How to Call Africa from the USA and Other Countries: Calling Mobile and Landline Phones – Cheap or Even Free

Making international calls to Africa, either to mobile or landline phones, can be both expensive and confusing due to varying rates and methods. Whether you’re calling Africa from the USA, Canada, Australia, or the UK, understanding the best way to call can save you money and ensure reliable communication.

Traditional Calling Methods to Africa

Landline to Landline 

• Method: Use traditional phone networks by dialing the international access code, the country code, the area code (if applicable), and the local number. 
• Example: To call a landline in Lagos (Nigeria) from the USA, dial 011 (international access code) + 234 (country code for Nigeria) + area code + local number. 
• Cost: Reliable and clear but can be expensive for international calls. Rate example: Expect to pay around $3/min for pay as you go landline to landline calling from the USA to Nigeria. Other African countries are likely to be similar. 

Mobile to Mobile 

• Method: Use cellular networks by dialing the international access code, the country code, and the local mobile number. 
• Example: To call a mobile in Nairobi (Kenya) from the UK, dial 00 (international access code) +254 (country code for Kenya) + local mobile number. 
• Cost: Convenient but often incurs high international tariffs. For mobile to mobile calls to South Africa from the UK, USA, or Europe, expect to pay around $5/minute. 

Mobile to Landline/Landline to Mobile

• Method: Combine the methods above. Dial the internal access code, the country code, the area code (calling landlines), and the local number. 
• Example: To call a landline in Durban (South Africa) from a mobile in Canada using the traditional method, dial 011 (international access code) +27 (country code for South Africa) + area code + local number. 
• Cost: For mobiles and landlines, see above. 

Yolla: International Calls to Mobiles and Landlines in Africa

Yolla lets you make affordable calls to mobiles and landlines while keeping your existing number. This ensures your contacts recognize your number, especially when contacting relatives or institutions abroad. 

Yolla Features

• Low-Cost International Calls: Call 190+ countries, including African nations. View our low prices for up-to-date rates. Simply search for the country you want to call. 
• International SMS: Texting with Yolla costs only $0.15
• Call Any Phone: Yolla can call both landlines and mobiles. 
• No Internet Required: The person you’re calling doesn’t need to install Yolla or have an internet connection. 
• Send Mobile Top-Ups: Send low-fee top-ups to friends and family in 148 countries. 
• Get Credit Bonuses: Follow Yolla’s socials to hear about the latest promotions, which usually offer great bonuses for more talking time. 

Other VoIP Methods

Besides Yolla, other VoIP calling methods exist. Here’s a few common features: 

• You and the person you’re calling will need to be connected via the internet to conduct WiFi calling. 
• You and the person you’re calling will need to download the app and create an account. 
• It’s usually only possible to call cell phones. 

These points DO NOT apply to Yolla. 

Getting Started with Yolla for Cheap International Calls 

Yolla offers an affordable way to make international calls to Africa. Here’s how:

1. Download and Install Yolla: Get the Yolla app via the App Store or Google Play Store. Install it and create an account.
   
   
   • 
   • 
2. Add Credits: Purchase Yolla credits. Simply search for the country you want to call to view our low calling rates.
3. Dial the Number: Open Yolla, type the country name to select the country code, enter the area code (if applicable), and the local number.
4. Make the Call: Yolla connects your call via the internet for clear and affordable communication.

Example: To call a cell phone in Accra (Ghana) from Australia using Yolla, open Yolla, search Ghana, and type the local number.

Popular International Exit Codes and When to Use Them

When making an international call using traditional methods, you must first enter the international exit code (international access code). This code tells your phone carrier that you’re dialing a number outside your country. 

Here’s a list of standard international exit codes for several countries. Remember, these codes are unnecessary when using modern VoIP applications like Yolla, which streamline the process for you.

Don’t worry! This code is not needed when using Yolla. 

Country	International Access Code
USA	011
UK	00
Australia	0011
Germany	00
Canada	011

Africa Country Codes

After dialing the international access code of the country you’re calling from, you need to enter the country code for the specific African country you wish to call. Each country has a unique code that helps direct your call to the correct national telephone network dialing code to dial before the local number.

Below is a list of African countries and their country codes, organized by region. 

