From the towering rust-red dunes of Sossusvlei and the haunting beauty of the Skeleton Coast, to the wildlife-rich plains of Etosha National Park, Namibia offers experiences that are as diverse as they are unforgettable.
Add the ancient rock engravings of Twyfelfontein, the atmospheric ghost town of Kolmanskop, and the opportunity to cruise the Chobe River alongside herds of elephant, and you have all the ingredients for a truly remarkable African adventure.
Namibia is wild, beautiful and wonderfully different – a destination that deserves to be discovered.
I can highly recommend a Namibian adventure, having visited this extraordinary, hauntingly beautiful country many times since the early 1980s, camping in Sossusvlei and the Fish River Canyon, stayed many a night in the coastal town of Swakopmund, visited Etosha countless numbers of times and driven along the Caprivi Strip staying in lodges on the Kwando River and in Katima Mulilo where the Zambezi River reaches the Caprivi Strip. There is truly nothing like a Namibian holiday!
No Namibian adventure is complete without the right soundtrack. From the reggae rhythms of the late, great Ras Sheehama to the kwaito beats coming out of Windhoek, Namibia’s music scene is as varied as its landscapes, and just as often overlooked. This playlist is a celebration of homegrown Namibian talent, tracks that capture the spirit of the country as vividly as its dunes, wildlife and endless horizons. Press play and let the desert come to you.
Do I need to unlock my phone to use a local SIM card abroad?
Yes, your phone needs to be unlocked from your home network before a foreign SIM will work in it. Most South African providers can unlock a phone on request once your contract terms allow it.
Can I use an eSIM and my regular SIM at the same time?
Yes, most modern smartphones support dual SIM functionality, so you can run your South African SIM and a travel eSIM side by side.
Which is cheaper, an eSIM or a local SIM card?
It depends on the destination. Local SIMs are often cheaper for data-heavy trips to a single country, while eSIMs tend to work out better value across multi-country itineraries.
Will my phone number still work if I use an eSIM for data?
Yes, as long as your physical SIM stays in the other slot, calls and messages to your usual number will still come through, though international rates may apply.
Staying Connected Without the Stress
Landing in a new country and realising you have no signal is one of those small travel panics we’ve all felt at least once. These days you’ve got two solid options for staying connected abroad: an eSIM or a local SIM card. Both work well, but which one suits you depends on how you travel, what device you’re carrying and how much fuss you’re willing to deal with at arrivals.
If you read our earlier post on international roaming versus eSIMs, you’ll know we’re big fans of ditching pricey roaming charges altogether. This time we’re going a step further and putting eSIMs head to head with good old physical SIM cards.
An eSIM is a digital SIM built into your phone. Instead of popping in a physical card, you download a data plan straight onto your device, often before you’ve even left home. Most phones from the last few years support eSIM, though it’s worth checking yours does before you rely on one.
What Is a Local SIM Card?
A local SIM is the traditional route: a small physical card you buy once you land, or sometimes in advance, that slots into your phone and connects you to a local network. It’s the tried and tested method most of us grew up travelling with.
eSIM: The Pros
Set up before you fly, so you land already connected
No queuing at the airport kiosk after a long flight
Easy to switch between countries if you’re doing a multi-stop trip
Keeps your South African SIM in the other slot, so you don’t lose your home number
eSIM: The Cons
Not all phones support it, particularly older models
Setup can be fiddly if your hotel wifi is your only backup while you sort it out
Prices can vary a lot between providers, so it pays to compare
Local SIM: The Pros
Often the cheapest option for data in that specific country
Widely available, from airport kiosks to corner shops
Simple and familiar if you’d rather not deal with apps and QR codes
Local SIM: The Cons
You’ll need an unlocked phone
Fiddling with a tiny SIM tray after a long flight is nobody’s idea of fun
If you’re hopping between countries, you may need a new SIM at every border
An eSIM is hard to beat. You land, you’re online, and you’ve saved yourself a trip to a kiosk when all you want is your hotel bed.
