How to call South Africa from Nigeria
- From mobile
- +27 xx xxx xxxx
- From landline
- 009 27 xx xxx xxxx
From $0.34/min in your browser, no plan needed
How to dial South Africa from Nigeria
How to make a call to South Africa from Nigeria: dial the exit code, the country code, and the number. From a Nigerian landline the exit code is 009, and the 0 in front of a South African area code drops.
- 009Nigeria exit code
- 27Country code of South Africa
- 11Johannesburg
- xxx xxxxLocal number
- From a mobile: +27 xx xxx xxxx
Paste or type a number here to see how to dial it from anywhere
Example: +27 10 123 4567
- Mobile
- +27 10 123 4567
- Landline
- 009 27 10 123 4567
Main area codes in South Africa
The area code comes right after 27, then the local number
- Johannesburg009 2710009 2711then 7 digits
- Cape Town/Gordons Bay/Somerset West/Stellenbosch009 2721then 7 digits
- Durban009 2731then 7 digits
- Port Elizabeth/Uitenhage009 2741then 7 digits
- East London009 2743then 7 digits
- Newcastle/Northern KwaZulu Natal/Vryheid009 2734then 7 digits
- Richards Bay/St. Lucia/Ulundi/Zululand009 2735then 7 digits
- Klerksdorp/Lichtenburg/Potchefstroom009 2718then 7 digits
Before you call South Africa
Area codes for the big cities
After 27, a city number is a 9-digit number: 2 digits of area code and 7 of line.
- Johannesburg009 27 11
- Cape Town009 27 21
- Durban009 27 31
- Tshwane009 27 12
Drop the 0 of the area code
A South African number saved as 011 keeps its 0 at home, but not after 27.
- Fails
- 009 27 0 11 xxx xxxx
- Works
- 009 27 11 xxx xxxx
Calling South Africa cell phones
Press and hold 0 for +, then dial 27 and the number. The phone adds the exit code.
Calling South Africa from Nigeria without an international plan
Suparelay calls South Africa for $0.34/min from your browser, with no plan. Without one, carriers in Nigeria charge up to $40.67/min. Carriers in Nigeria bill each minute of a call to South Africa on its own, which is why our row is on top.
| Carrier | Per minute |
|---|---|
SuparelayNo plan neededUp to 119× cheaper | $0.34 landline$0.45 mobile |
 | $0.68 + tax |
 | $40.67 + tax |
 | $0.45 + tax |
Want to call South Africa?
Type the number and call from your browser, with no app and no plan
When to call South Africa
The time now in South Africa, and the best hours to call. The time difference never changes, so a calling hour that works once works in every month.
- Time difference
- All year: 1 hour ahead of Lagos
- Daylight saving time
- None, the clocks never change
Why a call to South Africa fails
Glo charges N9,999 to unlisted countries
Glo lists a rate of N9,999 for destinations absent from its international rate list. Check the destination and billing unit before calling.
Globacom, International Calling (IDD Pay as You Go Rates)A SIM without NIN linkage cannot call
A SIM barred for missing NIN linkage cannot make calls. Complete NIN verification and linkage through your carrier.
NCC, Press statement on unblocking SIM cards that require SIM linkageFrom any country, a call to South Africa also fails when
- The 0 is still in the number
- The exit code is wrong for your country
- The number does not take calls from abroad
Questions
How do I call South Africa from Nigeria on a cell phone or mobile?
Dial +27, then the number. It works from any mobile in Nigeria
How to make an international call to South Africa?
Dial 009 27, then the number. From a mobile, +27 works too
How to call South Africa from Nigeria for free: is there a free call to South Africa?
An app calls for free only when both sides have it. A call to a landline, or to a phone without the app, costs money
How to call South Africa from Nigeria on WhatsApp?
WhatsApp and FaceTime call for free, but only someone with the same app. To ring a landline or a phone in South Africa without the app, use your phone plan, a calling service, or Suparelay
How to call Johannesburg from Nigeria?
For Johannesburg, dial 009 27 10, then the 7-digit local number
Do I need to dial 009 to call South Africa?
From a landline, yes: dial 009, then 27. From a mobile, type + instead, and the phone adds the exit code
How do I dial a +27 number?
Press and hold 0 until + appears, then dial 27 and the number
How to call South Africa landline from Nigeria?
From a landline in Nigeria, dial 009 27, then the number
Can I call South Africa on my iPhone?
Yes. In the Phone app, press and hold 0 for +, then dial 27 and the number. Your plan must allow calls to South Africa
How much does it cost to call South Africa from Nigeria?
With no plan, carriers in Nigeria charge up to $40.67 a minute. Suparelay charges each started minute, from your browser
Are calls to South Africa included in Nigeria phone plans?
Not on most plans. No carrier in Nigeria that we checked includes South Africa in a plan
Why isn't my call going through to South Africa?
The usual causes: the 0 is still in the number, the exit code is wrong for your country, and the number does not take calls from abroad. Each one is listed above, with a link to its fix
When is the best time to call South Africa?
Call between 8:00 and 22:00 in South Africa. All year: 1 hour ahead of Lagos