Northern Africa

Country Name	Country Code
Algeria	+213
Egypt	+20
Libya	+218
Mauritania	+222
Morocco	+212
Sudan	+249
Tunisia	+216

Western Africa 

Country Name	Country Code
Benin	+229
Burkina Faso	+226
Cape Verde	+238
Ivory Coast	+225
Gambia	+220
Ghana	+233
Guinea	+224
Guinea-Bissau	+245
Liberia	+231
Mali	+223
Niger	+227
Nigeria	+234
Senegal	+221
Sierra Leone	+232
Togo	+228

Central/Middle Africa

Country Name	Code
Angola	+244
Cameroon	+237
Central African Republic	+236
Chad	+235
Republic of the Congo	+242
Democratic Republic of the Congo	+243
Equatorial Guinea	+240
Gabon	+241
São Tomé and Príncipe	+239

Eastern Africa

Country Name	Code
Burundi	+257
Comoros	+269
Djibouti	+253
Eritrea	+291
Ethiopia	+251
Kenya	+254
Madagascar	+261
Malawi	+265
Mozambique	+258
Rwanda	+250
Seychelles	+248
Somalia	+252
South Sudan	+211
Tanzania	+255
Uganda	+256
Zambia	+260
Zimbabwe	+263

Southern/Sub-Saharan Africa

Country Name	Code
Botswana	+267
Swaziland	+268
Lesotho	+266
Mauritius	+ 230
Namibia	+264
South Africa	+27

Important Information Regarding Area Codes in Africa

It's important to note that area codes within African countries do not follow a uniform system like those in other regions. While some countries, such as South Africa, use area codes for specific cities or regions (e.g., Cape Town’s area code is 021), many African countries do not use area codes in the same way.

Calling from abroad can seem complicated and expensive. To make the process feel easier for you, we recently wrote a comprehensive guide to international calling. 

African International Calling Methods: Mobile and Landline Calls Comparison Table 

Method	Calling a Landline in Africa	Calling a Mobile Phone in Africa (With Internet Connection)	Calling a Mobile Phone in Africa (Without Internet Connection)
Method 1	Traditional Calling Method (Expensive)	Traditional Calling Method (Expensive)	Traditional Calling Method (Expensive)
Method 2	Direct Dialing with Yolla (Cost-effective)	Make a Yolla Call That Uses Internet Connection (Affordable)	Make a Yolla Call That Connects via Local Network (Affordable)
Method 3	Yolla Promotions: Special Offers for Bonus Credits (Highly Affordable)	Yolla Promotions: Special Offers for Bonus Credits (Highly Affordable)	Yolla Promotions: Special Offers for Bonus Credits (Highly Affordable)
Method 4	Refer Friends to Yolla (Free)	Caller and Recipient Both Download Yolla for Free Calls	Refer Friends to Yolla (Free)

How to Call Africa for Free: Tips and Tricks for Staying Connected with Yolla 

Yep, that’s right: Yolla offers free calls to Africa through its free credits feature. Here’s how it works:

1. Download and Install Yolla: Get the Yolla app from the App Store or Google Play Store, install it, and create an account.
   
   
   • 
   • 
2. Invite Friends: Earn $3 in free credits when your friends join and purchase credits.
3. Make Free Calls: Use your free credits to call mobiles and landlines worldwide, including Africa.
4. Repeat: Keep inviting friends to earn free credits.

Yolla Promotions: Follow Yolla on Facebook and Instagram for free and bonus credit opportunities.

Calling Cell Phones and Landline Phones in Africa

When it comes to calling Africa, understanding the differences between calling mobile phones and landline phones is important. Each type of call can vary in cost, method, and technology used. 

The Differences

Calling Mobile Phones

• Cost: Generally more expensive due to higher tariffs charged by cell phone operators.
• Technology: Can be made from either a mobile or landline using the traditional calling method, using VoIP calls like Yolla, or via cell phone apps.
• Flexibility: Mobile phones can be reached anywhere (most places), making them more versatile for contacting individuals who are on the go. 

Calling Landline Phones

• Cost: Often cheaper than calling mobile phones.
• Technology: Calls can be made using the traditional method or via Yolla. Calling via apps (most often) cannot be used to call landline phones if they require both the caller and recipient to install the app.
• Stability: Landline calls usually benefit from more stable connections but are limited to fixed locations. 

Calling Africa from the USA, UK, Canada, and Australia: Methods Overview and Comparison*

When making international calls to Africa, it’s worth considering the costs and features available to you. Let’s explore the possibilities of calling Africa from the USA, UK, Canada, and Australia. 

