Stay connected
You will not have signal at the waterhole, and that is the point. For the airport, the roads and the towns in between, an eSIM bought before you fly is the easiest answer.
Roaming from Europe or North America in Southern Africa costs a fortune. Local SIMs are cheap but mean a queue, a passport and a registration form at the airport. An eSIM downloads to your phone before you leave, switches on when you land, and covers several countries on one plan, which matters on a Botswana, Zimbabwe and Zambia loop. Expect good 4G in cities and on main roads, patchy signal in park rest camps, and nothing at all in the deep Delta, which is a feature.
What to check before you book
- Does your phone support eSIM? Most phones from 2019 onwards do; check yours and make sure it is unlocked.
- Regional plan. Buy an Africa regional plan if you are crossing borders, rather than one per country.
- Data only. Most eSIMs are data only. Calls go over WhatsApp; that is how everyone in the region calls anyway.
- Install on Wi-Fi before you fly. Download the eSIM at home, switch it on at the airport.
- Camp Wi-Fi. Many lodges have Wi-Fi in the main area and none in the rooms; some have none at all. Ask, and treat it as a bonus.
- Keep your home SIM for banking. Two-factor codes still arrive on your usual number if you leave it active with roaming data off.
Where we buy
Our eSIM partner link is being finalised. Any major eSIM app will do; buy a regional Africa plan if you are crossing borders, and install it before you fly.
Related reading
Checked October 2026. Entry rules, fees and seasons change; confirm with official sources before you book.
