity starts at the first network connection.
Top-ups unavailable. Usage tracking supported. Hotspot supported.
Calls and SMS are not included. Internet calling apps use your data.
Coverage (1 country)
South Africa
Mobile networks: Telkom SA
Refund eligibility depends on the plan and its activation status. Contact Wanderly support before installing or using the eSIM.
Listed network types describe plan support; 4G/5G availability and speeds vary by location and device. Country coverage does not guarantee a signal throughout your route. If you need a specific network or location, confirm it with support before buying.
Refunds: who is eligible and how to request one are set out in our refund policy.
Free eSIM in South Africa — free data for first-time users, claimed in the Wanderly app.
South Africa eSIM plans at a glance
Wanderly lists 35 fixed-data South Africa plans, ranging from 500MB up to 50GB over 1 to 30 days. Prices start at $3.99, and the lowest cost per gigabyte is $0.66/GB on the 50GB 3-day plan.
Unlimited day-passes are also available from $3.99 per day, billed per day rather than per gigabyte. 8 of the 39 South Africa data-only plans can be topped up without reinstalling the eSIM.
Calls and SMS depend on the selected plan. Install using the supplied QR code and keep your home number on its own line. Activation timing varies by plan; check your selected plan's terms before purchasing or installing.
How much does a South Africa eSIM cost?
A South Africa eSIM from Wanderly costs $3.99 for 1GB (7 days), $7.99 for 5GB (3 days) and $18.99 for 20GB (3 days), as a one-off price with no subscription. Larger plans cost less per gigabyte: $3.99/GB at 1GB against $0.95/GB at 20GB.
In the November 1, 2026 edition of the Wanderly eSIM Price Index, South Africa's data-only plans have a median of $1.52 per GB, above the $1.41 median across 181 destinations. 96 of those destinations have a lower median.
Cheapest plan that lasts your trip
| Trip | Plan | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Long weekend (1GB or more) | 1GB, 7 days | $3.99 |
| One week (3GB or more) | 3GB, 15 days | $6.99 |
| Two weeks (5GB or more) | 5GB, 30 days | $8.99 |
| One month (10GB or more) | 10GB, 30 days | $14.99 |
The data amounts are a starting point. Estimate how much you will use.
Cheapest plan by data size
| Data | Validity | Price | Per GB |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1GB | 7 days | $3.99 | $3.99 |
| 3GB | 3 days | $5.99 | $2.00 |
| 5GB | 3 days | $7.99 | $1.60 |
| 10GB | 3 days | $11.99 | $1.20 |
| 20GB | 3 days | $18.99 | $0.95 |
Cheapest current data-only plan at each size, as charged at checkout. Prices checked November 10, 2026, from the live catalogue. Compare South Africa with every country in the eSIM Price Index.
Choose a South Africa eSIM for your itinerary
Cape Town and the Garden Route
Choose validity from your Cape Town arrival through the final Garden Route stop, including driving days. Save accommodation directions and activity tickets offline. Check hotspot permission if you will share one phone's connection in a rental car, and size data around the number of people using it.
Johannesburg with a Kruger safari
Check the selected offer's network details for your lodge and transfer route before buying. A South Africa listing does not promise service throughout Kruger or a private reserve. Download gate directions and agree collection times with your lodge before leaving a connected area.
Lesotho, Eswatini or onward to Namibia
Verify Lesotho and Eswatini separately even when the surrounding road trip is mainly in South Africa. Add Namibia to the coverage check if you drive onward. Compare the exact regional country list and expiry with separate plans; crossing a border does not reset a shared allowance.
Open the current plan's details before buying: check validity, activation timing, coverage, hotspot rules and any fair-use limits. Calls and texts are included only when stated for that plan.
South Africa eSIM — frequently asked questions
Everything travelers ask before buying a South Africa data plan.
How do I activate my South Africa eSIM?
After purchase you'll receive a QR code by email. Scan it from your phone's cellular settings to install the eSIM. Install over a reliable internet connection, then follow the activation instructions supplied with your plan.
Does my phone support eSIM in South Africa?
Your phone must support eSIM and be carrier-unlocked. Support varies by exact model and the country where the phone was sold, so check your model and regional variant in our compatibility checker before buying.
Can I keep my regular phone number?
Yes. The eSIM runs as a second line alongside your physical SIM card, so your home number stays on the phone for calls and texts while mobile data comes from the eSIM. Your home carrier may still apply roaming charges to calls and texts; disable data roaming and automatic data switching on the home line.
Do plans for South Africa include calls and texts?
Some do. The "Calls & texts" tab above lists plans that include a phone number, calling and usually SMS alongside the data; the rest of our plans are data-only. The number is assigned after purchase and may be issued in a different country than South Africa, so we cannot promise a local number.
How much does an eSIM for South Africa cost?
Plans start from $3.99 on Wanderly, depending on the selected data allowance and duration. Check the available plans above for the current total price and coverage.
When does my plan start?
Most plans begin when the eSIM first connects to a supported network in South Africa or the covered region. Activation rules can vary, so check the instructions for your selected plan before installing or turning it on.
New to eSIMs? Read our complete guide