Tourist SIMs at a glance
- Carriers and shopsTourist SIMs are available from Vodacom and MTN. You can get them through airport counters.
- Good to knowVodacom sells Travel Bundles for tourists at its airport stores and at participating retailers, valid for 30 days, released once the SIM is bought, registered under RICA and set up. MTN sells Traveller Bundles in its stores at O.R. Tambo, Cape Town and King Shaka airports to new prepaid tourists with a valid passport, valid for 30 days.
South Africa SIM card or eSIM: side by side
| eSIM | Local SIM | |
|---|---|---|
| Where you get it | In the app, before you fly | airport counters |
| Ready when you land | Yes, if installed before the flight | After you have bought and set it up |
| Phone number | Data only, no number | Depends on the pack, see the carrier page |
| Plans and prices | Shown live below, by data size and days | On the carrier or airport page |
Local SIM details change. Confirm them with the carrier or the airport.
Set it up before you fly
- Check that your phone supports eSIM and is not locked: eSIM compatible phones.
- Pick a plan for your destination below.
- Payment is taken once the eSIM is ready.
- Install it at home over Wi-Fi: tap Install in the app or scan the QR code.
- After landing, switch on data roaming for the eSIM line.
- Most plans start when your phone first connects there.
Prefer a daily allowance? 1 GB per day · 7 days for €16.99: full speed up to 1 GB a day, then 512 Kbps until the next day.
Picked like in our shop: the cheapest plan with about 0.7 GB a day. Live prices for South Africa.
Questions and answers
South Africa: can tourists buy a local SIM card?
Yes. Visitors can buy a local SIM from Vodacom and MTN. An eSIM set up at home is the alternative if you want data the moment you land.
South Africa: tourist SIM or eSIM, which is better?
A tourist SIM suits you if you want a local plan or number. An eSIM suits you if you want data the moment you land, without a counter visit.
South Africa: how much data does a week need?
About 5 GB suit a typical week of maps, messages and rides. How much data do I need helps you pick a size.
Does the eSIM come with a phone number?
No. Plans are data only. Keep your own SIM for calls and texts, and use messaging apps over data.
Updated 24 Oct 2026 · checked against our live catalogue
How we check our data · Prices and plans come live from our catalogue; facts come from official sources, listed where we use them.
Sources: Vodacom: Travel SIM bundle terms · MTN: Traveller Data Bundles terms