If You’re Visiting Multiple Countries
eSIMs win again here. Regional data plans covering several countries mean you’re not hunting for a new SIM every time you cross a border.
If You Want to Keep Your South African Number Active
This is where eSIM really shines, since it lets your local number keep working in one slot while your travel data runs in the other.
If You’re Heading Somewhere with Patchy Network Infrastructure
In destinations where local networks are more reliable than international eSIM providers, a local SIM bought on the ground can sometimes give you better coverage. It’s worth a quick check before you decide.
When John Mulder, Operations Manager at Cape Tourism, reached out recently with a simple question, “If you could tell visitors just one thing about your business right now, what would it be?”, I didn’t expect my answer to take me quite so far back.
But here’s the thing about Cape Town and the Western Cape. The magic isn’t new. It’s layered.
My clients and friends who visit from the US, Ireland and the UK have all said that the Mother City, Stellenbosch, Franschhoek, Paarl and beyond the Breede River have been beyond their wildest expectations. That never gets old to hear. I’ve lived in Cape Town since 1977 and it still stops me in my tracks.
A Career That Started With Something Extraordinary
Way back in 1977, long before the travel businesses, I was working with an events management company called FACT, Festivals and Conventions Trust, headed by a remarkable Canadian named Bill Mounsey, who taught me so much in those formative years.
We organised major events during what were, it must be said, very dark days in South Africa’s history. And one of those events changed me completely.
The First World Wilderness Congress
The 1st World Wilderness Congress (WILD1) was held on 23–28 October 1977 in Johannesburg, a pivotal moment in global conservation that introduced the wilderness concept as a critical, international issue. Founded by the incredible and iconic Ian Player, it brought together 2,500 delegates from 27 countries to promote the protection of wild nature.
Ian Player’s mentor, Magqubu Ntombela, was equally present in that story, a man of extraordinary wisdom and grace.
I was hugely privileged to get to know both Ian and Magqubu on many a wilderness walking trail. It was one of the greatest experiences of my life.
Promoting South Africa and the Western Cape is a huge joy and privilege, and it has been since those very early days. The country has a way of getting under your skin, of surprising you, of exceeding expectations even when you think you know it well.
That’s exactly what I tell my clients. And it’s exactly what John’s question reminded me of.
If you’re thinking about visiting the Cape, or exploring South Africa more broadly, I’d love to help you plan something truly memorable. Reach out to us, we’ve been doing this for a long time, and we genuinely love every moment of it.
Using an eSIM saves money abroad by bypassing expensive home carrier roaming fees and giving you direct access to local prepaid data rates. It protects you from unexpected bill shock with fixed upfront pricing, allows you to keep your physical home SIM active for important 2FA banking texts, and saves you from the hassle and high prices of airport SIM vendors.
When travelling abroad, especially as a solo traveller as I very often am, staying connected is mandatory, and what a bonus it was when eSIMs became the norm for international travel back in 2018.
I must confess that I only started using an eSIM in 2022 when embarking on a Mediterranean cruise. What a saving, and what a pleasure to stay connected at a fraction of the price, instead of briefly switching international roaming on and off to check emails and WhatsApp messages, or purchasing a local SIM soon after arriving at my foreign destination.
So it’s no surprise that using an eSIM saves money abroad by bypassing exorbitant home carrier roaming fees, which can run into hundreds of Rands. It provides direct access to localised prepaid data rates, protecting you from “bill shock” while keeping your physical home SIM safely in your phone to receive important texts and calls.
Several key advantages make eSIMs a highly cost-effective choice for international travel:
Bypass Roaming Fees
Traditional international roaming can cost R200 to R350 per day, or charge astronomical rates for data usage (R200+ per megabyte in some cases). eSIM data plans are often 80 to 90% cheaper, with fixed prepaid packages, like those found on Airalo (my preferred eSIM), usually starting at under R100 for basic allotments.
No Bill Shock
Because you buy a specific amount of data upfront, such as 5GB or 10GB, at a fixed price, you cannot accidentally exceed your limit and get hit with overage charges.
