South Africa Country Code (+27): Complete Guide to Calling South Africa
Complete guide to South Africa country code +27. Learn how to dial South Africa from abroad, understand Johannesburg, Cape Town area codes, mobile operators (Vodacom, MTN, Cell C, Telkom), and save money.
Quick Facts: South Africa Country Code
| Country Code | +27 |
| International Prefix | 00 (from SA) |
| Number Format | +27 XX XXX XXXX |
| Time Zone | SAST (UTC+2) |
| Major Carriers | Vodacom, MTN, Cell C, Telkom |
How to Dial South Africa
The South Africa country code is +27. Always drop the leading 0 when calling from abroad.
From the USA
Format: 011 + 27 + number (no 0)
Example (Johannesburg): 011-27-11-XXX-XXXX
From UK/Europe
Format: 00 + 27 + number (no 0)
Example (Cape Town): 00-27-21-XXX-XXXX
Mobile Numbers
Format: +27 + 9-digit number (no 0)
Example: +27-82-XXX-XXXX (Vodacom)
South Africa Area Codes
| City | Area Code |
|---|---|
| Johannesburg | 011 |
| Pretoria | 012 |
| Cape Town | 021 |
| Durban | 031 |
| Port Elizabeth | 041 |
| Bloemfontein | 051 |
Mobile Carriers in South Africa
South African mobile numbers are 10 digits starting with 0:
- Vodacom (~40%): Largest carrier, prefixes 060-067, 071-073, 082
- MTN (~30%): Pan-African giant, prefixes 071, 073, 078, 083, 084
- Cell C (~15%): Third largest, prefixes 074, 084
- Telkom Mobile (~10%): State telecom, prefix 081
WhatsApp Dominance
95%+ of South Africans use WhatsApp - it's the primary communication method for both personal and business use. Many businesses operate entirely through WhatsApp.
Cost to Call South Africa
| Service | Rate |
|---|---|
| BubblyPhone | $0.03-0.08/min |
| Carrier (AT&T/Verizon) | $2.50-4.00/min |
| T-Mobile | $0.25/min or higher |
| Free (app-to-app) |
Time Zone
South Africa uses SAST (UTC+2) year-round with no daylight saving:
- 12 PM EST = 7 PM in South Africa
- 9 AM PST = 7 PM in South Africa
Pro Tips for Calling South Africa
- Drop the 0: South African numbers start with 0 domestically - remove it internationally
- Use WhatsApp: 95%+ adoption - the default communication method
- Mobile Prefixes: 082 (Vodacom), 083 (MTN), 074/084 (Cell C), 081 (Telkom)
- No DST: South Africa doesn't observe daylight saving time
Ready to Start Calling?
Make international calls from your browser with BubblyPhone. No app needed, instant setup.
Get Started Free →