Using Pay As You Go T Mobile In South Africa

cacti

I have read the other threads on using mobiles abroad. However, I would like to ask a specific question. Is it cheaper to get my mobile unlocked and buy a local Sim card in South Africa, or hire a mobile over there? Several guide books I have read recommend hiring a mobile in South Africa. Has anyone got helpful hints on this. Not too technical pleae, I don't know that much about mobiles! Thankyou.

zzzLazyDaisy

You can hire a sim for about 50p per day from the Vodacom desk when you arrive at the airport. You leave your credit card details at the desk and settle up when you return to the airport for your return flight to UK.

Our bill for a three week trip came to under £25 inc rental, calls and texts. We were touring so used it quite a lot for booking restaurants, keeping in touch with B&B's etc. The cost of local calls was pennies, whereas using a uk sim would have been extortionate coz of the roaming charges. Also it costs nothing to receive phone calls and texts from uk. The sender is charged an international rate, but, funnily enough, this meant that we weren't pestered with calls/texts from home anything like as much as we are normally

First time I have rented a sim while on holiday, but I will defo do it again.

cacti

Thankyou that is very helpful. I suppose I have to get my pay as you go mobile unlocked to use a local Sim card?

rajinder

from experience in other african countries, I'd say that you're better off getting a local sim card from the city and using that as the tariffs are lot cheaper when you convert to ££. It's quite easy to get your phone unlocked if you search on this forum you'll be able to get it done for free.