Maintain Your Home Number
Unlike swapping physical SIM cards, an eSIM lets you keep your regular SIM card active in your phone. This means you can still receive 2FA (two-factor authentication) texts for banking, or get emergency calls, while using the eSIM strictly for cheaper mobile data.
Avoid Airport Traps
You can purchase, download and install an eSIM while sitting on your couch at home or in your hotel. This saves you the time, hassle and potential tourist markups of tracking down a local SIM card vendor at the airport.
I highly recommend using an eSIM, and if you plan to do so, it helps to check that your smartphone is carrier-unlocked and compatible.
Many of the eSIM service providers, such as Airalo, Holafly and Nomad, assist in estimating how much data you will need for your upcoming trip, and assist in checking if your specific device supports eSIM technology.
The Pros of Using an eSIM
Strong speeds
Easy setup
Great support
Excellent pricing
Data-only simplicity
The Cons of Using an eSIM
Might not be worthwhile for ultra-light data users
Data options for some countries (such as the UK) start at 20GB plans
I would highly recommend using an eSIM for your next international trip. I’m happy to assist in walking you through the easy process to install your eSIM.
Note: visa information is not guaranteed. Kindly confirm details with the relevant authorities.
Do South Africans Need a Visa for the USA?
Yes, South Africans need a visa to visit the United States. There are no shortcuts, no visa-on-arrival options, and no electronic travel authorisation equivalent for South African passport holders. If you want to travel to the US, you need to apply for a visa well in advance.
Here is what you need to know.
No ESTA for South Africans
You may have heard of the ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorisation), which allows citizens of certain countries to visit the US for up to 90 days without a formal visa. It is quick, affordable, and done entirely online. Sounds ideal, right?
Unfortunately, it is not available to us. The ESTA is only open to passport holders from countries on the US Visa Waiver Programme, which includes most of Western Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and a handful of others. South Africa is not on the list, and there is no indication that this will change anytime soon.
If you have seen third-party websites offering to “process your ESTA” as a South African, close the tab. They cannot help you, and some of them will happily take your money anyway.
What Visa Do You Need?
For tourism, visiting family, or a business trip, you need a B1/B2 visitor visa. This is a non-immigrant visa that allows stays of up to six months at a time and is typically issued for ten years, meaning you can travel to the US multiple times on the same visa without reapplying each time.
That said, a ten-year visa does not mean you can stay for ten years. The duration of each individual stay is determined by the immigration officer at the port of entry, and it is usually 90 days. Always check the stamp in your passport when you arrive.
Complete the online DS-160 application form at ceac.state.gov
Pay the non-refundable application fee (currently around $185)
Schedule a visa interview at the US Embassy or Consulate
Attend the interview in person
Provide supporting documentation
You will need to show strong ties to South Africa, proof that you intend to return home, and evidence that you can fund your trip. The consular officer wants to be confident you are not planning to overstay.
There are US consular offices in Johannesburg, Cape Town, and Durban, so you do not necessarily have to travel far for your interview.
Allow Plenty of Time
This is where many travellers come unstuck. Appointment wait times at US consular offices can vary significantly, and in 2026 South Africans are facing increased scrutiny as part of broader tightening of US visa vetting. Processing times can stretch to several weeks or longer, and this does not include the time it takes for your passport to be returned to you after approval.
The general rule: start your application at least three to six months before you plan to travel, and do not book non-refundable flights until you have your visa in hand.
Cruisers, Take Note
If you are planning a cruise that calls at a US port, whether you are starting or ending your voyage there or simply stopping in as part of an itinerary, you will need a valid US visa. This applies even if you only plan to be in port for a day.
Popular cruise embarkation points like Miami, Fort Lauderdale, New York, and Los Angeles all fall under US immigration jurisdiction. Even a repositioning cruise that touches a US port on the way somewhere else requires that you have your visa sorted beforehand. Do not assume that being aboard a ship exempts you from the rules. It does not.
If your cruise itinerary includes a US stop, factor in the visa application well ahead of time. Your travel consultant can advise on the timing and what documentation you will need.
