Regional eSIM in Africa
Are you going on an exciting journey around Africa or a cross-country safari? In that case, a regional eSIM for Africa might be a good idea. The availability of regular SIM cards varies a lot from country to country and often they are both difficult to obtain and very expensive. Luckily, there is the great alternative: the eSIM.
Three providers: each with a unique coverage of Africa
In Africa you can choose between three different providers of regional eSIMs. The three providers each comes with a unique mix of countries across the continent. As so, it is worth spending a moment comparing both prices and coverage in respect to your trip and expected data needs.
Mobile data in Africa isn’t cheap in a large part due to the continuing development of the mobile network. As the continent is home to a lot of smaller countries, the selection of included countries also vary a lot between the three providers.
Below, you will find prepaid eSIM cards from GlobaleSIM, RedTeaGo, and Airalo. There are significant differences in the countries each provider offers coverage in. With GlobaleSIM, you get coverage in 31 African countries, Airalo offers coverage in 36 African countries, and RedTeaGo in 29 African countries.
Compare Regional and Local eSIM Cards
In Africa, you have the option to choose between a regional eSIM card and several local eSIM cards. The regional eSIM card you’ll find on this page allows you to use data across up to 36 countries. However, you also have the alternative to combine multiple local eSIM cards. This means if you’re traveling in Tanzania and Uganda, you would need to purchase two distinct eSIM cards.
Click on the countries below to view options for local eSIM cards
GlobaleSIM: Superior Coverage in 31 African Countries
The provider GlobaleSIM offers a very solid option for a regional eSIM in Africa. With their eSIM you get coverage in a total of 31 African countries with a good diversification across the continent. GlobaleSIM comes short of 5 countries compared with Airalo, however, given the reduced price of GlobaleSIM it is for many travellers the prefered choice.
Click here to go to the coverage map of the different regional eSIM in Africa.
Enjoy Your Trip with 5 GB of Data Without Worrying About Expensive Data Roaming
GlobaleSIM offers four different sizes ranging from 1 to 5 GB. The eSIMs have a validity period of between 7 and 21 days. As such, you should consider both your expected data consumption and the duration of your trip.
The smaller packages ideal for those who only need mobile data to stay in touch with friends and family through text messages, while using WiFi for larger transfers including video to social media.
If you have larger data needs it is worth considering one of the larger packages. As the price per GB decreases with larger packages, you might be able to save money by starting out with one of the larger eSIMs.
Supplement your regional eSIM with a local eSIM for greater data needs
If you find yourself in dire need of a larger file transfer, it can be worth to supplement your regional eSIM package with a local eSIM. The local eSIMs only give you data roaming in one specific country, but they often offer a lower price per gigabyte.
Hence, you can use the regional eSIM to enjoy the flexibility of having constant internet coverage throughout your trip, while you can use the local eSIMs as a supplement for a single file transfers in a specific destinaiton.
Airalo: Best coverage in West and Central Africa
At Airalo, you get the broadest coverage in Africa with a total of 37 different countries included in one eSIM. Compared with RedTeaGo, you get a lot more countries in West and Central Africa. This results in a long string of included countries across central Africa, which is ideal if you are planning a trip in this area.
However, the price of the eSIM at Airalo is also slightly higher than at RedTeaGo. For the smallest package with 1 GB, you need to pay €24.5 ($27).
RedTeaGo: Up to 10 GB of data and 30 days validity
With the provider RedTeaGo, you get 29 different African countries. The advantage of RedTeaGo compared to Airalo is that you can choose a larger data package with 10 GB, which also has an extended validity of 30 days.
RedTeaGo is a particularly popular choice for those traveling in East Africa. You can use your mobile data in countries like Tanzania, Uganda, and Kenya all at once.
Coverage Map for GlobaleSIM regional eSIM
The 32 African countries included in GlobaleSIM’s Africa eSIM:
Algeria, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, and Tunisia.
Coverage Map for Airalo regional Africa eSIM
The 37 countries included in Arialo’s regional Africa eSIM:
Algeria, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo (Democratic Republic), Congo (Republic), Côte d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast), Egypt, Eswatini (formerly Swaziland), Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda and Zambia.
Coverage Map for RedTeaGo regional eSIM
The 29 African countries included in RedTeaGo’s Africa eSIM:
Botswana, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Egypt, Eswatini (Formerly: Swaziland), Gabon, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Liberia, Mauritius, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Morocco, Niger, Nigeria, Reunion, Senegal, Seychelles, South Africa, Tanzania, Tunisia, Uganda, and Zambia.