Questions about eSIM in South Africa
The short answer
One you install before the flight, so you are online on landing without a counter. The plans here are Africa regional plans: they roam on a South African network, so turn data roaming on for the eSIM line. Pick the days of your trip and the data you expect to use.
Checked on September 30, 2026
The questions below come from traveller search terms and the store’s own help. Each answer is the short version, with the detail on its own page.
Before you buy
Which eSIM should I get for South Africa?
One you install before the flight, so you are online on landing without a counter. The plans on this site are the store’s Africa regional plans: they roam on a South African network, so you turn data roaming on for the eSIM line. Pick the days of your trip and the data you expect to use.
Do I have to RICA an eSIM?
Not ours. RICA registration applies to South African SIM cards and eSIMs, and visitors roaming on a foreign SIM or eSIM are outside it (section 40 of the Act). The store’s South Africa plans roam from abroad, so there is nothing to register.
Does my phone take one?
Almost every iPhone from XR onward and most recent Android phones do. Check your phone, including the carrier-lock check.
On the ground
Is there 5G in South Africa?
Yes, since 2020: Vodacom launched in May and MTN in June. The regulator reported 5G population coverage of 58% in 2025, with 4G at 99.5%. More on the networks.
Is load shedding still a problem for mobile signal?
Not at the moment. Eskom has not used load shedding since 16 May 2025, and the government news agency counted 441 days in a row without it on 4 August 2026. When it was frequent, some towers went offline once their batteries ran out.
Where can I buy a SIM card at the airport?
At O.R. Tambo there are several phone shops at the airport, and at Cape Town MTN lists a store in the international arrivals hall. You need your passport for the RICA registration. An eSIM skips the queue: there is nothing to register and nothing to collect.
Money and support
Should data roaming be on?
On the travel eSIM, yes: these are Africa regional plans and they need data roaming turned on for that line. On your home line, keep it off so your home carrier does not charge you.
Can I get a refund?
Yes. If the eSIM does not work and we cannot fix it, you get a full refund. You also get a full refund if the eSIM is not delivered. A working eSIM is not refunded because your plans changed. Write to contact@baobabsim.com with your order link.
Sources
The plan for this trip
7 to 30 days · Data onlyPrices in US dollars, tax included · checkout on BaobabSIM
An Africa regional plan: in South Africa it roams on a partner network, and your phone shows that network’s name.
Questions before you fly
Which eSIM should I get for South Africa?
One you install before the flight, so you are online on landing without a counter. The plans on this site are the store's Africa regional plans: they roam on a South African network, so you turn data roaming on for the eSIM line. Pick the days of your trip and the data you expect to use.
Do I have to RICA an eSIM?
Not ours. RICA registration applies to South African SIM cards and eSIMs, and visitors roaming on a foreign SIM or eSIM are outside it (section 40 of the Act). The store's South Africa plans roam from abroad, so there is nothing to register.
What do I need to buy a normal SIM card in South Africa?
Your passport. Foreign nationals RICA with a valid passport, and proof of address may be required depending on the registration type, so some shops ask visitors for an accommodation booking.
Is load shedding still a problem for mobile signal?
Not at the moment. Eskom has not used load shedding since 16 May 2025, and the government news agency counted 441 days in a row without it on 4 August 2026. When it was frequent, some towers went offline once their batteries ran out.
Is there 5G in South Africa?
Yes, since 2020: Vodacom launched in May and MTN in June. The regulator reported 5G population coverage of 58% in 2025, with 4G at 99.5%.
Where can I buy a SIM card at the airport?
At O.R. Tambo there are several phone shops at the airport, and at Cape Town MTN lists a store in the international arrivals hall. You need your passport for the RICA registration. An eSIM skips the queue: there is nothing to register and nothing to collect.
Should data roaming be on?
On the travel eSIM, yes: these are Africa regional plans and they need data roaming turned on for that line. On your home line, keep it off so your home carrier does not charge you.
Can I get a refund?
Yes. If the eSIM does not work and we cannot fix it, you get a full refund. You also get a full refund if the eSIM is not delivered. A working eSIM is not refunded because your plans changed. Write to contact@baobabsim.com with your order link.
More help
Install the eSIM before you fly
Scan the QR code on Wi-Fi at home and your South Africa eSIM is on the phone before you board. Where to find the code, and what to do if it fails.
Switch the eSIM on after landing
Land in Johannesburg or Cape Town and get online: choose the eSIM for mobile data, turn on data roaming for that line, and keep your own number for calls.
Data roaming in South Africa, explained
These plans roam, so data roaming on the eSIM line is what lets them connect. Switch it on there, and keep it off your home line.
The eSIM is not connecting
No data after landing in South Africa? Check data roaming, the data line setting and the network, in that order. What to try before writing to the store.
Refunds and a lost QR code
The refund promise in plain words, how to find your order page if you lost the link, and why a working eSIM is not refunded after a change of mind.
Check your phone takes an eSIM
iPhone XR onward, Pixel 4 onward, Galaxy S20 onward and most recent phones take an eSIM. The one-minute check, and the models that do not.
Still stuck?
Orders, QR codes and refunds are handled by BaobabSIM support. Write with the link to your order page and your phone model.
contact@baobabsim.com