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Safaricom International Calling Rates

Safaricom allows its subscribers can make calls to different parts of the world while in Kenya or back home when roaming. It is important however that ones dials an international call properly to ensure it goes through.

The rates for these calls typically vary depending on the destination country. Contrary to expectations however, the rates are not determined by how close or far a country is from Kenya.

For this reason you may find that it’s actually cheaper making a call to China than to any of the East African community countries.

Safaricom international callings rates come in two flavours: a flat tariff rate per country or a bundle option which is only available for some select countries.

Zone 1 Countries Calling Rates

Safaricom provides an international calling voice bundles which allow its subscribers to call Zone 1 countries at reduced rates of up to Ksh 2.50 per minute. While using the normal tariff, calls to these countries cost twice as much at Ksh 5.00 per minute.

The Zone 1 countries include:

  • United States of America (USA)
  • Canada
  • China
  • India

The international bundles can be accessed by both PrePay and PostPay Safaricom subscribers by dialing *100# or *200# respectively then selecting Products & Services followed by International Calling.

The available international calling bundles at the time of this writing are as follows:

MinutesPrice (Ksh)Validity (Days)
6191
40997
17039930
Safaricom International Calling Bundle Rates

To check the international calling bundles balance dial *100# (PrePay) and *200# (PostPay) then go to Products & Services > International Calling > Go to next page > Check Bundle Balance.

International Calling Bundles Conditions

  1. These bundles only apply when calling from Kenya. The bundles cannot therefore be used while roaming.
  2. If a new bundle is bought before the expiry of an older one, the validity period of the new bundle applies and the unused minutes are carried over.
  3. Okoa Jahazi (advance airtime) can be used to buy the bundles.
  4. Redeemed Bonga points minutes cannot be used to make international calls.

1. East Africa Calling Rates

CountryKsh per Minute
Uganda10
Tanzania10
South Sudan10
Rwanda10
Burundi75
Somalia30
Safaricom Calling Rates for East Africa Countries

The above rates apply when calling from Kenya. One can however roam with a Safaricom line while in Uganda, Rwanda and South Sudan and call at a rate of Ksh.10 per minute.

2. Rest of Africa Calling Rates

CountryKsh per Minute
Algeria30
Angola30
Benin30
Botswana30
Burkina Faso30
Cameroon30
Central African Republic40
Chad30
Comoros and Mayotte Island40
Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)30
Djibouti40
Ethiopia30
Egypt30
Gambia40
Gabon30
Ghana30
Guinea40
Guinea-Bissau40
Ivory Coast30
Lesotho30
Liberia30
Libya40
Madagascar50
Malawi30
Mali30
Mauritius30
Mauritania40
Morocco40
Mozambique30
Namibia30
Nigeria30
Niger30
Republic of the Congo40
Senegal30
Seychelles30
Sierra Leone40
South Africa25
Sudan30
Togo40
Tunisia100
Zambia30
Zimbabwe40
Safaricom Calling Rates for Rest of Africa

3. Europe Calling Rates

CountryKsh per Minute
Austria40
Azerbaijan40
Bulgaria40
Croatia40
Czech Republic40
Belgium40
Denmark40
Finland40
France40
Germany40
Greece40
Hungary40
Iceland40
Ireland40
Italy40
Poland40
Portugal40
Netherlands40
Norway40
Romania40
Russia40
Serbia40
Slovakia40
Spain40
Sweden40
Switzerland40
Turkey40
Ukraine40
United Kingdom (UK)18
Safaricom Calling Rates for European Countries

4. North America Calling Rates

CountryKsh per Minute
Bahamas40
Barbados40
Belize40
Canada5
Costa Rica40
Cuba100
Dominican Republic40
El Salvador40
Greenland70
Guatemala40
Haiti40
Honduras40
Jamaica40
Mexico40
Nicaragua40
Panama40
Trinidad and Tobago40
United States of America5
Safaricom Calling Rates for North American Countries

5. South America Calling Rates

CountryKsh per Minute
Argentina40
Bolivia40
Brazil40
Chile40
Columbia40
Ecuador40
Guyana40
Paraguay40
Peru40
Suriname40
Uruguay40
Venezuela40
Safaricom Calling Rates for South American Countries

6. Middle East Calling Rates

CountryKsh per Minute
Bahrain40
Cyprus40
Iran40
Iraq40
Israel40
Jordan40
Kuwait40
Lebanon40
Oman40
Palestine40
Qatar40
Saudi Arabia40
Syria40
United Arab Emirates (UAE)40
Yemen40
Safaricom Calling Rates for Middle Eastern Countries

7. Asia Pacific Calling Rates

CountryKsh per Minute
Australia40
Bangladesh40
Cambodia40
China5
Fiji40
Hong Kong40
India5
Indonesia40
Japan40
Malaysia40
Mongolia40
Myanmar40
Nepal40
New Zealand40
North Korea100
Pakistan40
Papua New Guinea70
Philippines40
Singapore40
South Korea40
Sri Lanka40
Taiwan40
Thailand40
Safaricom Calling Rates for Asia Pacific Countries

8. Central Asia

CountryKsh per Minute
Kazakhstan40
Kyrgyzstan40
Tajikistan40
Turkmenistan40
Uzbekistan40
Safaricom Calling Rates for Central Asia Countries

Safaricom International SMS Rates

Sending an SMS with your Safaricom line to an international number costs Ksh.10 per SMS. This applies to all countries.

Note that the length of one SMS is 160 characters. If an SMS exceeds these characters, it’s broken down to multiple SMSs which are charged at the Ksh.10 rate.

NOTES

1.This is not an exhaustive list of countries in the listed territories.
2. Rates as of July 2019 (Sources: Safaricom 1, 2)

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Kelvin Kathia

Kelvin Kathia is the editor of Kenyan Fix, an informational blog that helps Kenyans with solutions to everyday questions on mobile networks, government services and banking.