We’ll also overview Yolla, which offers affordable rates for calling both landlines and cell phones in Africa. 

*Rates recorded at time of article creation, subject to change. 

Calling Africa from the USA

Traditional Telecom Providers: 

• AT&T:  Charges $3/minute for pay-as-you-go calls to South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya, and Egypt, and $5/minute to Ethiopia.
• Verizon: Current pay-per-minute rates are $2.49/minute for Algeria, Angola, Botswana, Cameroon, and the Ivory Coast (Côte d'Ivoire) for both mobiles and landlines.

Dialing Africa from a Canadian Mobile

Traditional Telecom Providers: 

• Bell: Charges $3/minute to call the Democratic Republic of the Congo on a pay-as-you-go rate. Libya, Mozambique, Senegal, and Uganda are $2.50/minute to cell phones and landlines.
• Rogers: Standard rates for calls to mobiles and landlines are $2.75/minute for Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, and the Central African Republic, and $3.30/minute to call Burundi. 

Calling a Mobile or Landline in Africa from the UK

Traditional Telecom Providers: 

• Vodafone: Offers international calls to Chad, Somalia, Sierra Leone, or Tunisia for £3 ($3.80)/minute. 
• EE: Standard rates on a pay monthly plan for calls to Rwanda, Niger, Sudan, Zambia, or the Seychelles (mobiles and landlines) are currently £4.21 ($5.34)/minute. 

International Calling from Australia to Mobiles and Landlines in Australia 

Traditional Telecom Providers: 

• Vodafone Australia: Offers international calls to cell phones and landlines in Africa. Pay-as-you-go prices are A$1.50/minute for calls to Djibouti or Liberia, A$2.50/minute for Equatorial Guinea or Gambia, and A$1/minute for Eritrea.

Operator Features

In the USA, UK, Canada, and Australia, contracts are generally less expensive if you plan to use the traditional calling method frequently to call Africa. 

However, they can still be expensive and do not always include free calls to Africa. 

USA: T-Mobile’s most popular plans range from $50-$100/month, not necessarily including free calls to Africa. 

Canada: Monthly plans with add-ons like Telus’ International Long-Distance saver ($7.99 + standard contract [e.g., $35-100/month]) offer discounts on international calls. 

UK: Plans range from £15 to over £100/month, with add-ons for around £15/month for international calls. 

Australia: Vodafone's SIM only plan for A$50/month, including some international minutes, but the handset (mobile phone) is sold separately.

Why Yolla is the Best Solution for International Calls to Africa

Tired of high rates from traditional telecom providers? Try Yolla! Get affordable and reliable calls at a fraction of the cost. Oh, and by the way, Yolla to Yolla calls are free. 

Our Amazing Rates* (Examples): 

South Africa: Call landlines from just $0.09/min and mobiles from $0.173/min.

Kenya: Reach landlines at $0.21/min and cell phones from $0.182/min.

Nigeria: Talk to landlines for only $0.15/min and mobiles from $0.123/min.

Tunisia: Landlines start at $0.86/min and mobiles at $0.8/min.

Rwanda: Connect to landlines for $0.31/min and mobiles from $0.283/min.

Somalia: Call landlines from $0.3/min and cell phones from $0.285/min.

Senegal: Landlines are just $0.23/min and cell phones from $0.215/min.

*Rates recorded at time of article creation, subject to change. 

Yolla Features:

Keep Your Number: People you call will know it’s you. Important when connecting with friends, family, and important contacts in Africa. 

Call Mobiles and Landlines: Whether you need to reach a cell phone in Kenya or a landline in Nigeria, Yolla’s got you covered. 

Multiple Numbers: Manage multiple numbers via the app, ideal for sharing one account or splitting work and personal use.

Friends and Family Top-ups: Quickly and easily top up any mobile number in 148 countries, or add credits to your friends’ Yolla accounts, ensuring they stay connected too. 

HD Call Quality: Yolla uses the best parts of both VoIP technology and traditional calling methods to give you stable and clear international calls. 

Send SMS: Yolla Allows you to send international SMS for just $0.15 per message. Stay connected with whoever from wherever, always. 

Stay Connected with Africa

Yolla makes international calls to Africa easy and affordable. With low rates, clear connections, and free, unlimited Yolla-to-Yolla online calls, you can stay in touch without spending a lot. 

Download Yolla and start saving today! 

• 
•