How to call South Africa from the UK
- From mobile
- +27 xx xxx xxxx
- From landline
- 00 27 xx xxx xxxx
From $0.34/min in your browser, no plan needed
How to dial South Africa from the UK
How to make a call to South Africa from the UK: dial the exit code, the country code, and the number. Drop the 0 that starts a South African area code, because 27 replaces it.
- Fails
- 00 27 011 xxx xxxx
- Works
- 00 27 11 xxx xxxx
- 00The UK exit code
- 27Country code of South Africa
- xx xxx xxxxThe number, area code first
- 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
- 00 27 10 123 4567
Main area codes in South Africa
The area code comes right after 27, then the local number
- Johannesburg00 271000 2711then 7 digits
- Cape Town/Gordons Bay/Somerset West/Stellenbosch00 2721then 7 digits
- Durban00 2731then 7 digits
- Port Elizabeth/Uitenhage00 2741then 7 digits
- East London00 2743then 7 digits
- Newcastle/Northern KwaZulu Natal/Vryheid00 2734then 7 digits
- Richards Bay/St. Lucia/Ulundi/Zululand00 2735then 7 digits
- Klerksdorp/Lichtenburg/Potchefstroom00 2718then 7 digits
Before you call South Africa
Dial a city with its area code
Each of these cities takes 7 more digits after the area code.
- Johannesburg00 27 11
- Cape Town00 27 21
- Durban00 27 31
- Tshwane00 27 12
Save contacts with +27
For calling South Africa cell phones, save the number as +27 and the 9-digit number without its first 0. It works from a UK mobile at home and abroad.
Call a landline in three steps
Type the number in the dialer above.
- Dial 00
- Dial 27
- Dial the area code and 7 digits
Calling South Africa from the UK without an international plan
Suparelay calls South Africa for $0.34/min from your browser, with no plan. Without one, carriers in the UK charge up to $6.13/min. EE and Vodafone sell calls to South Africa as an add-on, so check your plan before you dial.
| Carrier | Per minute |
|---|---|
SuparelayNo plan neededUp to 18× cheaper | $0.34 landline$0.45 mobile |
 | $6.13$0.11 landline · $0.16 mobile with plan |
 | $5.42$0.20 landline · $0.25 mobile with plan |
 | $3.96 |
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 to London changes only when the UK clocks change, because South Africa keeps one time all year.
- Time difference
- March to October: 1 hour ahead of London
- October to March: 2 hours ahead of London
- Daylight saving time
- None, the clocks never change
Why a call to South Africa fails
O2 blocks international calls on a £0 Spend Cap
A £0 Spend Cap on O2 bars chargeable use outside the monthly and Bolt On allowances. International calls are in that group, so the call fails.
O2, What are spend caps?From 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 to call South Africa from the UK mobile or cell phone?
Dial +27, then the number. It works from any mobile in the UK
Are calls to South Africa included in the UK phone plans?
Not on most plans. No carrier in the UK that we checked includes South Africa in a plan
How much does it cost to call South Africa from the UK?
With no plan, carriers in the UK charge up to $6.13 a minute. Suparelay charges each started minute, from your browser
How to call Johannesburg from the UK?
For Johannesburg, dial 00 27 10, then the 7-digit local number
Do I need to dial 00 to call South Africa?
From a landline, yes: dial 00, 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
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
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
How to call South Africa from the UK for free?
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 the UK 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 a South Africa landline from the UK?
From a landline in the UK, dial 00 27, then the number
When is the best time to call South Africa?
Call between 8:00 and 22:00 in South Africa. March to October: 1 hour ahead of London. October to March: 2 hours ahead of London
How to make an international call to South Africa?
Dial 00 27, then the number. From a mobile, +27 works too
Does O2 include calls to South Africa?
With the £15 Big Bundle. Without it, O2 charges $5.42 a minute to a landline and $5.42 to a mobile