4 areas to look at as an expat moving to south africa
South Africa has come a long way since the dark days of Apartheid. They have hosted the football and cricket world cup, elected their first ever black president in the revered Nelson Mandela. Now a full and participating nation which has opened itself up to the rest of the world. Let’s take a closer look at the country known as the ‘rainbow nation’
ClimateSouth Africa has a number of different weather patterns. In the North West where the Kalahari Desert is located it is mostly desert or land with little or no precipitation. In the summer it can get as high as 34 Degrees and the winter averages out around 16 Degrees. Days our hot and dry and nights can be a little chilly. When you head to Cape Town on the west Coast you find hot summers and rainy winters. One interesting fact about Cape town is that it is the city has one of the highest amount of sunlight hours in the world with an average of 2993 in a year!
Cost Of livingAccording to Expatisan the cost of renting an 85sqm furnished property in an expensive area will set you back around £808 per month, in a normal area you would expect to pay in the region of £507 p.c.m. A family of four would on average have monthly outgoings of just over £2,000 per month. The most expensive cities to live in are Potgietersrus, followed by Middleburg Mpumalanga, Pretoria, Carletonville and Johannesburg. (A notable mention to Cape Town which comes in at number 8 on the price index) Private health insurance is strongly recommended for expats, although there is a public health system it is perennially underfunded and understaffed. Typical insurance policies vary from £100-£200 per month depending on the level of cover and whether it is for an individual or family.
SceneryOne of the major draws to South Africa is the stunning natural wildlife. There are various game reserves – Kruger National Park ranks amongst the largest and most popular. It is based in the North East of the country and boasts a wide spectrum of animals including the ‘Big 5’ Lions, Buffalos, Leopards, Rhinos, elephants, for Ideas on accommodation take a look at the Kruger Park Website. In the South of the country the stunning Table Mountain range sits imposingly overlooking the city of Cape town. The peak stands of over 1km high and is popular tourist attraction with a cable car taking you to the top with the additional option of hiking. The Cape of Good Hope is also worth a notable mention. Located on one of the Southernmost tips of Africa and is in the vicinity of where the Atlantic and Indian Oceans meet.
CultureAs mentioned, South Africa really is a melting pot of different cultures, a main reason the country is nicknamed ‘The rainbow nation’ The country has over 12 recognised languages and immigrants from the UK, Europe, Asia and Africa. Outdoor living is a way of live and the ‘Braai’ which can be loosely coined as a BBQ is an essential part of South African life. It would be amiss not to mention personal security in South Africa. Burglary rates are relatively high and recently HSBC ranked it as one of the worst for this type of crime. Living in a gated community, particularly in area such as Johannesburg can help offset these issues. Apart from that living in South Africa is an expat dream. Sports again play a big role with the revered Springboks Rugby team having elevated status followed by Cricket and football.
If you are thinking of relocating to South Africa, then finding the right company to transit your precious belongings is an important call of consideration. 1st Move international, who are a member of the British International Freight Association and the British Association of Removers, can offer you a premier service with their unique packing systems and over 20 years’ experience in International removals.