Cricket World Cup 2027: South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia travel guide

The ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2027 runs from 2 October to 21 November 2027 across South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia, with 14 teams playing 57 matches at 12 venues. Fans travelling between host cities need a data plan that works on arrival, and a Slashtel eSIM for each host country keeps maps, tickets and messages working while the home SIM stays in the phone for calls and bank codes.

Cricket World Cup 2027 dates, host cities and venues

The tournament runs from 2 October to 21 November 2027, with 14 teams playing 57 matches at 12 venues in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia. The final is at Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg on 21 November 2027, with 22 November as a reserve day.

Host cities and venues as listed for the event:

• South Africa: Johannesburg, Tshwane (formerly Pretoria), Cape Town, Durban, Gqeberha (formerly Port Elizabeth), Bloemfontein, Paarl and KuGompo City (formerly East London).
• Zimbabwe: Harare, Bulawayo and Victoria Falls.
• Namibia: Windhoek.

Matches to plan around:

• Namibia Cricket Ground in Windhoek hosts three Super Series matches on 2, 4 and 6 October 2027, plus three group games.
• India play Australia at Newlands Cricket Ground in Cape Town on 7 October 2027 in the opening match of the main draw.
• India play Pakistan in Johannesburg on 10 October 2027.
• Zimbabwe play India on 24 October 2027 at the new Mosi-oa-Tunya Stadium in Victoria Falls, the first World Cup match there.
• Zimbabwe hosts 10 matches in total: two in Bulawayo, four in Harare and four in Victoria Falls.
• The first semi-final is in Cape Town on 17 November 2027 and the second is in Tshwane (Centurion) on 18 November 2027, both with a reserve day.

Tickets are allocated through a free ballot at tickets.cricketworldcup.com, closing at 23:59 SAST on 21 November 2026. It is not first come, first served. Check the official site for any schedule changes.

Visas and entry for visiting fans

Entry rules depend on your nationality, so check the official government sites before booking. British visitors can stay in South Africa for up to 90 days without a visa, usually get a 30-day visa on arrival in Zimbabwe, and since 1 April 2025 need a visa for Namibia, available on arrival or as an e-visa.

What the published guidance says for British passport holders:

• South Africa: no visa for stays up to 90 days. The passport must be valid for at least 30 days after leaving and have at least 2 blank pages.
• Zimbabwe: a 30-day visa is usually issued on arrival, or you can apply in advance for an e-visa at evisa.gov.zw. The passport needs 6 months validity and 3 blank pages.
• Namibia: a visa is required, available on arrival or as an e-visa.
• KAZA Univisa: valid for 30 days for travel between Zimbabwe and Zambia plus day trips into Botswana, issued at Harare, Bulawayo and Victoria Falls airports.

Fans from India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Australia should confirm their own requirements with the relevant high commission or the official event site. Nothing here decides eligibility for any nationality.

Getting there: airports and arrival

Most fans fly into O.R. Tambo International (JNB) for Johannesburg and Tshwane, with direct connections to the coastal and Zimbabwean host cities. Windhoek is served by Hosea Kutako International (WDH), about 45 km east of the city.

Airports by host city:

• Johannesburg and Tshwane: O.R. Tambo International (JNB).
• Cape Town and Paarl: Cape Town International (CPT).
• Durban: King Shaka International (DUR).
• Gqeberha: Chief Dawid Stuurman International (PLZ).
• Bloemfontein: Bram Fischer International (BFN).
• KuGompo City: King Phalo Airport (ELS).
• Harare: Robert Gabriel Mugabe International (HRE).
• Bulawayo: Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo International (BUQ).
• Victoria Falls: Victoria Falls International (VFA).
• Windhoek: Hosea Kutako International (WDH).

On arrival, the UK government advises arranging a pickup in advance and using main roads, because criminals have followed travellers from O.R. Tambo International Airport and robbed them. In South Africa, book only through an internationally recognised e-hailing app and check the vehicle registration and driver ID before getting in.

