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Three plug types are in circulation: Type M (older, three round pins, still the most common), Type N (the newer standard) and Type C (two-pin, in some modern sockets). The supply is 230V/50Hz, so your European electronics will run — it is the socket shape that varies, and which one you get depends largely on how old the property is.
A single continental European adapter will not reliably fit everywhere. A universal adapter is the item to pack, not a single-type one.
→ Universal travel adapter on Amazon: UK · ES · DE
Cities and most lodges have solid coverage on Vodacom or MTN. Kruger itself is notably patchy. Punda Maria and Berg-en-Dal rest camps have no reliable WiFi, and mobile data drops off between camps. Gate-area lodges — Hazyview, Marloth Park — are the more connectivity-reliable option if that matters to you.
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Plan for intermittent access inside the park, not continuous.
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What that means for an eSIM. An eSIM rides the local carrier's network. It does not add coverage — it gives you data on the same masts a local SIM would use. So signal is solid in Johannesburg, Cape Town, at the airports and along the main routes, and thins out exactly where you will be spending most of your time. The practical consequence is to buy a small plan: a large one cannot be used on the days there is no signal to use it on.
South Africa is the best-value eSIM market of any destination covered here — Airalo reaches 50 GB / 30 days for $49.00, roughly €0.84/GB, and Saily and Airalo are level at the 5 GB tier ($12.99 against $12.50). Either works. Prices move, so check before you buy.
South African English has local usages that cause real miscommunication rather than mild confusion:
If someone says they will do something "just now", do not stand and wait.
Tipping is expected and the people receiving it are low-wage-dependent, so it functions as part of the cost of the trip rather than as a bonus: