Set your sights on south africa
The 2010 Soccer World Cup has kicked off a new wave of interest in South Africa and the host country is expecting international relocators, previously put off by high crime rates and concerns over the country's political stability, to think again - TheMoveChannel investigates Durban in the Kwa-Zulu Natal (KZN) region on the North Coast...
One of the few places where you find First World comforts and infrastructure, and Third World prices, post-apartheid South Africa is focusing on sustaining economic growth, and whilst remaining some of the lowest in the world, average house prices have trebled since 1998.
Whilst the country is obviously not immune to the global credit crisis, the stunning scenery, kind climate, and the strength of the Pound against the Rand, have already enticed many British ex-pats, and, although crime does remain a problem, especially in downtown Johannesburg, the rate is falling, and life for one of the world's largest sugar cane providers is starting to look sweet.
Durban, in the Kwa-Zulu Natal (KZN) region on the North Coast, is a tourist's paradise, with wide sandy beaches, Drakensburg Mountains and nearby game reserves. It is the hub of the province's business and industry, and one of the fastest growing urban areas in the world.
Home to the busiest port in the country, Durban also has an abundance of luxury hotels on the beachfront, which have lent it the title of South Africa's Miami Beach. Blessed with balmy weather all year round, Durban has a good public transport network, and the new International Airport has made direct flights from the UK to Durban a reality. The lack of jetlag is a big pull for Brits, as South Africa is only two hours ahead of the UK.
Durban's beaches stretch in a long line from Addington Beach to Country Club Beach, and boast soft, golden sand, palm trees and the warm waters of the Indian Ocean. The Bay of Plenty is especially popular amongst surfers.
All of the main beaches have shark nets and lifeguards, but if seclusion is what you crave, there are many remote beaches along the Coast, which are not patrolled. A ride in a cable car offers a birds-eye view of the beachfront and the pools, fountains and lawns of the Amphitheatre Gardens.
Umgeni River Bird Park is a gorgeous riverside bird sanctuary with three walk-through aviaries containing an eclectic mix of indigenous and exotic rainbow coloured birds, and Snake Park, with its venom-milking demonstrations, is inhabited by both South African and exotic snakes.
For a stunning scenic drive, the romantically named Valley of 1000 Hills is densely forested and dotted with Gorges, streams and villages. After working up an appetite, head to Grey Street, Durban's Indian district, which is heaving with restaurants, and home to Juma Musjid Mosque, the largest mosque in the Southern hemisphere.
Land values have exploded in KZN in the past decade; in 2006 alone, average property prices increased by 19.8 per cent, but the area remains one of the unexplored jewels in the South African property crown.
In the fashionable residential suburbs, such as Morningside or Berea, a 4-bed house with a pool, within the sound of the surf, can be snapped up for £60,000. Moving south, a new one-bedroom apartment at the waters edge costs as little as £10,000.
One of the main draws of South Africa is the abundance of wildlife. Phinda Private Game Reserve is situated in the lush Maputaland region in northern KZN.
Bounded by Swaziland and Zululand in the west and Mozambique to the north, Maputaland is one of the most unspoilt areas of the province, and home to many of the wonders of the African bush.
The 43,200 acre Phinda Reserve has seven distinct habitats, upon which roam Africa's Big Five; the lion, leopard, elephant, black and white rhino, Buffalo, and over 380 bird species. Guests are taken out in open top trucks with rangers and Zulu trackers, to see the animals in their natural habitat.
Whilst South Africa will likely never be without its share of social and economic issues, it is riding high on a wave of optimism about the future. You can still snap up a lot of house for your money, and the laid back lifestyle and stunning scenery and wildlife will continue to entice more and more relocators.
Crime does unfortunately remain a big issue, and this should not be taken lightly. If you choose to live in a city such as Johannesburg, you may have to accept life with electronic gates and guard dogs as par for the course. Cape Town and Durban both have so much to offer, and waiting until after 2010, when Footie fans invade and see the potential, could well be an own goal.
Picture of Durban's coastline by Frames-of-Mind