Using your eSIM in South Africa
What you get with every South Africa plan
Where it works
South Africa
Networks
Vodacom
Hotspot
Allowed
When your plan starts
When you land
Install by
Within 180 days of buying
Questions about South Africa eSIMs
How much is an eSIM for South Africa?
It depends on how much data you need.
Every plan on this page shows its total data, its days and its price before you pay, so you can match the plan to your trip.
If you run low on a long safari and city trip, add data from your order page where the plan allows it, or buy a second plan.
Will I have signal in Kruger National Park?
Out on the gravel roads and up in the north of the park it goes, and the camps and gates are no promise either.
Download the park map and note your camp's gate times before you set off.
Does Uber work in South Africa?
In the big cities, yes, along with Bolt, and both need data to book and to pay.
In smaller towns it is taxis and shuttles arranged through your accommodation.
Does WhatsApp work in South Africa?
It is the default here.
Guesthouses, guides and tour operators all answer on WhatsApp, and plenty of small businesses use it instead of a website.
It runs on mobile data.
How is coverage on the Garden Route?
The coverage list on this page answers for South Africa rather than for Mossel Bay or Knysna.
The passes inland, the walking trails and the Tsitsikamma forest roads have patches with nothing.
How is coverage in Cape Town?
Chapman's Peak, the quieter roads out to Cape Point and the back of the mountain are where you lose it, and the city is not something we can promise either.
Save a map before you drive the peninsula.
Questions about every Ryvo plan
Will it work on my phone?
Does it come with a phone number?
No.
Ryvo eSIMs are data only.
There's no phone number, and you can't make calls or send texts on the eSIM itself.
Can I keep my usual number?
Yes.
Keep your main SIM on for calls and texts, and set the eSIM as your mobile data line.
Your carrier's roaming rates still apply to calls and texts, so check them before you go.
Can I share my data as a hotspot?
It depends on the plan.
Each plan says whether hotspot is allowed before you pay.
What if I run out of data?
Add data from your order page if your plan can be topped up.
If it can't, buy another plan for the same destination.
What if my eSIM won't connect?
Email us and we'll work through it with you, starting with your phone's mobile data settings.
If we can't get it working, our refund policy explains what happens next.
Before you go
The coverage list on this page names South Africa and the networks your plan runs on.
The Drakensberg, the Transkei and the interior of Kruger have long gaps.
Uber and Bolt both run in Cape Town, Johannesburg and Durban, and they are the usual way to get around after dark.
Keep your usual SIM switched on for calls and texts, and choose the eSIM for mobile data.
Still need help?
Email us your order reference, and we'll help you get connected.