Are you an expat living in South Africa?

Expat Arrivals is looking for locals to contribute to this guide, and answer forum questions from others planning their move to South Africa. Please contact us if you'd like to contribute.

There’s no one-size-fits-all rule for settling into expat life in a new country, but here are a few helpful articles and personal stories that may help make your move a little easier.

These are South Africa's most in-demand skills in 2022

Sunny South Africa is a popular expat destination thanks to its relaxed culture, good work-life balance and gorgeous scenery. The coastal city of Cape Town and the concrete jungle of Johannesburg both offer fantastic lifestyles in their respective ways. As the economic centres of the country, both… Read more

Interview with Keiley – a British expat living in South Africa

Keiley is a British expat and a mother of two. She is happily married and living in the Northern Suburbs of Cape Town. She has recently started a blog, Brit in the Burbs, to share her experience with other expats thinking of making the move. She can also be found on Instagram (@britintheburbs).… Read more

Interview with Ryan – an American expat living in South Africa

Ryan grew up in San Diego, California and later lived in the Silicon Valley Bay Area for 15 years before moving to Johannesburg in 2016 with his South African wife, Quinne. He’s a micro brewer and loves living in sunny South Africa. They have two young girls, and they enjoy travelling around South… Read more

South Africans can see the world on a remote work visa

Ever thought of trading Joburg for Lisbon or Madrid? Tempted by Mexico’s golden beaches and azure waters? Remote visas are tempting more and more South Africans to dust off their suitcases, renew their passports and explore the delights of foreign shores. If the last two years have shown… Read more

Interview with Shantalie – A British expat living in Cape Town

Shantalie is originally from the UK. She moved to Cape Town in 2010 after falling in love and then grew to love the city too. After living here for almost a decade, this British expat, has enjoyed and experienced all that Cape Town has to offer. Read more about expat life in Cape Town in our Expat… Read more

Colleges and universities in South Africa

South Africa has numerous colleges and universities for international and local students alike to choose from. Tuition at the country's best tertiary institutions offers good value compared to American or European establishments, and the quality of education is generally very high. Expat… Read more

Interview with Phil – a Canadian expat living in Pretoria

Phil has been many things. A university English instructor, a picker-upper of dead bodies, a musician, and a sales guy. His work brought him and his family from Vancouver, Canada to Pretoria, South Africa in September 2016, and he's still wondering how that happened. Phil started Maple and Marula… Read more

Interview with Hannah – a Brit living in Johannesburg

Hannah is a UK expat living in Johannesburg. Inspired by her experiences, she became the founder of Translating Me, and the Identity Project, an online personal branding course that helps expats to reinvent their careers and personal ambitions since moving abroad. New expats to Joburg or those… Read more

Interview with Clara – a Brit living in South Africa

Cuban-born Clara is a well-versed expat. Having visited and lived in an enviable amount of countries, her insight into expat life is accessible and practical. She has delved into the notion of the trailing spouse on her blog, and in turn successfully published a book on the topic. Read about her… Read more

Interview with Namrata – an Indian expat living in South Africa

Namrata is an Indian expat living in Johannesburg, South Africa. She quit her job with an asset management firm and followed her husband to the Rainbow Nation, deciding to pursue the life of a trailing spouse. When not travelling or exploring new areas of Johannesburg, she blogs about her… Read more

Interview with Sine – expat advice on life in South Africa

Sine Thieme is an American expat who moved to Johannesburg, South Africa with her family in 2010. She is loving life in South Africa, particularly relishing the ideal climate of the Joburg highveld and the friendly locals. Sine writes the entertaining blog Joburg… Read more

Interview with Yun Zhang – On Making Space: from Beijing to Cape Town

Chinese expat Yun Zhang is stretching out into the seemingly endless space that so many Cape Town locals take for granted. Read on for a rare glimpse into the mind's eye of an Asian woman gone African. For more information about expat life in Cape Town visit the Expat Arrivals… Read more

Interview with Tom – a British expat in Cape Town

Tom Pitman lived in Cape Town for six years from 2002, and although now back in London he visits regularly on business trips and misses the quality of life, lifestyle, people and scenery of the city. For more information about expat life in Cape Town, visit the Expat Arrivals city guide… Read more

Interview with Annabelle – a British expat in Cape Town

Annabelle Dare moved with her boyfriend, James, to Cape Town in 2003, planning to stay for a year or two. Now married with two children, Belles and her family are having such an amazing time that they have no plans to return to London. Don't tell her mum, though.… Read more

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