Covering an area of over 1.2m square kilometres, South Africa is situated on the southern tip of Africa and is bordered by Zimbabwe, Swaziland, Namibia, Botswana and Mozambique. As well as its world famous nature reserves, South Africa also boasts many great cities – Cape Town, Durban, Johannesburg and Pretoria being the biggest.

South Africa has a population of nearly 57 million people. It is a country rich in cultures, languages, religions and nationalities. As a result, South Africa is an exceptionally cosmopolitan country and people from all over the world have chosen to make it their new home. The high standard of living and associated low costs attract many expats looking to make their money go further than it does in most western countries. Another of South Africa’s most attractive features is its climate. The Atlantic and Indian Oceans surround South Africa to the east, south and west so expatriates moving to South Africa can expect a warm, temperate climate in most regions. This is especially the case around the Cape area and western parts of the country where expats would be forgiven for thinking they had relocated to the Mediterranean!

If you are a UK citizen you are able to visit South Africa for up to 90 days without a visa. However, if you intend to remain in the country longer you will have to apply for a visa. Further information on visas visit the South African Department of Home Affairs website. Schooling is mandatory in South Africa from the ages of 7 to 15. There are many outstanding state schools throughout South Africa as well as an abundance of excellent international schools that are mainly located in the cities. For more information on education as well as health, taxation and driving licences visit the official South African government website.