Getting around on match days

Johannesburg and Tshwane are linked by the Gautrain, Cape Town has the MyCiTi bus network, and elsewhere e-hailing and arranged transfers are the practical options. Allow extra time on match days and keep a charged power bank for tickets and maps.

Key transport points:

• Gautrain stations: Centurion, Hatfield, Marlboro, Midrand, OR Tambo, Park, Pretoria, Rhodesfield, Rosebank and Sandton. The OR Tambo station is integrated with the airport's Central Terminal Building, and South African Tourism says the trip from OR Tambo International to Sandton takes 12 to 15 minutes.
• MyCiTi in Cape Town: each passenger needs their own myconnect card, tapped on at the start and end of each journey. The MyCiTi airport service to Cape Town International is temporarily suspended, so plan another way to and from the airport.
• E-hailing: use an internationally recognised app and verify the car and driver before getting in.
• Power: power cuts in South Africa have fallen significantly but can still affect mobile networks and ATMs, so carry a power bank and torch.

For travel between host cities, check the official event site and local operators for schedules.

Where to stay in each host city

Pick an area with transport links rather than chasing a specific address. Rosebank and Sandton in Johannesburg have Gautrain stations, Cape Town's City Bowl and V&A Waterfront put you near the centre, and Durban's Golden Mile and Umhlanga cover beachfront stays.

Areas named by tourism bodies:

• Cape Town: V&A Waterfront, City Bowl, Sea Point, Green Point, Camps Bay and Clifton.
• Johannesburg: Sandton, Rosebank, Melville and Maboneng. Rosebank and Sandton have Gautrain stations, which helps for matches in Johannesburg and Tshwane.
• Durban: beachfront accommodation along the Golden Mile, and Umhlanga about 15 minutes north of the city.

For Tshwane, Gqeberha, Bloemfontein, Paarl, KuGompo City, Harare, Bulawayo, Victoria Falls and Windhoek, the official event site and local tourism boards will confirm the areas best served by transport. Book early around the semi-finals in Cape Town and Tshwane and the final in Johannesburg.

Things to see between matches

Build rest days around the fixture list rather than the other way round. Cape Town's waterfront and beaches, Johannesburg's neighbourhoods and Durban's beachfront fill the gaps, and Victoria Falls pairs cricket with one of the region's landmark sights.

Practical notes for days off:

• In Zimbabwe it is illegal to photograph government offices, airports or military sites, so check before raising a camera.
• Physical US dollar cash is in short supply in Zimbabwe, so plan payments carefully.
• Carry a power bank and torch in South Africa in case of power cuts affecting networks and ATMs.

Specific attractions, opening hours and tour bookings are best confirmed with local tourism offices and the official event site.

Staying connected: eSIM and mobile data

A Slashtel eSIM gives you data in each host country without swapping your home SIM. It is data only, with no local number and no calls or SMS, so WhatsApp and other internet calls run over the data while your home SIM stays in the phone for calls and bank codes.

How it works:

• Buy online with an email address and a card, Apple Pay or Google Pay. The QR code arrives by email within minutes.
• Validity starts when the eSIM first connects at the destination, so you can buy and install it at home before the trip.
• The network is chosen automatically for the best signal and cannot be picked by hand.
• Hotspot and tethering are allowed.
• More data can be added to the same eSIM later, with no new QR code.
• Your phone must be unlocked and eSIM compatible. See /guides/is-my-phone-esim-compatible and /guides/install-esim-iphone-android.

Plans for the host countries:

• South Africa: 1 GB $3.19, 3 GB $6.79, 5 GB $9.79, 10 GB $16.99 or 20 GB $34.29, valid for 7, 15 or 30 days. See /esim/south-africa.
• Zimbabwe: 1 GB $5.29, 3 GB $13.39, 5 GB $20.49 or 10 GB $36.69, valid for 7, 15 or 30 days. See /destinations/zw.

