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How to buy a Tanzania SIM card for tourists in 2026
Learn how to buy a Tanzania SIM card from Vodacom, Yas, Halotel, and Airtel. Plus, explore other options to stay connected during your trip.
If you’re visiting Tanzania and plan to book a trip to the Serengeti National Park and explore historical sites around Zanzibar, you’ll need a SIM card to stay connected during your trip.
Vodacom, Airtel, Yas, and Halotel offer a variety of prepaid SIM card plans, but it’s important to know what’s included and how tourists can get a SIM card.
This guide covers everything you need to know about buying a Tanzania SIM card, as well as options like the Holafly eSIM if you have an eSIM-only phone.
Peace of mind before you fly
Set up your eSIM before travel and get unlimited data on arrival.
Where can tourists buy a Tanzania SIM card?
To get a SIM card in Tanzania, tourists need to visit a physical store, as there is no option to order online and collect upon arrival.
That said, these are the available options for travelers:
- Official mobile stores: Visit an official store from Airtel, Yas, Halotel, or Vodacom Tanzania to get your SIM card. This option is better for an immediate SIM card activation.
- Convenience stores: Local stores like eleganté and gas stations like Puma Energy are ideal places to get a prepaid SIM card, but keep in mind you’ll need to handle activation on your own.
- Get an eSIM: If you have an eSIM phone and want to avoid the purchase hassle, buy one before traveling so you have mobile internet as soon as you land.
How to purchase a Tanzania SIM card
The requirements for getting a SIM card in Tanzania depend on where you buy it.
Here’s what you should know about these requirements:
- At official stores: When visiting any of the local mobile providers’ official stores, you’ll need to show your passport to complete the SIM card purchase. Plus, you’ll need an unlocked phone to use local networks.
- Convenience stores: Might ask for a passport, but it depends on each store’s rules. The main requirement is to have an unlocked phone.
Best SIM cards for Tanzania
All available mobile providers in Tanzania offer a variety of prepaid plans, including data-only plans and bundles that include phone calls and text messages.
Available plans range from 1 to 30 days and are easy to top up online with a valid phone number.
Let’s dive into the details for each mobile provider and what they offer.
Vodacom
The price of a Vodacom Tanzania SIM card depends on the type of plan you choose. There are data-only or full-service plans to choose from.
After choosing a bundle or plan, Vodacom users can top up their SIM cards by phone or using an OTP on their website.
Here are some of the available plans to get a Vodacom SIM card:
| Plan | Validity | Pricing |
|---|---|---|
| Internet Bundle – 1229 MB | 1 day | 2,500 TZS (~$0.95 USD) |
| Internet Bundle – 7380 MB | 7 days | 15,000 TZS (~$5.80 USD) |
| Internet Bundle – 9852 MB | 7 days | 20,000 TZS (~$7.70 USD) |
| Internet Bundle – 17240 MB | 30 days | 35,000 TZS (~$13.40 USD) |
| Internet Bundle – 9830 MB | 30 days | 20,000 TZS (~$7.70 USD) |
| 1280 minutes, 500 SMS, 10 GB | 30 days | 30,000 TZS (~$11.50 USD) |
| 1280 minutes, 500 SMS, 19.9 GB | 30 days | 50,000 TZS (~$19.10 USD) |
Airtel
To get an Airtel SIM card, travelers can choose from data-only or full-service plans, available for 1 to 30 days.
All Airtel services must be activated via phone calls. Users need to call *149*99#, choose the “Product” menu, and then choose their preferred bundle.
