South Africa rewards road trips: Cape Town and the winelands, the Garden Route along the coast, and safaris in Kruger and the private reserves. Coverage is good in the cities and along the main highways, and patchy in the national parks and the mountains. Your phone also matters for safety here, from booking rides to sharing where you are. South Africa is not part of the EU's Roam Like at Home area, and European plans usually charge roaming by the day.
Key facts for South Africa
- EU roaming: not covered by Roam Like at Home
- Local networks: Telkom (depending on the plan)
- Emergency numbers: police 10111, ambulance 10177; 112 from a mobile phone
- Embassies: in Pretoria, with consulates in Cape Town, Johannesburg and Durban for some countries
Keeping your phone safe
Phone theft is common in city centres and at traffic lights. Keep your phone out of sight in the car, especially when you stop, and avoid walking with it in your hand after dark. Use Uber or Bolt rather than hailing cars in the street, and share your trip with someone you trust.
Cape Town: the mountain and the sea
Table Mountain rises right above the city, but its trails have patchy signal and the weather changes fast. Before a hike, save the Table Mountain National Park emergency number, 086 110 6417, and the sea and mountain rescue line, 021 937 0300, and tell someone your route.
Kruger and the national parks
In Kruger and the other national parks, the signal is usually available at the rest camps and main gates and absent across much of the bush. Download park maps, keep your bookings offline, and stay in your vehicle outside the designated areas.
Power cuts
Nationwide load shedding has not been needed since April 2025, but local outages still happen in some areas, and mobile towers can lose signal during long cuts. A charged power bank is worth carrying.
Getting connected
A travel eSIM installs at home with a QR code and starts its validity with the first connection in South Africa. Your usual number keeps receiving texts and bank codes, while ride-hailing and maps use the eSIM's data.
South African prepaid SIMs must be registered under the RICA law with your passport and a proof of address, such as a hotel booking.
Consular protection: who to call in South Africa
- 10111 is the police and 10177 an ambulance; from a mobile, 112 connects you to the emergency services.
- In Cape Town, sea and mountain rescue answers on 021 937 0300.
- Embassies are in Pretoria, and some countries also have consulates in Cape Town, Johannesburg or Durban. The Telcomia app shows yours, with address and phone.
- If you are an EU citizen and your country has no embassy or consulate in South Africa, the embassy of any other EU country must help you on the same terms as its own nationals (Article 23 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU).
South Africa travel-safety page →
Questions travellers ask about South Africa
Is it safe to use my phone in the street?
Be discreet: keep it out of sight at traffic lights and in city centres, especially after dark.
Which app should I use for taxis?
Uber or Bolt, rather than hailing cars in the street.
Which networks does a Telcomia eSIM use in South Africa?
Telkom, depending on the plan, with 4G where available.
What are the emergency numbers?
10111 for the police and 10177 for an ambulance; 112 from a mobile.
The short version
Install the eSIM before you fly, keep your phone out of sight in the car, use ride-hailing apps, carry a power bank, and save 10111, 10177 and 112.
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