Zambia: Best Tourist eSIMs Reviewed (2024)

Zambia is certainly not the most popular travel destination in (South) Africa.

But it still has a lot to offer.

So, what are your local or travel eSIM options for Zambia?

You can get an eSIM for Zambia for 29 USD and up to 79 USD between 2.5 GB and 15 GB of data from Holafly.

I will also introduce you to a few global eSIMs that be used in Zambia and 80+ other countries, including Zambia's neighbors, for competitive rates.

Original publication: 26^th of December 2022. Last updated: 8^th of March 2024.

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Table of Contents

Holafly eSIM for Zambia

Holafly is one of the many travel eSIM resellers and is one of the popular ones.

In June, they started offering unlimited data plans for some its eSIMs, making Holafly unique.

And these unlimited data eSIMs can be used in various East– and Southeast Asian countries, almost all European Union member states (except for Liechtenstein) & a few other countries, like Canada and the United States.

Unfortunately, unlimited data eSIMs are not available in Zambia… yet.

I say yet because Holafly's goal is to offer unlimited data plans for every country it covers: 150+ countries.

And I can tell you that I get positive emails multiple times a week from Phone Travel Wiz readers that have used the unlimited data plans in East- and Southeast Asia, Europe & North America; they love these eSIMs.

For now, you have only five Holafly Zambia eSIM (which uses the Airtel Zambia network):

1. Zambia Unlimited Data eSIM for 5 days, costing 29 USD – very popular with Phone Travel Wiz readers
2. Zambia Unlimited Data eSIM for 7 days, costing 37 USD
3. Zambia Unlimited Data eSIM for 10 days, costing 44 USD – most popular with Phone Travel Wiz readers
4. Zambia Unlimited Data GB eSIM for 15 days, costing 47 USD
5. Zambia Unlimited Data eSIM for 20 days, costing 59 USD

Note: Phone Travel Wiz reader popularity ranking was updated in December based on data up to the 30^th of December (2023 data only).

As expected, you cannot use 5G NR (yet) with the Holafly Zambia eSIM, nor can you call and text (it is a data-only eSIM).

Moreover, you cannot top up or extend the validity with the Holafly Zambia eSIM – so you need to buy another eSIM when you are out of data or the eSIM expires; you have to purchase a new one.

But you can get 5% off each and any Holafly purchase (so it does not have to be the Zambia eSIM) when you use code PHONETRAVELWIZ 😏.

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Local Zambian eSIM for Prepaid Customers

If you want the best and full network experience, including being able to call and text, you want to get a local eSIM.

You have three mobile operators in Zambia: MTN, Airtel & Zamtel Zambia.

Currently, no Zambian mobile operator offers eSIMs to prepaid customers.

For more information about the plans offered by the Cape Verdian mobile operators, check out my Zambia SIM card buying guide.

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International eSIM for Zambia & More Countries

Okay, I went over the Zambia travel eSIM options offered by Holafly.

As expected, these eSIMs can only be used in Zambia and not in neighboring Angola, Botswana, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, United Republic of Tanzania or Zimbabwe.

So what if you plan on visiting any of those countries, or you are on a world tour and wish to use one eSIM in multiple countries – do you have any other options?

Yes, you do. Airalo has regional eSIMs covering at least 80 countries; including Zambia.

So let's see which multi-country eSIMs can be used in Zambia and other countries, including Zambia's neighbors.

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As you can see, the Hello Africa eSIM cannot be used in – Zambia (yet).

However, as many who visit – do not just stay in – (they often go to (two nearby countries there the eSIM can be used) as well), you can consider it.

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Overview of the Best eSIMs for Zambia (Holafly)

In this guide, I went over Holafly as the only (reasonably priced) eSIM for Zambia.

I recognize that there are other eSIM providers that do offer services for Zambia.

But they are either crazy expensive or the quality of service is whack (based on my experience or the experiences of other Phone Travel Wiz readers).

But you are free to try them out and let me know if they were any good 😀.

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Airalo Discover(+) eSIM (formerly Discover Global)

Airalo was probably the first eSIM provider to introduce a global eSIM – it was called Discover Global.

I have had decent to good experiences with that eSIM, but I felt it could improve.

Such as extending the validity of most plans (maximum used to be 180 days) and having 5G NR access in popular destinations (like many regional Airalo eSIMs do nowadays, even country-specific ones).

In August 2023, Airalo made a radical change to its global eSIM.

Until then, the eSIM could be used in about 85 countries – always up to 4G/LTE (with some networks on 3G only).

This eSIM was powered by FL1 Telecom Liechtenstein (network name can be Mobilkom (Liechtenstein) at times).

This mobile operator worked well in Europe and some Asian countries, but it was often one of the slowest performing (Airalo eSIMs).

Now, Airalo's global eSIM is called Discover(+).

It is powered by eSIM Go (which is basically Drei Austria).

The difference between the Airalo Discover and Airalo Discover+ eSIMs is that the latter has calling and texting functionalities (with an Austrian +43 phone number).

Because of this, Discover+ eSIMs can be up to 20 USD more expensive than regular Discover eSIMs.

For the previous Airalo Discover Global eSIMs, you paid the same prices as the Discover+ eSIMs for worse availability (85+ countries instead of 130+) and no calling or texting at all.

So… it is an upgrade 😎.

Not only that, but you (finally) get 5G NR access in quite some countries (55+)¹ as well.

¹ click here, press select the variant you want & click on network to see which network(s) allow for 5G NR access. You often have access to multiple local networks, but not all have 5G NR access (and some do not even give you 4G/LTE access)

Moreover, the most expensive option is now valid for a whole year (365 days) instead of 180 days.

