Africa eSIM

Twenty-one countries on one eSIM, from Morocco and Egypt in the north to Kenya, Tanzania, Zanzibar, Uganda and Rwanda in the east, Victoria Falls in the south, and the islands of Mauritius, the Seychelles and Madagascar. It does not include South Africa, Botswana or Namibia, the stops people most often assume are on an "Africa" plan, so check your route against the list above before you buy.

What a two-week Kenya and Tanzania safari costs

A typical trip: 7 days in Kenya (Nairobi and the Masai Mara) and 7 in Tanzania (the Serengeti, then Zanzibar). Prices checked on 3 November 2026, per phone.

For a couple on Verizon, that's $336 for the fortnight. The German pass costs little but holds 2.5 GB for two weeks, which a few days of safari photo uploads can use up. Three and Telstra charge by the megabyte where there's no pass, so leave roaming off on your home line.

Landing in Nairobi (NBO), Kilimanjaro (JRO) or Zanzibar (ZNZ)

Most safari trips fly into Jomo Kenyatta International in Nairobi, about 18 km south-east of the city centre and Kenya's busiest airport. Kilimanjaro International serves Arusha and Moshi, the usual start for the northern Tanzania parks. Abeid Amani Karume International is about 5 km south of Zanzibar City.

Switch the kimsim line on as the plane taxis in, with Data Roaming on for that line only, so you can message your driver or safari operator from the passport queue.

Kenya, before you fly: apply for the eTA online. It usually takes 3 days, and Kenya recommends applying at least 2 weeks ahead. Since 5 October 2026, most visitors must also buy Kenyan government travel health insurance, as part of the eTA application. Arrivals may face Ebola health screening, and Kenya runs a WhatsApp health chatbot on +254 700 719 719.

Tanzania, before you fly: apply for an e-visa at visa.immigration.go.tz, which covers the mainland and Zanzibar. Every visitor needs Tanzanian government inbound travel insurance, bought online or on arrival, from NIC if you land on the mainland first or ZIC if you land in Zanzibar. All travellers fill in the Travellers Health Surveillance Form, and plastic bags are taken off you on arrival. Keep the e-visa, insurance and onward ticket offline on your phone.

Networks and coverage

This plan leans on one group: Airtel runs your connection in 13 of the 21 countries, including Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Zambia, Malawi and Nigeria. Airtel Africa is a London-listed company operating in 14 African countries.

That matters on safari. Safaricom is Kenya's largest operator, with about 65.7% of the market in 2024 , and Vodacom is the largest in Tanzania . This plan uses neither. Our Kenya plan runs on Safaricom, and the Global plan adds Vodacom in Tanzania. Ask your lodge or operator which network works best at your camp.

Elsewhere, your phone shows Econet in Zimbabwe, Orange Morocco, Djezzy in Algeria, Tunicell in Tunisia, my.t or Emtel in Mauritius, and SFR in Réunion. In Egypt this plan uses Vodafone only. In Ghana the page says Vodafone, but Vodafone Ghana became Telecel in 2023, so your phone may show Telecel.

Coverage is generally good in cities and safari towns, and thins inside the big parks, on the open plains and on long roads between them.

The networks your plan uses are listed above.

Which countries, and which plan

• East Africa: Kenya, Tanzania with Zanzibar, Uganda and Rwanda are in, so a gorilla trek in Uganda or Rwanda after a Kenya safari stays on one eSIM. Ethiopia isn't: add an Ethiopia eSIM.
• Southern Africa: Zambia, Zimbabwe, Malawi and Madagascar are in. South Africa is not, and nor are Botswana, Namibia or Mozambique. For Cape Town or Kruger, use the South Africa plan, or the Global plan, which covers South Africa, Botswana, Kenya, Tanzania, Egypt and Morocco together. For Mozambique, add a Mozambique eSIM.
• North Africa: Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia and Algeria are in. For a longer Egypt or Morocco trip, our Egypt plan uses Orange, Etisalat and Vodafone, and the Morocco plan uses Orange Morocco.
• Indian Ocean: Mauritius, the Seychelles, Réunion and Madagascar are in, so a beach week after a safari doesn't need a new eSIM.
• West and Central Africa: Ghana, Nigeria, Niger, Chad, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Gabon are in. Senegal and Côte d'Ivoire aren't.