South Africa's networks are Vodacom, MTN, Cell C and Telkom, and Zimbabwe's are Econet, NetOne and Telecel. Turn off data roaming on your home SIM to avoid roaming charges, and see /guides/calls-texts-otps-data-esim for keeping bank codes working. Estimate your needs with /tools/data-calculator. For Cape Town specifically, see /esim/cape-town and /guides/esim-for-south-africa-guide. Support is on WhatsApp and email.

Topping up a phone back home

If family at home need credit, or you want to keep a home line active while you travel, Slashtel sells mobile top-ups to more than 100 countries, delivered to the number in minutes. Top-ups are available for India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.

Useful links:

• India: /recharge/india and /keep-number-active/india
• Pakistan: /recharge/pakistan and /keep-number-active/pakistan
• Sri Lanka: /recharge/sri-lanka and /keep-number-active/sri-lanka
• Bangladesh: /recharge/bangladesh

This keeps a home number live for bank codes and calls while your Slashtel eSIM handles data abroad.

Safety, money and emergency numbers

Save the emergency numbers before you fly and keep some cash and a power bank with you. South Africa uses 10111 for police, 10177 for ambulance and fire, and 112 from mobiles, while Zimbabwe uses 112.

Safety and money points:

• Arrange airport pickups in advance and use main roads, following UK government advice about travellers being followed from O.R. Tambo International Airport.
• Use only internationally recognised e-hailing apps and check the vehicle registration and driver ID first.
• Power cuts can affect mobile networks and ATMs in South Africa, so carry a power bank and torch.
• In Zimbabwe, physical US dollar cash is in short supply, and photographing government offices, airports or military sites is illegal.

Check your own government's travel advice before departure and keep the official event site bookmarked for updates.

See live eSIM plans for the trip before you travel.

Sources

Event details come from the organisers and official sites below. Dates, venues and entry rules can change, so check them before you travel.

• https://www.icc-cricket.com/media-releases/icc-men-s-cricket-world-cup-2027-schedule-revealed-and-ballot-system-opens (checked 24 Oct 2026)
• https://www.icc-cricket.com/tournaments/icc-cricket-world-cup-2027/news/fixture-schedule-announced-for-icc-men-s-cricket-world-cup-2027 (checked 24 Oct 2026)
• https://www.airports.co.za/ (checked 24 Oct 2026)
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_airports_in_South_Africa (checked 24 Oct 2026)
• https://zimbabwetourism.net/airports-company-of-zimbabwe/ (checked 24 Oct 2026)
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hosea_Kutako_International_Airport (checked 24 Oct 2026)
• https://www.gautrain.co.za/commuter/stationinfo?stationName=OR%20Tambo (checked 24 Oct 2026)
• https://www.southafrica.net/gl/en/travel/article/sandton-joburg-s-financial-capital (checked 24 Oct 2026)
• https://www.myciti.org.za/en/home/ (checked 24 Oct 2026)
• https://www.myciti.org.za/en/routes-stops/airport-services/ (checked 24 Oct 2026)
• https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/south-africa/safety-and-security (checked 24 Oct 2026)
• https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/south-africa/entry-requirements (checked 24 Oct 2026)
• https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/zimbabwe/entry-requirements (checked 24 Oct 2026)
• https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/namibia/entry-requirements (checked 24 Oct 2026)
• https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/south-africa/getting-help (checked 24 Oct 2026)
• https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/zimbabwe/getting-help (checked 24 Oct 2026)
• https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/zimbabwe/safety-and-security (checked 24 Oct 2026)
• https://techpoint.africa/news/new-regulations-south-african-mobile-operators/ (checked 24 Oct 2026)
• https://cite.org.zw/?p=63040 (checked 24 Oct 2026)
• https://www.capetown.travel/the-best-areas-to-stay-in-cape-town/ (checked 24 Oct 2026)
• https://www.gauteng.net/neighbourhoods/rosebank/ (checked 24 Oct 2026)
• https://visitdurban.travel/page/accommodation (checked 24 Oct 2026)