Here are some available Airtel SIM card plans:
| Plan | Validity | Pricing |
|---|---|---|
| Internet Bundle – 492 MB | 1 day | 1,000 TZS (~$0.45 USD) |
| Internet Bundle – 1,024 MB | 7 days | 2,100 TZS (~$0.80 USD) |
| Internet Bundle – 2,460 MB | 7 days | 5,000 TZS (~$1.90 USD) |
| Internet Bundle – 14,780 MB | 30 days | 30,000 TZS (~$11.50 USD) |
| 50 minutes, 10 SMS, 400 MB | 1 day | 20,000 TZS (~$7.70 USD) |
| 500 minutes, 15 SMS, 4,096 MB | 30 days | 10,000 TZS (~$3.80 USD) |
| 675 minutes, 15 SMS, 9,216 MB | 30 days | 20,000 TZS (~$7.70 USD) |
Halotel
To get a Halotel SIM card, travelers can choose between data bundles and an all-net bundle, depending on the services they need during their trip.
These bundles range from 1 to 30 days and can be activated by phone. Halotel users need to call *148*66# and follow the instructions to activate their preferred bundle.
Here are some available bundles:
| Plan | Validity | Pricing |
|---|---|---|
| Internet Daily – 490 MB | 1 day | 1,000 TZS (~$0.45 USD) |
| Internet Weekly – 1,475 MB | 7 days | 3,000 TZS (~$1.15 USD) |
| Internet Monthly – 14,780 MB | 30 days | 30,000 TZS (~$11.50 USD) |
| All-Net with 300 SMS, 1,024 MB, and 150 minutes | 10 days | 3,100 TZS (~$1.20 USD) |
Yas
To get a Yas SIM card, formerly known as Tigo Tanzania, travelers can choose between internet bundles and a Combo Package.
These plans work from 1 day to 30 days and are activated by calling *147*00#.
Here are some available plans from Yas:
| Plan | Validity | Pricing |
|---|---|---|
| Data Pack – 492 MB | 1 day | 1,000 TZS (~$0.45 USD) |
| Data Pack – 1.4 GB | 7 days | 3,000 TZS (~$1.15 USD) |
| Data Pack – 4.8 GB | 7 days | 10,000 TZS (~$3.80 USD) |
| Data Pack – 4.8 GB | 7 days | 3,100 TZS (~$1.20 USD) |
| Data Pack – 9.6 GB | 30 days | 20,000 TZS (~$7.70 USD) |
| Data Pack – 24 GB | 30 days | 50,000 TZS (~$19.10 USD) |
| Combo 1000 – 40 minutes, 350 MB, and 10 SMS | 1 day | 1,000 TZS (~$0.45 USD) |
| Combo 5000 – 180 minutes, 1.4 GB, and 100 SMS | 7 days | 5,000 TZS (~$1.90 USD) |
| Combo 30000 – 900 minutes, 11 GB, and 500 SMS | 30 days | 30,000 TZS (~$11.50 USD) |
Stay connected in Tanzania with a Holafly eSIM
If you feel that getting a SIM card in Tanzania is too complicated or doesn’t meet your needs, get an eSIM instead.
With the Holafly eSIM for Tanzania, you get unlimited data plans starting at $9.50, up to 1 GB of hotspot data, 24/7 customer support, 5G speeds, and the option to activate before traveling.
Visiting other countries in Africa? Grab Holafly Plans then. You get a monthly eSIM subscription that covers over 170 destinations, and you can forget about SIM swapping when arriving in a new country.
What’s more, Holafly always has your back with Always On; a perk included with every Holafly eSIM that provides 1 GB of monthly backup data at no extra cost. Just keep your eSIM installed to enjoy instant internet access for emergencies, like a last-minute safari booking or an historical tour around Tanzania.
Peace of mind before you fly
Set up your eSIM before travel and get unlimited data on arrival.
FAQs
Yes. Tourists can buy a SIM card in Tanzania at official stores and convenience stores.
The price of a Tanzania SIM card usually ranges from 1,000 TZS (~$0.45 USD) to 50,000 TZS (~$19.10 USD), depending on the plan.
Yes. It’s a must to show the passport when buying a SIM card at official stores to complete the purchase and activation process.
Plans that may interest you
I first started my content creation journey as a freelancer in 2019, before connecting with Holafly in 2021. At Holafly, my travel and tech interests come together in one place as I craft high-quality articles about the eSIM and related markets. My content aims to help travelers stay connected, wherever they are.
