Whether you’re visiting South Africa for the first time or living here temporarily, staying connected with friends and family abroad is essential. Making international calls may seem a little daunting at first — but it’s easy once you know the steps. This guide breaks it down clearly, with examples for calling landlines and mobile numbers in the UK, USA, and other popular countries.
🌍 The Basics: How International Dialling Works from South Africa
When making a call to another country from South Africa, follow this structure:
Dial 00 – This is South Africa’s international access code (also called the “exit code”).
Dial the country code – Each country has its own unique code (e.g., UK = 44, USA = 1).
Dial the area code – This identifies the specific region or city. Important: Omit the leading 0, as it’s used only for calls within that country.
Dial the local number – The actual number you’re calling, also without a leading 0.
📞 Calling the UK from South Africa
Landline Example – London
Dial 00 (SA exit code)
Dial 44 (UK country code)
Dial 20 (London area code – omit the 0)
Dial the local number
➡️ Dial: 00 44 20 1234 5678
Mobile Example
Mobile numbers in the UK begin with 07, but you’ll drop the 0 when calling internationally.
➡️ Dial: 00 44 7234 5678
📞 Calling the USA from South Africa
Landline Example – Texas
Dial 00
Dial 1 (USA country code)
Dial 832 (area code for Houston, Texas)
Dial the local number
➡️ Dial: 00 1 832 1234 5678
Mobile Example
US mobile numbers follow the same format as landlines — just dial the full 10-digit number after the country code.
➡️ Dial: 00 1 123 4567 890
🌐 Popular Country Codes
Here’s a quick reference list of international dialling codes from South Africa:
Country
Dialing Sequence
Australia
00 61 + area code + number
Austria
00 43 + area code + number
Brazil
00 55 + area code + number
Canada
00 1 + area code + number
Chile
00 56 + area code + number
Denmark
00 45 + area code + number
France
00 33 + area code + number
Germany
00 49 + area code + number
Greece
00 30 + area code + number
Greenland
00 299 + number (no area code)
Italy
00 39 + area code + number
Netherlands
00 31 + area code + number
New Zealand
00 64 + area code + number
Reunion
00 262 + 262 + number
Sweden
00 46 + area code + number
Switzerland
00 41 + area code + number
📱 Handy Tips for International Calling:
If you’re using a mobile phone with airtime or a local SIM card (e.g., MTN, Vodacom, Cell C), make sure international calling is enabled.
Consider using WhatsApp, Telegram, or other apps for free voice/video calls via Wi-Fi or mobile data.
Double-check time zones before calling — you don’t want to wake up Aunt Susan at 3 a.m.!
Whether you’re calling a hotel in Italy, a tour operator in New Zealand, or your family back home, this international dialling guide ensures you’ll always be just a few numbers away from staying in touch. Safe travels and happy connecting!
