Safari Holidays to South Africa and Namibia for independent travellers.

Contact Phone Numbers

0845 838 2450

Local rate from UK only

0800 981 420

Toll free from SA only

Other +44 1932 268230

The international dialling code for South Africa is +27, followed by the regional code and then the number.  When making calls to or from South Africa, keep in mind that South African standard time is 2 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time.

Mobile phone coverage is generally extremely good throughout South Africa, and it is possible to have coverage in the more remote parts of some National Parks, and even on the top of Table Mountain!

Overseas visitors can use their own mobile phone with 'international roaming' enabled (remember to activate this before leaving home), but this can be extremely expensive.  

A much cheaper (and easy) option is to switch to using a local provider during your stay in the country - the 2 main mobile phone providers are MTN and Vodacom.

The Advantages of the SIM Card System

Because mobile phones in South Africa work on the same SIM card system as the majority of other GSM mobile phones, all you need to do to connect to either MTN and Vodacom is to buy one of their pay-as-you-go SIM cards, and put it in your phone instead of your usual SIM card.

There are MTN and Vodacom shops as soon as you come through the Baggage Hall at both Cape Town and Jo'burg airports, or the cards are also readily available from many retail outlets.

It really is that simple ...

There is no paperwork to fill out, and no contract to sign - it really is as simple as that. 

You are immediately connected to a local network, which gives you normal cheap-rate local calls - ideal if you need to call up to check directions to your guest house, or to book a taxi home after a night out. 

Top-ups are readily available from most retail outlets should you need them. 

It is worth noting that in South Africa, a mobile phone is referred to as a 'cell' or 'cell phone'.

Internet and Email Access

Internet access is increasingly easy to find throughout South Africa, although connections can be frustratingly slow in some places.    

Many of the larger shopping malls have internet cafes, which tend to charge by the quarter or half hour.  Most of the large hotel chains will have a Business Centre, or a 'Wireless Hot Spot' for those travelling with their own laptop. Some guest houses will also offer internet facilities as well.