Description
The UK has a large Zimbabwean community, and many trips are family visits to Harare, Bulawayo and rural homes, often around Christmas or for weddings and funerals. Others come for Victoria Falls, Hwange National Park, Lake Kariba or the Great Zimbabwe ruins. A travel eSIM gives you mobile data once you land, so you can message family, use maps and share news back home.
The eSIM goes in next to your UK SIM rather than replacing it, keeping your UK number in the phone for bank codes. The Zimbabwe plan handles data for WhatsApp, maps and photos.
Choose your Zimbabwe data plan
There are 4 plans for Zimbabwe. Pick the one that matches the length of your stay and how much you stream, video call or share photos.
| Plan | Price |
|---|---|
| 1GB – 7 days | £9.36 |
| 2GB – 15 days | £21.00 |
| 3GB – 30 days | £34.50 |
| 5GB – 30 days | £208.26 |
- Victoria Falls short break: 1GB for 7 days covers maps and messages for a few days.
- Two-week family visit: 2GB for 15 days, or 3GB for 30 days if you video call home often.
- A month or longer: 5GB for 30 days, using home or hotel Wi-Fi for large downloads to make it last.
How ordering works
- Choose a plan and place your order. Pay by UK bank transfer or PayPal.
- Once your payment is confirmed, we prepare your eSIM and send you the QR code by email or live chat. Orders are handled by hand, so we suggest ordering at least a day before you fly.
- Scan the QR code at home over Wi-Fi, then switch the eSIM on when you arrive in Zimbabwe.
Installing your eSIM
- iPhone: Settings, Mobile Service (or Mobile Data), Add eSIM, then Use QR Code.
- Samsung Galaxy: Settings, Connections, SIM manager, Add eSIM, then Scan QR code.
- Google Pixel: Settings, Network and internet, SIMs, Add SIM, then Set up an eSIM.
Install it before you travel, while you have a steady Wi-Fi connection. A QR code can usually be installed only once, so do not delete the eSIM from your phone until your trip is over. The phone makers also have step-by-step guides: Apple iPhone, Samsung Galaxy and Google Pixel. When you land, turn on the eSIM line, set it as the line for mobile data and switch on data roaming for that eSIM.
Staying connected in Zimbabwe
International flights arrive at Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport in Harare, and some at Victoria Falls Airport and in Bulawayo. Data helps with messaging the people collecting you, maps for longer drives and sharing photos with relatives in the UK.
Signal is generally easier to find in towns than in rural areas, national parks and around Lake Kariba, where it can be weak or absent. Power cuts can also affect service in places, so keep a power bank charged. The plan does not cover Zambia, Botswana or South Africa.
Check your phone first
Your phone must be unlocked and support eSIM. Most iPhones from the XS and XR onwards, Samsung Galaxy S20 and later, and Google Pixel 3 and later can use one. Some models sold in certain countries have no eSIM, so look for an Add eSIM option in your settings. If you are not sure, ask us before you order.
Good to know
- Travel advice: before you go, read the GOV.UK travel advice for Zimbabwe, which covers entry requirements, safety and local laws.
- Data only: these plans give you mobile data, not a local phone number. Use WhatsApp, FaceTime or other apps for calls and messages.
- For travel only: the plans work in Zimbabwe and are not meant for use in the UK.
- Your UK SIM: keep it in the phone to receive texts such as bank codes, but turn off data roaming on it so it does not use data abroad.
- Zimbabwe only: a day trip across the bridge to Livingstone or onward travel to Botswana needs a separate plan. Ask us about one for each country.
- Making data last: the largest plan is 5GB, so turn off automatic backups and app updates over mobile data.
More travel eSIMs
Visiting more than one country? We also have travel eSIMs for Botswana, Zambia and Mozambique. See all our travel eSIM destinations, or our UK eSIMs if you want a UK line on an eSIM too.
Questions
Will the eSIM work in my family's village?
It can work wherever there is mobile signal, but rural areas can have weak coverage. Ask relatives how the signal is locally before you rely on it.
Can I use it at Victoria Falls?
Yes, on the Zimbabwean side around Victoria Falls town wherever there is signal. The Zambian side is not covered.
When should I buy my Zimbabwe eSIM?
A day or more before you travel is best. That leaves time to receive the QR code and install it at home.
When do the days start counting?
The number of days is how long the plan lasts once it is active. Install it before you go and switch it on when you arrive.
Can I cancel after the QR code is sent?
No. Like our other codes, an eSIM cannot be returned once the QR code has been sent. See our refunds and cancellations page.
