Wondering how to change your location to South Africa with a VPN? It couldn’t be easier! This article is a guide that will explain exactly how you can update your virtual location to Johannesburg or Cape Town, with a VPN.
Not all VPNs offer servers in South African locations and the African continent is often ignored by VPN services. Fortunately, we’ve found the best VPNs that offer real South African IP addresses, making it extremely easy to bypass geo-blocks in the country.
Here is everything you need to know about getting a South African IP with a VPN in our ultimate guide.
By changing your virtual location to South Africa, you’ll be able to unblock Netflix South Africa, eVOD, Showmax, and SABC 1. Not only this, you can access your South African Absa bank account from anywhere in the world by using a VPN to get a South African IP.
The first thing to do is get a VPN subscription, with a service that operates servers in South Africa. All of the servers on our list below do.
After signing up, you need to set up the VPN app on your devices. Download the relevant app or client for your device and agree to the software agreements to complete the installation.
Once the VPN app is on your device, sign in with your account username and password.
When you have signed in, navigate to the locations tab. Scroll through the list of servers until you come to South Africa. Depending on your VPN service, you may be able to choose a city you connect to. Hit connect on the South African server of your choice and wait for the connection to establish.
When the VPN is active you should have a South African IP address and be able to unblock local South African websites from the US and elsewhere.
If you want a South African IP address to bypass geo-restrictions or simply desire more security and privacy online, use a VPN from our list below.
| Simultaneous connections / Users: | 6 |
|---|---|
| OS support: | Amazon Fire TV, Android, Android TV, Apple TV, Boxee Box, Chromecast, ChromeOS, FireOS, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Roku, Windows |
| Streaming: | Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, YouSee, DR TV, Disney+, Plex, Kodi, NBC, ESPN, BBC iPlayer, TV Player, HBO Go, HBO Max, Apple TV |
| Browser Extentions: | Firefox, Safari, Chrome |
Pros:
Fast connection
Zero-log policy
More than 5000 worldwide servers
Cons:
Few payment options
Split tunneling unavaible
6 Devices Maximum
Capabilities:
Unlimited Bandwidth
Kill Switch
Split Tunneling
Zero Data Logging
Free Version / Trial
Mobile App
Browser Extention
Netflix Approved
Firestick Compatible
NordVPN is one of the most popular providers and is an excellent choice if you require a VPN in South Africa. It has 50 servers in Johannesburg meaning you can get a real South African IP address and change your location anywhere.
All of NordVPN’s South African servers come with P2P support, meaning you can torrent with a South African IP. This is good news for South African users who want fast download speeds on torrent platforms; they don’t need to connect to a distant server to get a private VPN connection.
NordVPN offers an extensive range of security features to protect your browsing activity. There is military-grade encryption on all South African servers and the option to use the NordLynx, OpenVPN, and IKEv2 protocols.
The provider is based in Panama, a country that is free from strict data retention regulations. NordVPN has an excellent zero-logs policy, meaning that no user browsing information is stored. Nor does the provider sell customer information to third parties. This is great news for South African users who want privacy online but still want to keep their IP addresses in South Africa.
NordVPN boasts excellent speeds so that you can watch your favorite South African television shows and movies in high definition. It is great at accessing geo-restricted streaming sites, enabling you to watch Netflix South Africa and local content on SABC 1 and SABC 2.
NordVPN’s clients are extremely user-friendly. The VPN app features a VPN Pause feature that allows you to stop using the VPN for a short period of time without actually disconnecting. The app also offers the option to select Quick Connect for an automatic connection to the best available server in terms of speed and location.
Users have access to 6 simultaneous connections per plan and can use the VPN on most major operating systems, including Android, Windows, macOS, and iOS. There are also browser add-ons available for Chrome as well as Firefox with specialized browser encryption.
| Simultaneous connections / Users: | Unlimited |
|---|---|
| OS support: | Amazon Fire TV, Android, Android TV, ChromeOS, iOS, Linux, macOS, Windows |
| Streaming: | |
| Browser Extentions: |
Pros:
Unlimited simultaneous connections
Unblocks streaming services
Based in privacy-friendly country
Cons:
No phone support
No 12 month plan
Few payment methods
Capabilities:
Unlimited Bandwidth
Kill Switch
Split Tunneling
Zero Data Logging
Free Version / Trial
Mobile App
Browser Extention
Netflix Approved
Firestick Compatible
If you are looking to get a South African IP address, Surfshark is a great choice. The VPN offers multiple server locations in South Africa to provide you with a real South African IP address so you can access geo-blocked streaming services.
Speeds are fast with Surfshark; users can send their traffic over the WireGuard, OpenVPN, Shadowsocks, or IKEv2 protocols. This makes Surfshark a great choice for streaming, combined with the fact that Surfshark can unblock 15 Netflix libraries, including Netflix South Africa.
Surfshark offers unlimited simultaneous connections on all of its subscription plans allowing you to change your virtual location to South Africa on all of your devices.
Despite its affordable price, Surfshark provides first-rate features, ensuring complete security and privacy whenever you connect to the internet in South Africa. The VPN operates on AES-256 bit encryption to protect your private data and browsing history.
