adster

Hello everyone! I'm about 6 weeks away from an incredible 2 week safari in Tarangire, Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater and Zanzibar!

While there, I'd like some connection to the outside world (ex: the USA). I've been doing tons of research on SIM cards and plans and I'm just a hot mess. I have an unlocked phone I'll be bringing with me and I don't know what to do for service.

I've been looking into the Telestial Passport SIM card which works in Tanzania (or so they say) and has some hefty charges of $0.49 a min to the USA. It also includes a USA incoming phone number at only $0.19 a min. Data is $10/MB (which is out of the question, as far as data is concerned.

Then I'm reading up that Vodacom SIM cards have dirt cheap USA calling prices as well as cheap data rates, however you can only get this card IN Tanzania when you land.

Has anyone used any of these services, or recommend anything better? Any ideas as far as this is concerned?

sandi

Since I travel incommunicado with absolutely NO electronics, regardless destination anywhere, where it's so wonderful not to be connected for a few weeks, can't provide specifics.

That said though, there are a number of threads on Trip Advisor, www.tripadvisor.com/forums - select Tanzania and do a search. Lots of useful info what to purchase, costs and where.

KTtravel

Sorry, no good information about cell phones except that our guide last year carried one and told us not all areas have good service yet. I can't remember where we were now, (perhaps the Western Serengeti) but at one point our guide asked if we minded he call his family as he knew he would be unable to reach them for a few days at our next destination.

Another day, we picked up two men who were stranded in their borken-down vehicle in lion territory (a traditionally dressed Maassai man and his friend) and drove them about half an hour away so they could get cell phone reception.

KTtravel

borken -- what kind of a word is that? Should be broken!

sdb2

I purchased an unlocked phone a few years ago in Kenya that I've used several times in Tanzania. I use the phone solely for calls back to the US. In Arusha I bought a Vodacom sim card and had good reception all the way out in Ruaha and also in Tarangire. Calls to the US last year were about 25 cents/min if I remember correctly. Airtel cards work as well.

I'd wait to get to Tanzania to buy a sim card.

adster

Thanks guys! I've been doing lots of reading and that seems to be the general consensus, I'll just wait to pick up a SIM when I get there. I also read that data is very cheap as well, around $15/2GB. Does that sound right?

Thanks!