Could my phone roam onto a Botswana network at Madikwe?

It can. Madikwe hugs the Botswana border, and phones sometimes latch onto a Botswana network there, which is outside your South Africa plan. Check you're locked to a South African network before using data.

Does one eSIM cover the whole of North West?

Yes. It's the national South Africa eSIM, so the same plan works at Sun City, Pilanesberg, Madikwe, Rustenburg and Hartbeespoort, and everywhere else you travel in South Africa.

North West eSIM.

Name: North West travel eSIM
Brand: My Holiday SIM

Sun City's resort glamour and the malaria-free Big Five of Pilanesberg and Madikwe.

from $5.39/day · unlimited dataAll of South Africa →

Unlimited data5G where availableInstant QR by emailKeep your number

1 · How many days?

10 daysOther:days

2 · How much data?

3GBBest pricevalid 30 days$7.02$0.70/day

Cheapest plan covering your trip: 3GB, valid 30 days.

Travellers (one eSIM each)

1 × 3GB (valid 30 days) · 10-day trip$7.02

Good to know in North West

Madikwe sits right on the Botswana border, so your phone may try to roam onto a Botswana network and leave South African coverage — check you're locked to a local network before relying on data there.

Best time to visit North West

May to September brings dry, mild winter days ideal for Pilanesberg and Madikwe game drives, with animals concentrated around the waterholes.

Two simple ways to buy

North West eSIM plans: unlimited, or by the GB.

Every North West eSIM from My Holiday SIM is one of two straightforward types. Pick whichever fits how you travel in North West — you can always top up or switch on your next trip.

Traveller streaming and browsing freely on an unlimited-data travel eSIM

Unlimited plans

High-speed data, nothing to count

Priced per day — the longer you stay, the better the daily rate. Ideal for streaming, hotspot and longer trips where you'd rather not watch a data meter. A fair-use policy keeps speeds fast for everyone; see each plan for the detail.

Best for streaming, video calls & hotspot
Great for longer or open-ended trips
One price per day — no GB anxiety

By-the-GB plans

3GB10GB20GB

A set bundle, brilliant value

A fixed data allowance (say 3 GB or 10 GB) valid for your travel days. The best-value pick for lighter trips built around maps, messaging and a bit of browsing. Running low? Top up in a couple of taps — nothing to reinstall.

Best value for lighter, shorter trips
Clear allowance — pay only for what you need
Top up any time from your phone

Compare plans →Not every destination has both types — the picker shows what's available where you're headed.

Plan your data

How much data do you need in North West?

A rough, honest guide to sizing your North West eSIM so you're not guessing. Most travellers in North West are comfortable on 3–5 GB a week — heavy streamers just go Unlimited.

Traveller checking maps and messages on her phone using a My Holiday SIM eSIM

Not sure? Start with a 5 GB plan — you can top up in seconds if you run low.

Light

~1 GB / week

Maps, messaging & email

Google Maps, WhatsApp, email and the odd search. Plenty for a city break where you mostly need directions.

Suits 1–3 GB plans

Balanced

3–5 GB / week

Everyday holiday use

Everything above plus social scrolling, music, cloud photo backups and a little video. Where most travellers land.

Suits 5–10 GB plans

North West eSIM: your local data guide.

North West is where most visitors come for Sun City's resort and the malaria-free Big Five viewing of Pilanesberg and Madikwe. Add the Hartbeespoort Dam, the Cradle of Humankind fringe and Rustenburg's platinum belt, and a North West eSIM for game-drive booking, resort navigation and directions from Johannesburg quickly proves its worth.

One eSIM for North West and all of South Africa. It's the national South Africa eSIM — from $5.39/day with unlimited data, working the same in North West as it does the moment you leave it.

Landing at Pilanesberg International (NTY)?

Install the QR at home, then switch the eSIM on as you taxi in — you're online before you reach the arrivals hall.

North West eSIM pricingbest-value plan · per day

Days

Per day

Total

Saving

3 days1GB

$1.05

$3.14

—

5 days1GB

$0.63

$3.14

−40%

7 days1GB

$0.45

$3.14

−57%

10 days3GBPopular

$0.70

$7.02

−33%

15 days3GB

$0.47

$7.02

−55%

30 days3GB

$0.23

$7.02

−78%

Each trip length shows the best-value plan that covers it. Total always shown before you pay.

eSIM vs the old ways in North West

eSIM

ROAMING

AIRPORT SIM

Data allowance

Unlimited

Usually capped

Rarely unlimited

Price known upfront

Prepaid

Billed after

Varies at the desk

Ready when you land

Instantly

After the queue

Keep WhatsApp number

SIM swapped

North West eSIM from $5.39/day — the whole bill, agreed before you fly.

Across the region

Where you'll lean on data in North West.

Sun City

The resort has strong coverage for show bookings, the Valley of Waves and casino-floor navigation.

Pilanesberg National Park

Signal around the entrance gates and Pilanesberg Centre; expect gaps on the inner game-viewing loops.

Madikwe Game Reserve

Remote and near the Botswana border, so lean on lodge connectivity rather than in-reserve data.

Hartbeespoort Dam

Reliable 4G for the cableway, boat cruises and the drive out from Johannesburg.