Surfshark also features the important addition of a kill switch to ensure your real location is never disclosed. Moreover, Surfshark operates on completely volatile RAM memory, which is safer than hard-drive storage. Should Surfshark’s server network become compromised, the data is easily wiped by shutting down the VPN servers; no one will ever know you used the VPN to get a South African IP address.
There is also a Camouflage mode, which allows users to mask their use of a VPN. This is available on South African servers and ensures you can get past all geo-restrictions if you are based in the US or Europe. South African websites will not detect that you are using a South African VPN IP.
| Simultaneous connections / Users: | 5 |
|---|---|
| OS support: | Android, ChromeOS, iOS, Linux, macOS, Windows |
| Streaming: | |
| Browser Extentions: |
Pros:
No log policy
Unlimited bandwith
Free version available
Cons:
No dedicated IPs
Limited features on free plan
Very few payment methods
Capabilities:
Unlimited Bandwidth
Kill Switch
Split Tunneling
Zero Data Logging
Free Version / Trial
Mobile App
Browser Extention
Netflix Approved
Firestick Compatible
ProtonVPN is another great VPN for use in South Africa. The provider offers more than 4 South African locations as part of its extensive server network. With ProtonVPN, you can change your location to South Africa and unblock all the best sites in the country. ProtonVPN is also one of the best VPN services when it comes to user privacy and anonymity.
The provider boasts Secure Core technology which protects your connection in South Africa from network-based attacks by re-routing your data traffic through multiple servers before it exits the network. This ensures even a sophisticated cyber-criminal cannot view your actual IP address or location. The Secure Core servers are located in protected data centers in Switzerland, Sweden, and Iceland.
ProtonVPN operates on first-rate encryption to protect your internet activity. This ensures all of your data traffic is encrypted with 256-bit AES encryption and 4096 bit RSA. The VPN also utilizes secure protocols, including IKEv2/IPSec and OpenVPN, to ensure you are always protected when connected to the internet in South Africa.
It is important to choose a trustworthy VPN for South Africa, and you can rest assured that ProtonVPN will protect your personal information when connected to the internet in South Africa. ProtonVPN has a transparent no-logging policy and will never store, misuse, or sell private user information.
There is also complete DNS leak protection to secure your DNS queries when browsing in South Africa. The VPN re-routes your DNS queries through its encrypted server tunnel, protecting you from data leaks. This means South African websites won’t see your real IP address and block you.
ProtonVPN’s clients are also easy to use, even for beginner VPN users. The clear and simple interface allows private browsing in a single click. There is also the option to create custom VPN profiles, which will automatically secure your device when you connect to the internet.
A single subscription on the Plus plan enables protection for up to 10 devices. You can enjoy the benefits of a South African IP address on all of your devices for no extra cost.
There are many benefits of a South African VPN. First of all, with a South African VPN, you can get a real South African IP address and bypass geo-restrictions. This means users in the US, Europe, and Asia can change their IP addresses and access local news sites and streaming channels to stay up to date with news in the country. Likewise, if you’re based in South Africa and want to access content in Europe and the US, you can with a VPN by changing your IP address to one from a country of your choice.
A further benefit of using a VPN for South Africa is more privacy online. Nowadays, almost all of our internet activity is tracked, by our ISP (Internet Service Provider), the South African government, website trackers, and cybercriminals. You can use a VPN to change your location to South Africa and hide your real IP whilst protecting your privacy and anonymity online.
With a VPN, you can easily watch South African TV and catch up on your favorite shows like Generations: The Legacy. The first thing to do is open your VPN app, and adjust your tunneling protocol. We recommend choosing one like WireGuard for a good streaming experience.
Then, you need to connect to a VPN server in South Africa. After you have done so, you should be able to visit the South African streaming website of your choice and enjoy unlimited access.
Most Netflix catalogs are similar around the world, but there are some small differences. For example, some content is limited to certain countries, meaning you won’t find it in the US library; this is the case with Netflix South Africa.
Fortunately, with a VPN, you can unblock Netflix South Africa and watch all of the geo-restricted content that is only available to users with a South African IP address.
Using a VPN is legal in South Africa and will enable you to access the internet through a completely private internet experience. If you choose a VPN provider that has a strict no-logs policy, you can rest assured that your private browsing information will never be misused or sold to third parties.
Remember, a VPN does not cancel out illegal actions. We advise you always follow local internet laws, even when using a VPN as no service is 100% effective and you could be linked to any online crimes you commit.
Yes, you can absolutely use a free VPN to get a South African IP address. However, not all free VPNs offer free server locations in South Africa, so the choice is rather limited. Two of the best free VPNs for changing your location to South Africa are Tuxler VPN and Hola VPN.
Tuxler and Hola are community-powered VPNs, meaning you send your data via a South African user’s device to get a real IP. However, this guarantees that you’ll always be able to overcome geo-blocks since the IP is real.
Unfortunately, the downside to P2P-powered VPN services is that there are many security risks. Other users have access to your IP address to do whatever they want online, and there aren’t high standards of encryption. Overall, we recommend sticking to premium VPNs if you want to change your location to South Africa.
Hi, I'm Cliff. I'm based in Cleveland, Ohio, with my wife and two kids.
I have a keen interest in cybersecurity and have been writing about it for around a decade now. Due to my background in computer science, I am familiar ...
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