- Home
- Destinations
- Zambia eSIM
Zambia eSIM
A 5 GB Zambia eSIM costs £36.99 for 30 days on Airtel on 5G. Plans start at £6.99 for 500 MB a day. Delivered by email in seconds.
Your eSIM uses Airtel's 4G network, so in Lusaka or Livingstone you can book an inDrive ride and message home on WhatsApp without swapping SIM cards. Pick your plan and install it before you fly, then just switch it on.
- 5G speeds
- 1 network: Airtel
- Top up anytime
- Instant email delivery
Your Zambia eSIM in two questions
Which Zambia eSIM plan do I need?
Match your trip length and how you'll use your phone, and the right plan is easy to pick.
- A three-day city break in Lusaka: 1 GB a day for 3 days suits standard use, with room for maps, messages and social media.
- Two weeks touring Livingstone and South Luangwa National Park: 10 GB for 30 days suits standard use. Download your maps before you head to remote safari camps, where signal can be weak or missing.
- A month-long stay: 20 GB for 30 days suits standard use, leaving room for WhatsApp chats, music and the odd video.
- A trip that also takes in a neighbouring country: the Africa bundle for 21 countries also covers Zambia.
Most plans can be topped up, and the longest plan runs for 30 days.
All 48 Zambia eSIM plans
Prices include any taxes. Price per GB shown so you can compare at a glance.
| Data | Valid for | Price | Per GB | Top-up | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 GB · 7 days | £8.99 / €10.99 / $10.99 | £8.99 / €10.99 / $10.99 | Choose | ||
| 3 GB · 15 days | £22.99 / €26.99 / $28.99 | £7.66 / €9.00 / $9.66 | Choose | ||
| 3 GB · 30 days | £23.99 / €28.99 / $30.99 | £8.00 / €9.66 / $10.33 | Choose | ||
| 5 GB · 30 days | £36.99 / €43.99 / $47.99 | £7.40 / €8.80 / $9.60 | Choose | ||
| 10 GB · 30 days | £72.99 / €87.99 / $94.99 | £7.30 / €8.80 / $9.50 | Choose | ||
| 20 GB · 30 days | £136.99 / €163.99 / $177.99 | £6.85 / €8.20 / $8.90 | Choose |
Networks your Zambia eSIM uses
Your eSIM joins this local network automatically, wherever you are in Zambia.
| Country | Networks | Speed |
|---|---|---|
| Zambia | Airtel | 4G |
Good to know
- Data only: your own number keeps working for calls and texts
- Hotspot works where your phone and the network allow it
- Plans start when you first connect; install within 180 days
- Your data routes through Singapore, so some sites may show that country
- Top up the same eSIM any time, no new QR code
Travelling further?
These eSIMs cover Zambia and more countries on one plan.
Will my eSIM have signal in Zambia?
Your eSIM connects to Airtel, and Airtel runs on 4G. Your phone picks the network by itself, so there's nothing to choose. Lusaka, Livingstone and the main towns are well covered, but signal is patchy in national parks and remote areas. If you're heading out on safari, download your maps and messages before you leave town.
Your data reaches the internet through Singapore, a normal setup for travel eSIMs. You can read more on the IP address help page. Daily plans slow to a lower fair-use speed once you've used that day's allowance.
How much data do you need in Zambia?
Light: maps, messages, email (about 0.25 GB a day). Standard: plus social, music, some video (about 0.7 GB a day). Heavy: plus streaming, video calls, hotspot (about 1.8 GB a day).