The practical bit

Getting around North West on your eSIM.

Apps you'll want online in North West

Uber— Available in Rustenburg and Mahikeng for local trips.
Bolt— Ride-hailing in Rustenburg and the larger towns.
SANParks— Park bookings and info, useful for the Pilanesberg-adjacent reserves and camps.
inDrive— Fare-negotiation ride app used in North West's towns.

How long to stay in North West

Two to four days is typical — a Sun City resort break combined with game drives in Pilanesberg or a longer stay in remote Madikwe.

How much data for North West

A balanced 3 GB covers a resort-and-safari break of maps, bookings and payments; opt for Unlimited if the family will stream at Sun City or you'll tether several devices.

Coverage in North West

Sun City, Rustenburg and Hartbeespoort have solid 4G and 5G, but Pilanesberg's inner loops and remote Madikwe are patchy — and near Madikwe your phone may drift onto a Botswana network.

Where you're headed

Discover North West.

Scenic view of a rocky river canyon in Rustenburg, South Africa with lush greenery.

An elephant crosses a road amidst traffic in Pilanesberg National Park, South Africa.

A herd of African elephants grazing in Pilanesberg National Park, South Africa.

Close-up of an African elephant in Pilanesberg National Park, showcasing its trunk and tusks.

How to activate your North West eSIM.

Full installation guide →

A traveller happily planning her next trip with a map and phone

Buy your plan

Choose your days — the QR code arrives by email in seconds.

A traveller installing her eSIM from the sofa in two minutes

Install at home

Scan the QR on Wi-Fi before you fly. About two minutes, no app needed.

Friends laughing together while packing for a holiday

Fly relaxed

Nothing counts down yet — your days start only at first connection.

A joyful family reunion at the airport arrivals hall

Switch on in North West

Turn the line on when you land. Connected before baggage claim.

New to eSIM in North West?

What is a North West eSIM?

A North West eSIM is a digital SIM that's already built into your phone. Scan one QR code and a local North West data plan installs alongside your home SIM — no plastic, no tray tool, no swap. Your number and WhatsApp stay exactly where they are.

✓ 2-minute install✓ Keep your number✓ Works on phones from 2018+

How eSIM works →Check my phone

A traveller with a backpack smiling at her phone — online abroad with My Holiday SIM

Connected · 5G

Home SIM · calls & WhatsAppHoliday eSIM · unlimited data

30-day refund promiseUnused, uninstalled eSIM? Full refund, no questions.

The price is the billPrepaid and final — roaming charges can't happen.

Days start when you landInstall early with zero pressure; counting begins at first connection.

Humans, 24/7Real people answer, before, during and after the trip.

Why travellers choose My Holiday SIM for North West.

Instant eSIM deliveryQR code in your inbox seconds after checkout — even at the departure gate.

No physical SIMNothing to collect, lose or poke out with a paperclip. Your home SIM stays put.

Keep your WhatsApp numberData flows through us; WhatsApp stays on your home number. Family always reaches you.

A traveller at the departure gate, eSIM ready on her phone

eSIM ready in ~2 minutes

No bill shock, everOne clear price before you fly. Roaming charges simply can't happen.

Secure paymentsCards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayPal and Klarna — encrypted end to end.

Real human supportReal people — before, during and after your trip. Live chat and email, no bots. Easy top-ups too.

Coverage in South Africa.

5G where available, fast 4G everywhere else

Connected · 5G

Your eSIM joins South Africa's partner networks automatically — no settings to choose, no manual network hunting. If signal drops in a remote spot, toggling Airplane Mode for a few seconds forces a fresh connection.

Vodacom
MTN
Cell C
Telkom

Popular places covered

Cape TownJohannesburgDurbanPretoriaStellenboschKruger National ParkKnysna

Keep data roaming ON for the eSIM line only — that's the switch travel eSIMs use, and it never adds charges on our plans.

Trusted networks, honest numbers.

No invented star ratings behind your North West eSIM — just the numbers we actually stand behind.

Friendly globe with location pins — coverage on every continent

My Holiday SIMSTAY CONNECTED. ANYWHERE.

200+

destinations — every continent covered

regions covered by a single regional eSIM

~2 min

typical install — QR to connected

Live

chat & email support

Before you fly

North West eSIM questions, answered.

Sun City resort has strong coverage throughout, and you'll get signal around Pilanesberg's gates and visitor centre. Expect gaps on the inner game-viewing loops, so download your park map beforehand.

Your North West eSIM glossary.

eSIMA SIM built into your phone's hardware. Plans install onto it digitally — no plastic card involved.

QR profileThe code we email you. Scanning it downloads your holiday plan onto the eSIM. One scan per device.

Data roaming (the switch)The toggle travel eSIMs use to join partner networks abroad. On our plans it never adds charges — keep it ON for the eSIM, OFF for your home SIM.

Hotspot / tetheringSharing your phone's data with laptops and tablets. Included on our plans wherever networks allow.

Top-upExtra days added to a live plan from your account. They append to the end — nothing overlaps.

First connectionThe moment your eSIM first joins a network at the destination — that's when your days start counting, not before.

Travelling wider in South Africa?