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FairSIM

Africa eSIM

An Africa trip rarely stays inside one border. You land in Nairobi, cross into Tanzania for the Serengeti, then fly to Cape Town a week later. Or you start in Marrakech and end in Cairo. A single-country plan stops working the moment you move, and buying a local SIM in each country means a shop visit, a passport copy and a registration form every time.

The FairSIM Africa eSIM covers 12 countries at one wholesale rate: Egypt, Kenya, Morocco, Madagascar, Mauritius, Nigeria, Réunion, Tunisia, Tanzania, Uganda, South Africa and Zambia. Your phone picks the strongest partner network in each country on its own. That also sidesteps the SIM registration rules in place in South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya and Tanzania, where local prepaid SIMs must be linked to an identity document before they work.

Africa eSIM plans

Wholesale rates in US dollars, with nothing added at checkout. Buy in the FairSIM app and the plan is on your phone in seconds.

How long is your trip?

All plans. Pick a trip length to narrow the list.

Coverage in Africa

  • 4G LTE
  • 5G

One plan, 12 countries. Your phone switches networks at each border with nothing to reinstall.

  • Egypt
  • Kenya
  • Morocco
  • Madagascar
  • Mauritius
  • Nigeria
  • Réunion
  • Tunisia
  • Tanzania
  • Uganda
  • South Africa
  • Zambia
  • Leading network in each countryVodacom, MTN South Africa and Telkom SA in South Africa, Safaricom and Airtel in Kenya, MTN Nigeria, Airtel Nigeria and Globacom in Nigeria, Orange Egypt in Egypt, ITISSALAT AL MAGHRIB S.A. and Medi Telecom in Morocco, Vodacom Tanzania and Airtel Tanzania in Tanzania, and equivalents in the smaller markets.

Coverage follows the cities, main roads and tourist areas. Game reserves, desert routes, mountain passes and long stretches between towns can drop to 3G or to nothing at all. Plan for offline maps before you leave a city.

How FairSIM works

  1. 1

    Pick a destination and a plan

    Choose the country or region and the data you need. The price you see is the price you pay.

  2. 2

    Tap install

    On iPhone (iOS 17.4+) the eSIM installs in one tap, no QR code. Do it at home while you still have Wi-Fi.

  3. 3

    Land and connect

    Turn on data roaming for the FairSIM line when you arrive. Your plan starts when it first connects.

Read the full setup guide, including device compatibility

Africa eSIM questions

Which countries does the Africa eSIM cover?

Egypt, Kenya, Morocco, Madagascar, Mauritius, Nigeria, Réunion, Tunisia, Tanzania, Uganda, South Africa and Zambia. The full list is in the app before you buy.

Do I need to change anything when I cross a border?

No. Keep data roaming on for the FairSIM line and your phone joins the partner network in the next country, usually within a minute or two of switching your phone back on.

Will it work on safari?

In and around the main lodges and gate towns, usually yes. Deep inside reserves such as the Serengeti or the Masai Mara, expect long gaps. Download maps and bookings before you drive in.

Is the Africa plan better value than a plan for one country?

If you visit two or more of the 12 countries, yes, and it saves you installing a new plan each time. For a single-country trip, the country page plan is usually the cheaper choice.

Do I still need to register the eSIM with an ID?

No. Local prepaid SIMs in South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya and Tanzania require identity registration. The FairSIM eSIM roams on partner networks, so there is nothing to register on arrival.

Can I make phone calls with it?

It is data only. Use WhatsApp, Signal or FaceTime over data for calls. Your home number stays on your normal SIM if you leave it active.

Does it cover Réunion and Mauritius as well as the mainland?

Yes. Both Indian Ocean islands are on the same plan, alongside Madagascar, so an island add-on to an East Africa trip needs no second purchase.

How much data should I buy for two weeks?

Around 10 GB covers maps, messaging, ride hailing and photo uploads across a couple of countries. Go higher if you stream or work while travelling.

What is an eSIM?

A SIM card built into your phone. Instead of a plastic chip, you download a profile. Every iPhone since the XS has one next to the physical SIM slot, so your home number stays put while FairSIM supplies the data.

Is my phone compatible?

FairSIM works with eSIM-compatible, carrier-unlocked iPhones: the XS, XR and everything newer, on iOS 17.4 or later for the one-tap install with no QR code. iPhones bought in mainland China do not support eSIM at all, even when unlocked. Not sure yours is unlocked? Check Settings, General, About, Carrier Lock, or ask your carrier. The full list is on the How it works page.

When should I install my eSIM?

Before you travel, while you still have Wi-Fi. Installing does not start your plan; the validity typically starts when the eSIM first connects to a network at your destination.

Do FairSIM eSIMs come with a phone number?

No. FairSIM eSIMs are data-only by design, which keeps costs low. For calls and texts, your physical SIM stays active so you keep your existing number, and WhatsApp, FaceTime and iMessage work over data.

Single-country plans

Get your Africa eSIM in the app

Plans from $9.99. Install before you fly, track your data live, and top up in seconds if you need more.

Download on theApp Store

iPhone XS or later · iOS 17.4+ for one-tap install