Visiting Gambia soon? Make sure to know what to expect when it comes to purchasing a Gambia SIM card.
Fortunately, Africa is one of the best places where you can buy a SIM card easily.
You should be able to find an affordable SIM card pretty much anywhere in Africa. In fact, most data packages are relatively cheap, which makes the whole thing easier!
In this guide, we’ll explain where to buy a SIM card for Gambia in person and online. We’ll also discuss prepaid travel SIM cards and eSIMs if your mobile supports them.
Before you read this guide, you may wonder if you actually need a SIM card in Gambia.
If you don’t mind not having Internet, you’ll likely find free Wifi in restaurants, shopping malls, and hotels.
That said, if you need data to get around, call a cab, or translate English – you may want to get a SIM card for your travels in Africa.
Best Gambia SIM Cards
If you’re traveling in Gambia, we recommend using a SIM card from Qcell, Africell, or Airalo. (I’ll get back to Airalo later on, so keep reading to learn more!)
How To Buy A SIM Card In Gambia
You can either buy a Gambia prepaid SIM card in person in some international airports, mobile provider stores, convenience stores, or online.
Usually, you can expect higher costs and low data offers at the airport, so we don’t recommend buying a SIM card at the airport.
That said, you won’t necessarily find SIM card shops in every airport, so it’s essential to keep this in mind. And, when you see a shop, you might also have limited options.
For this reason, I’d recommend buying a SIM card directly from the mobile provider store. Note that you may need your passport to buy one.
Although, this means you won’t get data right upon your arrival. So, if you prefer to be connected at all times, you could use an eSIM or purchase a global prepaid SIM card online.
Now, let’s take a look at the data plans offered by Qcell and Africell.
Qcell SIM Cards
Qcell offers several different types of data-focused plans:
- 1.5 GB, valid for 30 days for GMD 262 ($4.21)
- 3 GB, valid for 30 days for GMD 580 ($9.32)
- 5 GB, valid for 30 days for GMD 775 ($12.46)
- 8 GB, valid for 30 days for GMD 975 ($15.68)
- 10 GB, valid for 30 days for GMD 1,310 ($21.06)
- 13 GB, valid for 30 days for GMD 1,630 ($26.21)
Africell SIM Cards
Africell has several different prepaid plans available:
- 1.5 GB, valid for 45 days for GMD 259 ($4.16)
- 2 GB, valid for 45 days for GMD 495 ($7.96)
- 3 GB, valid for 45 days for GMD 575 ($9.24)
- 4 GB, valid for 60 days for GMD 750 ($12.06)
- 5 GB, valid for 60 days for GMD 770 ($12.38)
- 8 GB, valid for 60 days for GMD 970 ($15.59)
- 10 GB, valid for 60 days for GMD 1,300 ($20.90)
- 12 GB, valid for 60 days for GMD 1,615 ($25.96)
Overall, we think Qcell is the best option if you plan to buy your SIM card in person.
That said, any would do if you can’t find their store!
How To Buy A Gambia Prepaid SIM Card Online
If you wish to have your SIM card ready for your arrival, you could purchase it online or on websites like Amazon.
You’ll find different SIM cards for Gambia on Amazon. For example, the OneSimCard works in more than 200+ countries and gives you data for $0.01 per MB. Gambia is included.
But there are many other options worth considering, so have a look and make sure the countries you plan on visiting are listed.
Finally, the last option is to buy a Gambia eSIM card.
How To Buy A Gambia eSIM Card
eSIM is a new concept allowing you to have a virtual SIM card inside your phone.
If your mobile phone supports eSIM cards – it’s definitely one of the best options to get data in Gambia.
Curious? Learn more about eSIMs for travelers on eSIM Roamers.
I started using eSIM as soon as my mobile phone supported it. To buy eSIMs, I usually use Airalo, a reliable eSIM provider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best eSIMs for Gambia.
Airalo Gambia
If you want a Gambia eSIM, you could purchase one on Airalo.
This website offers many eSIM cards worldwide and a special plan for Gambia.
I’ve been using Airalo for several months, and it works fine. Learn more by reading our Airalo review.
Here are the options available:
- Wassu Telecom: 1 GB, valid for 7 days for $9.50
Final Thoughts On SIM Cards In Gambia
As you can see, getting a prepaid SIM card in Gambia or even an eSIM for your travels in Gambia is pretty straightforward, although there are not too many options.
I believe the eSIM card is the most convenient way to get data in Gambia if you wish to have data upon your arrival.
This way, you won’t need to go to a store to buy a SIM card.
However, you need to make sure your mobile phone supports eSIM first.
Traveling to Africa soon? Read one of the following blog posts:
