How can I stay connected while avoiding roaming charges in South Africa?
Outside of major urban areas, like Johannesburg or Cape Town, wifi hotspots can be scarce in South Africa. If you’re hoping to explore national parks, small towns, and the beautiful coastline, you might find yourself without reliable internet access.
Most international airports in South Africa have kiosks selling SIM cards from major providers, as well as shops in town, but these can be costly, difficult to top-up, or take time to activate. With the Red Bull MOBILE Data App, there’s no need to buy a physical SIM card or worry about topping up, and you’ll have data as soon as the plane touches down. We have a few options when it comes to roaming packages for South Africa.
Before purchasing your Red Bull MOBILE eSIM, do make sure your device is eSIM compatible.
eSIM South Africa Travel Hack
Shops might be closed when you arrive and SIM cards won’t be available for purchase. Purchase & activate your eSIM before taking off to South Africa and have instanst access upon arrival.
What are the benefits of the Red Bull MOBILE eSIM in South Africa?
- Packages start at 2€/GB
- Avoid roaming fees
- Avoid overpriced tourist SIM cards
- No need to rely on public, insecure, and spotty hotspots
- Have data upon landing in South Africa
- Have reliable internet connection no matter where you go in South Africa
- No need to remove your physical SIM card or make adjustments to your everyday phone plan
- No unexpected fees
- Downloadable on various tablet and smartwatch devices
How do I get an eSIM for travel to South Africa?
Download the Red Bull MOBILE Data app, choose your eSIM roaming package for South Africa, and follow the instructions on how to activate the eSIM.
Your device will prompt you to set up your eSIM, and once your account is activated you will be able to email, message, set up video conferencing, watch YouTube, use social media, and more, without worry about expensive roaming charges.
What do I do about my current phone plan?
You don’t have to switch out SIM cards or pause your everyday phone plan. You install your data-only eSIM digitally and switch over your data settings while traveling. When you get home, switch the data connection back to your regular SIM card.
Are there any other advantages to an eSIM?
An eSIM allows you to use different carriers or plans on the same device. This can be useful if you travel frequently or need easy access to your home phone service. You can also use an eSIM to quickly switch between business and personal accounts. (But do be aware you can only use one account at a time.)
The Red Bull MOBILE Data app includes packages to destinations all over the world. So if your travel plans change or you decide to head elsewhere, all you have to do is log in to the app, choose a new destination and package, and hit the road!
Do all devices support eSIM?
Not all mobile, tablet, or watch devices support eSIM tech, so make sure your device is compatible before you buy. You can generally find this info in your device specifications.
iOS devices: Go to Settings > Cellular or Mobile. If you have the option to “Add Mobile Plan” or “Add Data Plan,” your iPhone should support eSIM. The iPhone XS, XR, and models 11 and above should be eSIM compatible.
Android devices: Go to Settings > Connections > SIM manager. Most newer Android phones support eSIM tech, including the Samsung Galaxy S20, Google Pixel 3, Huawei P40, and higher.
*The exact steps for checking specs and installing an eSIM can vary depending on what device you have.
Tips on how to save on data while traveling through South Africa:
Turn off automatic app updates.
Set your phone to Airplane Mode when you’re not using it.
Turn off background refresh: Your phone might be refreshing apps in the background even if you’re not actively using them.
Use a data monitoring app: Apps like this can help you keep track of your data usage – and some phones even have them built into the settings.
