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The Most Popular South African Cities to Move to
South Africa is one of the most popular countries to move to, with recent figures estimating that there are more than 200,000 UK expats living here – and almost one in five of these are drawing a UK pension.
For anyone thinking of moving home to South Africa, we at Hamiltons Removals have compiled this list of the cities which are most attractive to expats.
Durban
This is the best South African city to move to, according to the internationally-respected Mercers Quality of Life survey. This ranks places according to their environment, facilities and services, crime and political stability. High-quality shopping and housing saw it placed above its rivals.
There are plenty of other reasons to consider removals to Durban. This east coast city is a great place to soak up the sun – even in winter, the temperature is usually around the 24C mark. There are plenty of Blue Flag beaches if you fancy a swim, and the overall cost of living is among the lowest in the country.
Cape Town
South Africa’s oldest city is also one of the most popular to move to. In 2017, Lonely Planet named it as one of the top 10 cities in the world. The so-called ‘Mother City’ on the country’s south-western coast also enjoys hot summers and mild winters, which means it’s a very outdoorsy sort of place. Hiking, running and surfing are among the most popular ways to keep fit, while rugby, cricket and football are the biggest spectator sports.
Table Mountain towers over the city, offering some spectacular views, but if you are thinking about removals to Cape Town, accommodation is likely to be expensive, particularly in the more picturesque areas. Cape Town, though, does have one of the safest city centres in South Africa, which is reflected in its thriving nightclub scene, and an impressive list of arts festivals.
Johannesburg
Most people consider removals to Johannesburg for economic reasons. Joburg, as it is commonly known, is one of the bedrocks of the South African economy. The city is the centre of the country’s mining industry, and it also has a thriving financial services sector. Joburg is more affordable than many of the other South African cities, particularly when it comes to property prices.
The city offers probably the best shopping in the country, with enough high-quality malls to cater for all tastes. Nature-lovers can check out the city’s botanical gardens and its zoo. If you prefer to see animals in the wild, then the famous Lion Safari Park is just 45 minutes away. The city does have high crime rates, but the worst areas are generally those which expats are unlikely to venture into.
Port Elizabeth
Nicknamed ‘The Friendly City’, Port Elizabeth is well known for its welcoming attitude to newcomers. It’s also referred to as ‘The Windy City’ because of its frequent south-easterly breezes, but as it also gets an average of 300 days of sunshine a year, this isn’t too much of an issue. It’s also a great place for families to move to. The Boardwalk seaside entertainment complex has shops, a cinema and an amphitheatre, plus a spa.
If your children like animals, they should be able to spot dolphins and whales swimming in the sea off Algoa Bay, while the famous Addo Elephant National Park is within easy reach. The park is home to 400 Cape buffaloes, and almost 50 endangered black rhinos, as well as more than 600 elephants.
Moving Home to South Africa with Hamiltons Removals
Hamiltons Removals are the people to call if you are moving home to South Africa. We can send your items via our dedicated service, where you have exclusive use of a 20ft or 40ft container. You could also choose our groupage option, where your possessions are carefully packed alongside other smaller loads. And if you have any small items which need to arrive urgently, we can send them via air freight.
We can also arrange moves to many other international destinations, including Australia, New Zealand, Canada, America, the UAE and Dubai. Our European removals department can help with commercial and domestic removals to all destinations on the continent, including France, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands. You can get in touch either by following the link above, or by talking to our friendly, experienced staff on 01379 855203.
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