A Southern Africa trip might pair Cape Town or Kruger with a safari in Chobe National Park, in northern Botswana, and a visit to Victoria Falls, on the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe. Chobe is close to the point where Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Namibia nearly meet, so in a few days your phone can see several countries' networks. The catch: the Africa plan covers South Africa, Botswana and Zambia, but not Zimbabwe or Namibia, and none of these countries is in the EU's Roam Like at Home area.
This guide to an eSIM for Victoria Falls, Chobe and a Southern Africa safari explains which plan covers which country, the network trap around the falls and Chobe, signal in the parks, and who to call.
Key facts for a Southern Africa safari
- Africa plan: covers South Africa, Botswana and Zambia among 47 destinations; Zimbabwe and Namibia each have their own country plan
- Victoria Falls: on the border between Zambia (Livingstone side) and Zimbabwe (Victoria Falls town)
- EU roaming: none of these countries is covered by Roam Like at Home
- Embassies: in Pretoria, Gaborone, Lusaka, Harare and Windhoek
An eSIM for Victoria Falls, Chobe and a Southern Africa safari
Cape Town, Kruger, Chobe and the Zambian side of the falls all fit on one Africa plan. The gaps are where the borders meet. Near them a phone can connect to a neighbouring country's network: around Livingstone, a Zimbabwean one, which the Africa plan does not include; around Kasane and Chobe, a Namibian, Zambian or Zimbabwean one; and in Victoria Falls town, a Zambian one, which a Zimbabwe plan does not cover.
The fix is the same everywhere: in your mobile settings, choose a network of the country you are in manually, and go back to automatic away from the border. If you carry two eSIMs, make the plan for the country you are in your mobile data line. On your home SIM, all five countries mean roaming, so keep its data roaming off.
Signal at the falls and on safari
Livingstone and the main viewing area on the Zambian side have good coverage, as do Victoria Falls town and the rainforest trail facing the falls on the Zimbabwean side. In the high-water season the spray can soak an unprotected phone, so bring a waterproof pouch.
Inside the parks, plan for gaps: in Kruger the signal is mostly limited to the rest camps and main gates, in Zambia's parks it fades soon after the gates, and in Hwange it disappears quickly on game drives.
Which plan fits your trip
For South Africa, Botswana and Zambia, the Livingstone side of the falls included, Telcomia's Africa plan covers the route on one eSIM. For the Zimbabwean side of the falls or Hwange, add a Zimbabwe plan; for Namibia, add a Namibia plan, which comes in fewer options.
Open the plan details before you buy: they show the duration, the data, whether you can share the connection with other devices, and the Activation line, which tells you what starts the plan's validity.
Before you leave
- Read the Activation line in the plan details, then install every eSIM you need at home on Wi-Fi.
- Set the plan for your first country as your mobile data line, with data roaming on for it and off for your home line.
- Around Victoria Falls and Chobe, choose a network of the country you are in manually.
- Download offline maps and bookings, and pack a waterproof pouch and a charged power bank.
- Keep each eSIM installed until the trip is over: some eSIMs can be installed only once.
Consular protection: five countries, five sets of numbers
- In South Africa, 10111 is the police and 10177 an ambulance; from a mobile, 112 connects you to the emergency services.
- In Botswana, 999 is the police, 997 an ambulance and 998 the fire service. In Zambia, 991 is the police, 992 an ambulance and 993 the fire service.
- In Zimbabwe, dial 112 from a mobile (114 on NetOne) or 999, which is less reliable outside the capital; in Harare, 995 reaches the police and 994 an ambulance. In Namibia, 10111, 999 or 112 reach the police, the fire service or an ambulance.
- Embassies are in Pretoria, Gaborone, Lusaka, Harare and Windhoek. The Telcomia app shows which mission is responsible for you, with address and phone.
- If you are an EU citizen and your country has no embassy or consulate in South Africa, Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe or Namibia, 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).
Questions travellers ask about a Southern Africa safari
Does one eSIM work at Victoria Falls on both sides?
Not the Africa plan on its own: it covers Zambia, on the Livingstone side, but not Zimbabwe. For the Zimbabwean side, add a Zimbabwe plan and make it your data line while you are there.
Is Zimbabwe in the Africa plan?
No. Zimbabwe and Namibia each have their own country plan; the Africa plan covers South Africa, Botswana and Zambia.
Will I have signal in Chobe?
In Kasane, the town beside the park, coverage is decent. In the park itself, do not count on it: download maps and bookings first, and near the borders choose a Botswana network manually.
Which emergency numbers should I save?
Every country has its own: at the falls, 991 for the police and 992 for an ambulance in Zambia, and 112 from a mobile in Zimbabwe; in Chobe, 999 for the police and 997 for an ambulance in Botswana.
The short version
The Africa plan covers South Africa, Botswana and Zambia; Zimbabwe and Namibia each need their own plan. Around Victoria Falls and Chobe, choose a network of the country you are in manually, download maps before the parks, and save each country's emergency numbers.
Related reads:
Ready to stay connected without surprises?
Activate your eSIM in seconds and travel connected in 200+ countries and territories.
See plans