The Airalo Discover(+) eSIM can be used in the following 125+ countries:

• Åland Islands ³
• Albania
• Argentina
• Armenia (new)
• Australia ⁵
• Austria ³
• Azerbaijan
• Bahrain (new) ³
• Bangladesh (new)
• Belarus ¹
• Belgium ³
• Bolivia (new)
• Bosnia & Herzegovina
• Botswana (new) ²
• Brazil ⁵
• Brunei (new) ¹
• Bulgaria ⁵
• Cambodia
• Canada ⁵
• Central African Republic (new) ¹
• Chad (new)
• Chile
• China ³
• Colombia
• Congo, Democratic Republic of (new)
• Congo, Republic of (new)
• Costa Rica (new)
• Croatia ³
• Cyprus ⁵
• Czech Republic ³
• Denmark ⁵
• Dominican Republic ¹
• Ecuador
• Egypt (new)
• El Salvador (new) ¹
• Estonia ⁵
• Eswatini (new) ¹
• Finland ⁵
• France ³
• French West Indies (new) ³
• Gabon (new)
• Georgia
• Germany ³
• Ghana (new)
• Gibraltar ¹
• Greece ³
• Greenland (new) ¹
• Guatemala (new) ¹
• Guernsey (new)
• Guinea-Bissau (new) ¹
• Honduras (new) ¹
• Hong Kong ³
• Hungary ⁵
• Iceland ³
• India
• Indonesia ³
• Ireland ³
• Isle of Man (new)
• Iraq ¹
• Israel ⁵
• Italy ⁵
• Ivory Coast
• Japan ³
• Jersey
• Jordan (new)
• Kazakhstan (new)
• Kenya (new)
• Kosovo

• Kuwait ³
• Kyrgyzstan (new)
• Latvia ³
• Liberia ¹
• Liechtenstein ⁴
• Lithuania ⁵
• Luxembourg ³
• Macau
• Madagascar (new)
• Malawi (new)
• Malaysia
• Mali
• Malta ³
• Mexico ⁵
• Moldova
• Monaco (new)
• Montenegro ⁵
• Morocco (new)
• Netherlands ⁵
• New Zealand
• Nicaragua (new)
• Niger (new) ¹
• Nigeria (new) ²
• North Macedonia
• Norway ⁵
• Oman (new)
• Pakistan (new)
• Panama
• Paraguay ¹
• Peru
• Philippines ³
• Poland ³
• Portugal ³
• Puerto Rico
• Qatar ⁵
• Réunion (new)
• Romania ⁵
• Russia
• Saudi Arabia ⁵
• Senegal (new) ¹
• Serbia
• Seychelles (new)
• Singapore
• Slovakia ³
• Slovenia ⁵
• South Africa
• South Korea ³
• Spain ⁵
• Sri Lanka
• Sudan
• Sweden ⁵
• Switzerland ³
• Taiwan ³
• Tanzania (new)
• Tajikistan ¹
• Thailand ⁵
• Tunisia (new)
• Turkey ³
• Uganda (new)
• Ukraine (new)
• United Arab Emirates (new) ³
• United Kingdom ⁵
• United States ⁵
• Uruguay (new)
• Uzbekistan (new)
• U.S. Virgin Islands
• Vietnam
• Yemen (new) ¹
• Zambia (new) ¹

* “(new)” is compared to the previous Discover Global eSIM (discontinued) or recently added countries
¹ on 3G only
² check the networks section on the Airalo website or app because at least one of the available networks is on 3G only (while the others are up to 4G/LTE)
³ 5G NR access for all available networks
⁴ even if your phone does not support 5G NR, select FL1 Telecom/Telecom Liechtenstein for 4G/LTE access because Salt Liechtenstein is restricted to 3G only
⁵ check the networks section on the Airalo website or app because at least one of the available networks is up to 4G/LTE (while the others are up to 5G NR)

You have these 12 Airalo Discover Global eSIMs:

1. Discover 1 GB eSIM for 7 days, costing 9 USD
2. Discover+ 1 GB (with 10 minutes and 10 SMS) eSIM for 7 days, costing 15 USD
3. Discover 2 GB eSIM for 15 days, costing 17 USD
4. Discover+ 2 GB (with 20 minutes and 20 SMS) eSIM for 15 days, costing 27 USD
5. Discover 3 GB eSIM for 30 days, costing 24 USD
6. Discover+ 3 GB (with 30 minutes and 30 SMS) eSIM for 30 days, costing 36 USD – very popular with Phone Travel Wiz readers
7. Discover 5 GB eSIM for 60 days, costing 35 USD – very popular with Phone Travel Wiz readers
8. Discover+ 5 GB (with 50 minutes and 50 SMS) eSIM for 60 days, costing 50 USD
9. Discover 10 GB eSIM for 180 days, costing 59 USD
10. Discover+ 10 GB (with 100 minutes and 100 SMS) eSIM for 180 days, costing 79 USD
11. Discover 20 GB eSIM for 365 days, costing 69 USD – most popular with Phone Travel Wiz readers
12. Discover+ 20 GB (with 200 minutes and 200 SMS) eSIM for 365 days, costing 89 USD

Note: Phone Travel Wiz reader popularity ranking was updated in December based on data up to the 30^th of December (2023 data only). The (promotional) prices were updated on the 31st of January.

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Buying a SIM Card in Zambia

Want to just use a SIM card but not your current one because roaming will be criminally expensive?

Consider getting a Zambian SIM card instead – local SIM cards are the cheapest way to stay connected abroad.