Immigrating to South Africa, you will have to decide where to live in South Africa. Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban are South Africa’s business centres and most likely where you’ll end up should you be part of the working population.
Living in South Africa
Living in South Africa, you will surely be exposed to some serious diversity. South Africa lies at the southern end of the world’s most epic continent, Africa. It is bordered to the north by Botswana and Zimbabwe, to the northeast by Mozambique and Swaziland and to the northwest by Namibia. On the east coastline lies the Indian Ocean, the Southern coastline the confluence of the Indian and Atlantic Oceans, and Atlantic Ocean on the western side. South Africa completely surrounds Lesotho.
Every country in the world displays some diversity and characteristic unique to it, but South Africa, stretching from the hippos in the Limpopo River to the penguins waddling on the pristine beaches of Simons Town, 11 official languages, an average of around 300 days of sunshine year round and a normal temperature of 20 degrees Celsius, takes some beating. Deciding where to life can be a bit of a challenge but read on and sponge up some guidance from a local.
South Africa is one of the most beautiful and diverse countries in the world. Visitors can experience the vast expanse of the Kalahari Desert or rejoice in the springtime splendour of the Namawkaland, view the teeming wildlife of the famous Kruger National Park or stand on the iconic slopes of Table Mountain or the windswept tip of Cape Point. In the East lie Lesotho and the towering Drakensberg mountains of Kwa-Zulu Natal. Visit this province’s iSimangaliso Wetland Park for a look at biodiversity in action: the park contains an impressive five different ecosystems.
If you’re interested other “kinds of wildlife”, why not hit the nightclubs on Cape Town’s jumping Long Street, visit Egoli “place of Gold” or sample African homebrew in a township shebeen? When it’s time to reflect on it all, do it over seafood on the Garden Route, curry in Durban’s Indian Area, a sizzling Cape Malay dish, or a braai (barbecue) in the wilderness – accompanied by a bottle of pinotage produced by the oldest wine industry outside Europe.
Once you move to South Africa you will soon realise it is a country in transition. It is a county where the First and Third Worlds collide. On the one hand you will experience glamorous shopping malls, restaurants and stylish beach promenades lined with palm trees on the other hand street children and suburban ghettos.
South Africa is called the Rainbow Nation, and with good reason! The people of South Africa are equally diverse and have a reputation for being friendly and welcoming to visitors. Inquisitive Khayelitsha kids will greet you saying ‘molo’ (Xhosa for ‘hello’), humorous farmers in the north will helpfully advise you to drive carefully on those dirt roads.
So without further ado welcome to our Rainbow Nation – South Africa. To all German, Dutch, French, Spanish speakers, we welcome you with open arms and hearts and the warmest, widest of smiles, excited to invite you to our shores, homes and braais. If you have not yet surmised it we are by far one of the most diverse, enchanting countries in the world you will ever have the good fortune and opportunity of experiencing when working, living and studying in South Africa.
We at Initiate Immigration have put together this short introductory guide to living, working and studying in South Africa for foreigners. This guide offers practical information and insights on essential areas including South African immigration, regulations and paperwork, security, housing, finding work, education, health. It provides advice on what to expect to find financially, socially and culturally.
Should you have any further questions with regard to living in South Africa, feel free to contact one of our experienced immigration consultants at Initiate Immigration.