I have an unlocked cell phone that I will have with me on an upcoming hunt in RSA. What carrier and data plans are recommended for SA? I'm not looking to spend time on the internet but it would be nice to have some communications ability, check weather, check emails, and such.
Thanks

Tagging on to see the suggestions. I've ATT here at home and was planning on getting an international plan through them for the week I'm over there this fall.

I confirmed with the PH before I left and found out there was reliable WiFi at camp. I then just used WhatsApp to send texts and make phone calls. Did not have to do anything with a cell phone plan. Did not cost me a penny.

Best cell phone plan for safer is to place the phone under the tire of the cruiser before leaving the airport.

Most African networks are GMS, requiring a SIM card.

WIFI is seldom good. Go for VODACOM - the best provider in South Africa.

Ask your PH what signal he has at camp.
There is often ony one provider at certain remote spots so it wont help you to "buy the best" when it doesn't cover the area you are in.
Speak to the PH first!

quote:

Originally posted by Sunshine:
WIFI is seldom good. Go for VODACOM - the best provider in South Africa.

I am with Vodacom. Coverage is poor in many rural and hunting areas in SA. I don't really recall what exactly works best where but MTN does seem to have better rural networks in some parts. Maybe Vodacom elsewhere and I'm unlucky! Vodacom for cities and towns otherwise maybe MTN.

Where are you going to be?

quote:

Originally posted by Venture South:
Ask your PH what signal he has at camp.
There is often ony one provider at certain remote spots so it wont help you to "buy the best" when it doesn't cover the area you are in.
Speak to the PH first!

Best response. What Ian said!

I'll be hunting in KZN. Near the coast for Bushbuck and midlands for Nyala. I'll take a look at Vodaphone and MTN and see if they have any coverage maps available. Is this as easy as picking up a sim card in the airport from a vendor and purchasing minutes/data?

In the East Cape and Cape Town last year I didn't have to do anything. I had cell service through Sprint when my guides had cell service. Wifi at camp. Good service in Cape Town. Sprint international roaming is free data and text. $.20 a minute for calls--which we never did.

We texted, face-timed, surfed the internet, etc. with zero costs

Get T-Mobile. Texts are free to the USA and calls are .20 a minute. The best part is if WiFi in camp those Wifi call are free to the USA.

https://www.t-mobile.com/optio...ervices/roaming.html

Activate your roaming on your mobile and set it to select a mobile service aromatically. I visited Portugal recently and had coverage everywhere. Most of the time we had access to wi-fi which keeps the cost down. Better to call on whatsapp and to send messages. I only used airtime when there was no wi-fi and it was urgent as it cost you an arm and a leg.

I also had a second phone with me for which I bought a vodaphone sim card with 50 minutes local and 30 minutes international airtime plus 5 gigs data, cost me only 20 Euros. It was more than enough.

No worries if wifi in the camp. I'm at&t with an iPhone and use WhatsApp or FaceTime audio to connect even though a magic jack with USA number is available.