Borders, roads and ferries

• Kenya to Tanzania by road: the usual crossing is Namanga, a town split by the border, about 110 km from Arusha and 183 km from Nairobi. Your phone moves from Airtel Kenya to Airtel Tanzania. If data doesn't return within a few minutes, choose the network by hand.
• Victoria Falls: the bridge over the Zambezi links Livingstone in Zambia with Victoria Falls town in Zimbabwe, with border posts at both ends. Both sides are covered. The Kazungula Bridge into Botswana, opened in May 2021, takes you off the plan.
• Nairobi to the coast: the Madaraka Express railway links Nairobi and Mombasa. Save tickets to your phone before you board.
• Dar es Salaam to Zanzibar by ferry: the UK Foreign Office records several ferry disasters on this route, and says not to board a boat that looks overloaded. Signal drops mid-crossing.
• Remote parks: the Foreign Office says some Tanzanian parks are extremely remote, and emergency access can be difficult. Download maps and your lodge details before the drive in.

Apps worth having

• Ride-hailing: Uber runs in Nairobi, including airport pickups. Bolt runs in Dar es Salaam. On safari, your operator drives.
• WhatsApp is how lodges, guides and drivers reach you. Keep your WhatsApp number working abroad
• Calls in Egypt: messages, voice notes and photos work normally. Calls are less certain: internet calls have been blocked on and off on Egyptian mobile networks for years, and a ban the regulator said in late 2024 it planned to lift was still in place in mid-2025. We haven't tested calls on our plans there.
• M-Pesa: Kenya's mobile money needs a Safaricom SIM registered in your name, and foreign passports are only accepted at Safaricom shops. A data-only eSIM can't hold an M-Pesa wallet, so carry a card and some cash.
• Offline maps: download Kenya, northern Tanzania and Zanzibar on Wi-Fi before you leave the city.
• Set up banking and ride apps at home, because most send a text code to your usual number.

SIM rules, country by country

• Kenya: every line is registered under the 2025 subscriber registration rules; foreigners show a valid passport. Safaricom's Jambo tourist bundles can only be bought in your first 90 days on its network.
• Tanzania: a SIM must be biometrically registered before use. Visitors show a certified copy of their passport and visa, and their fingerprints are checked with immigration.

A kimsim eSIM is a foreign line roaming as a visitor, so neither counter applies. It's data only, with no phone number, and your phone must be unlocked.

Common mistakes

• Assuming "Africa" means South Africa. It isn't on this plan, and nor are Botswana or Namibia. How regional plans work
• Starting the plan on a stop-over. A connection in Nairobi or Cairo is inside the plan, so the days start there. A layover in Doha, Dubai or Addis Ababa isn't, so you'll have no data until you fly on. If your plan started early
• Leaving Data Roaming on for your home line. In Tanzania, Three UK charges by the megabyte. Roaming goes on for the kimsim line only. Why roaming goes on for the kimsim line only
• Running out mid-safari. Packs are fixed, so check your usage before you head into the parks. Check how much data you've used
• Counting on the internet in a crisis. In Tanzania, the Foreign Office says the authorities have limited internet access during or after protests. A data-only eSIM can't dial 999 in Kenya or 112 in Tanzania, so keep your home line on for emergencies. Calls and texts on a data-only eSIM

More on Africa

• How much data do I need for a week abroad?
• eSIM vs roaming: which is cheaper for your trip?
• Does WhatsApp work with a travel eSIM? Keep your number

How we put this page together

We checked carriers' roaming price pages (Three UK, Verizon, Telstra, Telekom), Safaricom's and Vodacom Tanzania's own pages, Kenyan and Tanzanian immigration sites, Kenyan law, the UK Foreign Office and the other sources noted above on 3 November 2026. Our Egypt calling facts use the same sources as our Egypt page. Vodafone UK's roaming pages didn't show prices for Kenya or Tanzania, so we left Vodafone out. The country list and networks come from the plan itself. We haven't measured speeds or coverage ourselves, including inside the national parks, so coverage notes are general guidance, not a map. kimsim sells the eSIMs on this page.