Buying or Hiring a Cell Phone in South Africa: Leticia’s Question Answered
Leticia posts a comment, asking - What is the most economical way to rent cell phones - here in the States, or there in South Africa (and if there, where)?
Here are some pointers on cell phones and cell phone hire in South Africa:
- In nearly all cases, it makes more sense to buy a cell phone than rent one in South Africa, and it’s also better than bringing a phone over from the States. Rental costs are geared for the short term, averaging R23/day (excluding calls), and it can be technically troubleseome to get US phones to work here. On the other hand, you can buy a brand-new phone for the cost of a week’s rental, use the “pay as you go” airtime system, and then sell the phone at the end of your stay (to an individual, a cell phone shop, or a pawn shop), recouping some of your costs.
- The best places to buy cell phones in South Africa are supermarkets (Pick n Pay, Shoprite, Checkers, Clicks) and cell phone kiosks (Vodacom, MTN, Cell C). Prices usually start at around R300, including sim cards and a small amount of airtime.
- Supermarkets are also the best places to buy sim cards alone (average price: R5), if you have decided to bring your own phone to SA, having made sure that it will work here. (Note: even then, it may not. Those who’ve tried have had the best luck with Cell C sim cards.)
- Leticia, who is staying at the Riverview Lodge in Observatory, Cape Town, will find the nearest best cell phone deal at the MTN kiosk in St. Peter’s Square mall: +27 (0) 21 447 2798. The kiosk sells an Alcatel phone for R299. (Click here for a street map - the mall is where the map indicates “Peters Cemetery”, which is, I grant, a touch macabre. But rest assured it’s a mall, not a cemetery!) The mall is a 10-15 min walk from the Lodge.
- If you must hire a cell phone, try Cellucity, which has branches all over Cape Town, and indeed South Africa.
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you are awesome Ben–how come this wasn’t in my travel guides (hmmph!)? I know people buy ‘em, but it didn’t occur to me they could go this low, R300 for a purchase. Gosh I hope so, as such I will buy! thanks again, L
Leticia, that’s the beauty of a “live” travel guide. Glad to be of help. Do go to that MTN kiosk for the R299 phone - it really does exist. -Ed.
you are awesome Ben–how come this wasn’t in my travel guides (hmmph!)? I know people buy ‘em, but it didn’t occur to me they could go this low, R300 for a purchase. Gosh I hope so, as such I will buy! thanks again, L