3 days
- Light · about 800 MB1 GB · 7 days · £8.99 / €10.99 / $10.99
- Standard · about 2 GB1 GB a day · 3 days · £22.99 / €26.99 / $29.99
- Heavy · about 5 GB2 GB a day · 3 days · £49.99 / €59.99 / $64.99
7 days
- Light · about 2 GB3 GB · 15 days · £22.99 / €26.99 / $28.99
- Standard · about 5 GB1 GB a day · 7 days · £30.49 / €36.49 / $39.99
- Heavy · about 13 GB2 GB a day · 7 days · £67.49 / €80.99 / $87.49
14 days
- Light · about 4 GB5 GB · 30 days · £36.99 / €43.99 / $47.99
- Standard · about 10 GB1 GB a day · 15 days · £45.49 / €54.49 / $59.49
- Heavy · about 25 GB2 GB a day · 15 days · £100.99 / €120.99 / $130.99
30 days
- Light · about 8 GB10 GB · 30 days · £72.99 / €87.99 / $94.99
- Standard · about 21 GB1 GB a day · 30 days · £90.99 / €108.99 / $117.99
- Heavy · about 54 GB2 GB a day · 30 days · £201.49 / €241.49 / $261.49
How to set up your Zambia eSIM
Install at home
On Wi-Fi, tap Install on iPhone (iOS 17.4+), scan the QR code, or type the two codes from your email.
Switch on when you land
Turn on your eSIM line, choose it for mobile data and switch Data Roaming on for that line.
You're online
Your phone joins Airtel and your plan starts. Check data left on your eSIM page.
Using your phone in Zambia: data tips
- Land and switch on: Land at Kenneth Kaunda International (LUN), switch your eSIM on and keep data roaming on for the eSIM line. Your eSIM connects to Airtel on 4G, so install it at home on Wi-Fi first and the airport is only one step left.
- Getting around: Book rides with inDrive, a local ride app, once you are out of the airport, and download your maps before you leave home so directions are ready when you need them.
- Staying in touch: Message friends and family on WhatsApp over your eSIM data, while your home number stays on for calls and texts.
- Safari camps: Camps and lodges in remote parks often have weak or no mobile signal, so download your maps and messages before you set off on a game drive.
Zambia eSIM questions
How much is an eSIM for Zambia?
Zambia eSIMs start at £6.99 for 500 MB a day over 1 day. A 5 GB plan for 30 days costs £36.99. Prices include any taxes and show in pounds, euros or dollars.
Which networks does the Zambia eSIM use?
Your eSIM connects to Airtel in Zambia. Your phone picks the strongest signal automatically.
When does my Zambia eSIM start?
Most plans start the moment your eSIM first connects to a network in Zambia, so you can buy and install it at home before you fly. Install it within 180 days of buying.
Can I top up my Zambia eSIM?
Yes. Most Zambia plans can be topped up from your eSIM page in two taps, with no new QR code. The plan table on this page shows which ones.
Why does my IP address show another country?
Zambia plans route your data through Singapore, a normal setup for travel eSIMs. Websites and apps may show that country's content; your speed and coverage in Zambia are not affected.
Does it come with a phone number?
Every eSIMology plan is data only. Keep your own SIM switched on for calls and texts, and use WhatsApp, FaceTime or any calling app over your eSIM's data.
What if my plans change?
Cancel an eSIM you haven't installed within 30 days for a full refund to your card, in two taps from your eSIM page.
Is there 5G in Zambia?
No, in Zambia your eSIM connects to Airtel on 4G, so there's no 5G icon to wait for. For maps, messages and photos on the move, that is the network you'll be on.
Does WhatsApp work in Zambia with an eSIM?
Yes. WhatsApp is the messaging app to use in Zambia, and your messages travel over your eSIM's mobile data. Keep it open for your safari guide, your hosts and family back home.
What are the international airports in Zambia?
Zambia has three international airports: Kenneth Kaunda International (LUN), Harry Mwanga Nkumbula International (LVI) and Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe International (NDO). Set up your eSIM before you fly, so you're not hunting for Wi-Fi in the arrivals hall.
Does inDrive work in Zambia?
Yes, inDrive is the ride app to use in Zambia. Book your ride on mobile data, and you can check the route on the map before you set off.
Is there mobile signal on safari in South Luangwa National Park?
Not always. Safari camps and lodges in remote parks often have weak or no mobile signal, so download your maps and messages before you head into South Luangwa National Park or Kafue National Park.
Does an Africa eSIM cover Zambia?
The Africa eSIM for 21 countries and the Global eSIM for 117 countries both cover Zambia, so you can choose a wider one if your route goes further afield.
Ready for Zambia?
Buy now, install today, and your plan waits until you land. Full refund if not installed.