Cranachin

I don't have a cell phone currently, so I can't just buy a South Africa SIM card while I am there. (Well, I do have an old Nokia 1100 - can I get a SIM card that works in it?)

Otherwise - Does anyone have information on pay-as-you-go phones there? I am thinking of something similar to a TracFone in the USA. I don't need anything fancy - just able to make calls and probably send and receive texts.

Also, how would going that route compare to renting a phone for a couple of weeks?

I made an attempt at Googling all this, but then I figured the knowledge of Fodorites might save me a lot of dead-ends in searching.

Thanks!

mcwomble

Try looking at the main players in the phone market in South Africa, as all the info will be on their sites.

From memory, MTN and Vodacom will have a national presence and shops in the airport.

cary999

Good question. I want to do same next safari. We use an AT&T service (Motorola Razor V3) here in USA. But if we take it to SA is it easy to get the SIM card for it? Where? Cost? New problem for us. Thanks everyone.

regards - tom

cary999

Just saw this in another reply in other active thread here -
"If your iphone is from the US and your service in AT&T, it is not unlocked, so no, it won't work (a lot of "ifs" though)."

BUT ours is -not- an iphone just plain "old fashioned" cell phone. So??

regards - tom

mcwomble

Many older US phones use a different frequency band than those of the rest of the world,unless they are 'tri-band' or 'quad-band'.

If they can use the same frequency as that in South Africa, AND are unlocked, then a new SIM should work OK.

Phone shops are ubiquitous. Walk in to one and you will have a solution in minutes.

ccipups

I'm also searching for a phone/service for use on an Earthwatch project in South Africa, in November. Will you be making calls to locations in SA or to home or both? I'm just planning to call or text home every couple of days.
I Googled "international cell phones" and "travel phones" and began sorting through the pages. Have you considered a Skype account? Skype won't work for my trip as we won't have internet access,but they advised us that cell reception is usually good. I'm looking at www.telestial.com, www.mobal.com, and one that's associated with National Geographic.
Let us know what you find and I'll do the same.

christabir

Google unlock cell phone. There are services that do it, and others have codes to unlock. With shipping to/fro they are under $50 for most phones. Then buy SIM card at JNB. If under contract, the warranty is voided. Must use GSM to work in SA. Google your phone model to make sure.

My nephew spent over $800 on his phone in three weeks in SA. Use airplane mode so it doesn't charge you for stuff even when you're not using it. He missed his girlfriend so kept calling. Dufus - they're not even together any more.

I am going to SA next year and will either have one of my old phones unlocked and buy a SIM card (difficult) or just buy a cheap phone when I get there at the airport (easy). Calling home to US can be done on a pay phone with an international calling card - or just update facebook page when we have wi fi. Problem with both options is you will not have the same phone number so you have to call or text someone to pass on the number to everyone or post on facebook or something. So I will have my quad band AT&T phone that I know works in case there's an emergency at home and they can reach me or I can make the one or two calls home if I feel the need.

Cranachin

Thanks for the advice so far, everyone.

I would need a phone only for calls within South Africa - no need for international capabilities.
I don't want to pay $50 for a phone I would use for, at most, just 2 weeks.

If I can get a very basic model quite cheaply, it might be worth it, though (as in $20 or less for the phone and airtime). I have no need for Internet capabilities or picture-taking and transmitting or other such "fancy" features - just voice and, probably, text.

Also, I am flying into CPT - will not be anywhere near JNB on this trip. So if anyone has suggestions specific to the CPT area, feel free to share them.

cary999

I "resemble" Cranachin. In that I want a phone for less than two weeks while we are driving around Kruger. Just for emergency use, but hope not.

We will fly into JNB and it would be very handy to pickup such phone there and then at the airport. Can anyone recommend such vendor, and likely cost, at JNB airport? Many thanks.

regards - tom

christabir

FWIW the least expensive place to buy a pay as you go phone in S Africa is in the supermarket. Try e-mailing the concierge at your hotel - they will give the info you need.

I made 4 calls from my AT&T quad band 2003 crappy phone - 2 to US, 2 local, while in SA last time. It was under $20 for those calls. Just register it for int'l use through customer service.

Javeanomad

First you need a phone that works in RSA. From USA you need tri or quad band as the other replies have stated.
Then you need a SIM. These are standard and fit in all phones. In RSA you need to register to buy one (anti-terrorist legislation) but this means you have the number for life - if you go back!
Buying a SIM is easy and cheap. Vodacom probably has the best coverage but MTN is also good. You will need your passport or identification. Check where you are going. You can buy your SIM in the Vodacom or MTN stores or in a number of other stores. You will see racks of them at the cash desks. If you are using "pay as you go" (recommended for small usage), you can buy 50 Rand of usage and also buy an additional slip for 29 - 100 Rand as a top up. Check that the price is for calls and text or just text (there are separate prices for text only). The top ups can be bought in supermarkets etc. The slip gives the instructions on how to apply the top ups.

cary999

Thanks Javeanomad.
Any advice on buying the whole phone ready to go with a some usage included?
Where and cost??? JNB airport?
Just want one for 2 weeks.

regards - tom

Cranachin

Thanks for all the help so far.

We will arrive late at night into CPT. Don't know that airport shops will be open then.

We will be staying at B&B's and self-catering apartments, so no concierge to ask. Maybe I should email owners to ask them about best options.

safarilover

It is my understanding that Javeanomad has outlied the correct procedure for purchasing a sim card in SA. However, for the registration procedure, in addition to your passport, at one time you also needed to show some kind of "proof of residence" such as a letter from the lodge where you will be staying. Does anyone know if this rule is still in effect, or have they made it a bit easier for tourists who just want to have phone service while they are in the country?

As of October 2009, in Namibia you could still purchase a sim card, pop it into your phone, and you were good to go--no registration procedure. Also, does anyone know if this is still the case?

Javeanomad

I can't remember whether I needed an address but your hotel would do. I don't think it's a major issue.
Can you not borrow an old phone from someone before you go?
I'm not sure where you are travelling from but as long as it works on GSM900 it will be OK. I believe your old Nokia 1100 is OK as it should work on GSM900 /1800.
For your SIM card, there are cellphone shops in the airport but I'm not sure what hours they keep. Check http://www.airports.co.za/home.asp?pid=3635 or go to a Pick n Pay (Supermarket) or somewhere your B&B directs you to.

Cranachin

I'm in North America. I'm pretty ignorant about the technical side of phones, but it looks like the Nokia 1100 I have would NOT work in Africa, as North America uses GSM 950/1900 and Africa uses GSM 900/1800.

I am also assuming based on the above that an old phone that a friend might loan me would not work, either.

Is that correct?

Discover_Namibia

@safarilover

In Namibia you can still just buy a sim card and pop it in your phone without any registration.

ArthurSA

SIM cards (without air time initially) are available at most supermarkets in South Africa, usually for R2.

Javeanomad

If the phone is Triband (or quad band) it would work. Buying a 2nd hand phone in USA would be cheaper than buying in Africa as USA is an older market and more 'Disposable consumer' orientated. You may even be able to sell it at an African market at a profit at the end of your trip.

Cranachin

Thanks for all the advice. A friend who lived overseas is loaning me a phone, that now I just need to get the SIM card when I get to South Africa.