Cell phone coverage?
 

My Dad wants me to make sure that we have a cell phone while we're in Africa (I'm trying to decide if I'm just going to "accidentally" forget it while packing anyway). I have no idea why he thinks we need to have a phone, but he does. We'll be with a guide the entire time and will have an emergency contact number through the tour operator.

I have a quad band unlocked cell and was planning to just pick up a SIM card for Tanzania and then for Kenya.

We'll be going through Ngorongoro Crater, Ndutu, Masai Mara and Amboseli. Does anyone know what cell coverage is like in those areas, and is one carrier better than another? If coverage is nil, and/or the SIM cards are horrendously expensive for calling back to the US, maybe I can talk him out of it.

My theory (and Mom agrees with me) is that we'll be in Africa, unless someone is dead or dying it can wait until we get home, so leave us alone. :)

If you're not going to use it much, don't bother with SIM cards and just call your phone co and request international calling and use your phone. That way you can check in if you want, but have the "it's so expensive" excuse. I paid $2.90 per minute to call home last time. Short calls won't set you back much and no aggravation nor wasting time with finding SIM cards and going through the ID process. We were surprised we had GSM service more often than expected, but don't expect it. I contacted my nephew before we left and asked him to call my Mom any time we had wireless and we could send him an email or update Facebook.

We used calling cards from the few places we could and it was VERY cheap to call home - about $3 for 25 minutes. Live and learn.

It's getting close! So exciting.

when I was in that area (crater, ndutu, gol mountains) I had pretty good coverage when just roaming.. so that seems to be ok.
If you want to be sure though, either make sure you have Vodafone or use a SIM of Vodacom, as they seem to have best coverage.. (the only one with coverage when I was in Ruaha)

I do not bring expensive electronics

SIM quite expensive usually

mobal.com is a cheap alternative if you need constant contact

otherwise Skype or pennytalk.com calling cards cheapest

quotewright.com comp cover/insure any expensive electronics

AAPL products in particular are cherished by petty thieves.

Happy Planning!

Thanks everyone!

Our phones aren't gsm so they won't work. I'll look into a calling card but I don't know how often we'll have a phone or if we have to pay to use the phone even with a calling card. If I could just get dad to tell me why he thinks we need a phone I'd have an easier time talking him out of it.

Maybe I can talk him into a calling card for when we get there and in nairobi.

A quad band phone is GSM. I'm guessing the unlocked phone is no longer a phone under contract? Then it makes sense to get a SIM card. (but you get a different phone number so he can't call you). Most camps don't have land lines so the only place to use calling cards is in cities. We called home from a hotel phone and it was cheaper than the cell, too.

Just tell a white lie and tell him you won't have cell phone service. Check in with family when you can. We both have wise Moms. No news is good news.

Christa, lol :)

The quad band phone is purely for travel (no service, needs a sim card) and works great when I'm in cities. I just don't think it's even remotely necessary for this trip. I'm usually careful to check in frequently because I travel alone and my mom is much more comfortable with my travels that way. This trip however, my parents are going with me.

I'll probably tell him that coverage is iffy but we can get a phone card for when we're in a city and have a landline. If we take the cell phone I'm going to keep it hidden so he can't be obnoxious with it. ;)

I like your mom.
I've said the same to my family for years and over all 17/yrs, still travel incommunicado... no phone, no emails, no nothing!

They have a contact email and/or phone # of my ground operator if the need arises and know that even if someone died, nothing much I can do. Sad, of course... but! If need to get home, that's where Trip Insurance is helpful.

There is internet/email service at most all lodges/camps, for a small fee and though service can be slow, easy enough to drop a note.

Just came back recently. If you don't want to buy a new sim etc..sms is the cheapest option,50 cents. per sms. If not, vodacom sim works the best, buy the sim in Arusha or somewhere and top up wih $10 worth of airtime...you are set.
Safaricom has great coverage in Amboseli and other parts of Kenya.

I thought you were going alone! Cool! Your parents (and you) are gonna love it!

Parents are going with - absolutely no need for a phone. Who needs to hear from you? If there's an emergency, your travel agent can track you down (give someone the info). Your Mom is right. Don't you hate that?

There's really not much reason to take a phone on this itinerary. Just leave your emergency contact info with someone at home and go enjoy yourself! If someone really needs to reach you, your guides will most likely have phones with them.

ShayTay, that's the same argument that I kept making to my Dad. :)

As an update, we did get Dad talked out of the cell phone idea, woohoo! If he wants we can get a calling card for when we're in Nairobi or depending on internet we can either call home using Skype or just send an email update.