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Shipping to South Africa
Are you looking for removals to South Africa? The country offers adventurous expats breath-taking natural scenery and an abundance of outdoor pursuits, including surf, safari and mountain trails.
If you are emigrating to South Africa, you are not alone. A recent survey estimates that some 212,000 Brits now call this diverse and cosmopolitan country home.
Once you have sorted out working visas and secured somewhere to live you will need to work out the logistics of transporting your household belongings to your new home.
GoodMove are a professional international removals company with over 35 years transporting families all over the UK and the world. We will ensure your personal effects are arrive safely and securely at your destination via our ‘door to door’ service.
We treat your possessions with the utmost care and respect. As member of the British Association of Removers we endeavour to go the extra mile to ensure a seamless international relocation experience.
To find out more about how we can get your dream move to South African underway don’t hesitate to give us a call today. Alternatively, fill out a quick quote form and a member of our team will be in touch shortly.
Why Choose Us for Removals to South Africa?
Moving with GoodMove couldn’t be simpler. Our experienced and friendly team will be on hand to guide you throughout the process and will tailor your move to your time and budget.
We pack your belongings using a bespoke range of packing materials and deliver them right to your new home using our extensive fleet of vehicles. We can supply the following materials so all your items are packed properly and avoid any damage in transit:
- Boxes
- Packing Paper
- Packing Cases
- Book Cartons
- Packing Tape
- Wine dividers
- Acid free paper (for silverware)
- Portable Wardrobes
- Bubble Wrap
Once we ascertain the volume of effects we will send you a free no obligation written quotation. If satisfied we will then provide you with a full schedule detailing every aspect of your move, ensuring everything runs smoothly on the day.
Why Move to South Africa
South Africa or ‘Mzansi’ as it is affectionately known in Afrikaans, is a country on the southernmost tip of the African continent.
The warm climate and diverse natural settings rank highly among the most favoured aspects of relocating to South Africa. Stunning backdrops such as Table Mountain in Cape Town are the norm here and many enjoy the luxury of surfing, cycling or simply relaxing on the beach with friends.
There are a several inviting aspects about moving to South Africa, besides the natural scenery. The Rand (the national currency) goes a long way on the current exchange rate for one. As a result, many expats enjoy a very high standard of living and access good quality housing and private education. You can even live in South Africa and draw your state pension!
South Africa is a melting pot of cultures as reflects in its people, cuisine, places of worship and languages (of which there are officially 11!). Despite this, most people will speak some level of English and business is often conducted in English also.
South Africans are fun-loving, laid back friendly people and welcome newcomers warmly. Sunday Braai (a barbeque) is a much treasured tradition that you will soon encounter. As such, few report difficulties acclimatising to life here.
Its worth noting that the country has had its fair share of political instability in the past. Cosmopolitan cities such as Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban pose few difficulties for expats and are safe, clean and accommodating.
South Africa is one of those unique places that you have to truly live to believe. If you’re looking for a more exotic outdoors lifestyle with friendly neighbours and good job opportunities, it might be time to fly south for winter.
Working in South Africa
You will need to secure a job offer with a company in South Africa or a work transfer with an existing employer move to South Africa.
As such those interested in moving to South Africa to work are advised to start their search as soon as possible.
Once offered a position in South Africa, you can apply for a work-seeker’s permit. This will allow you to visit South Africa and attend an interview or assess further offers.
There are three main work permit categories:
- The General Work visa — this is the most common type, which covers the majority of work applications.
- The Critical Skills visa — aimed at workers in professions that South Africa deems to be critical.
- The Intra-Company Transfer visa — this allows a foreign worker to reside in South Africa and work for the local branch of their employer abroad.
South Africa has an affirmative action policy in place, which reserves job opportunirites for minorities and local people. As such this can make it difficult for foreigners to find jobs, but not impossible.
The requirement for skilled employees in some areas means South Africa actively sources external candidates where there is a shortage of experienced professionals in the country with that skill set. The South African Consulate regularly updates the Critical Skills List.
Property Prices in South Africa
South Africa’s property market offers a range of homes to suit all budgets. Like most major destinations, space is scare and comes at a premium in the major towns and cities.
It is possible to find luxury homes on large plots of land and low cost apartments in suburban locations. Beachfront properties are also very popular and don’t stay on the market for long.
Homes in South Africa offer plenty of space and often come with a swimming pool. The current exchange rate between the Rand and Sterling is also favourable which makes the prospect of buying a house easier.
If you intend to purchase a property, you can expect to pay approximately 14,532 R (£780) per square metre in the city centre and 10,667 R (£572) towards the outskirts.
It is a good idea to rent before you buy in order to give yourself time to assess where you want to life. You will find rents are much cheaper than those of the UK.
You can expect to pay an average of 12,920 R (£693) per month for a 3-bedroom family home in the city. On the outskirts this price drops to 10,695 R (£574) for a similar sized home.
Education in South Africa
The South African education system consists of three types of schools: independent schools, government schools and governing body-funded public schools.
Government schools are controlled by provincial education departments and standards vary widely. Private education is far more expensive than public education but offers exceptional standards. These schools are attended mostly by children from middle- and high-income families.
Although South Africa offers plenty of choice when it comes to schooling, many expat parents, particularly those only staying short-term, send their children to an international school. This allows them to receive an education in the curriculum of their home country.
There are also several reputable universities in South Africa. The best among these are the University of Cape Town, the University of the Witwatersrand and the University of Stellenbosch, which all perform highly in international rankings.
Travel in South Africa
South Africa has modern and well-developed transport infrastructure and many people choose to use the bus and taxi services.
Rail transport in South Africa is an important element of the country’s transport infrastructure. All major cities are connected by rail, and South Africa’s railway system is the most highly developed in Africa.
However, the system is not as developed, reliable or as safe as its European counterparts. As such, many South Africans choose to drive.
You do not need to apply for a South African driving license. However, if the licence is not printed in English, then you will need to obtain an International Drivers Licence.
South Africans drive on the left-hand side of the road. All signposts appear in English and travel distances and speed limits displayed in kilometres. As is the case in the UK, the law requires a seat belt be worn at all times and use of a mobile phone is strictly prohibited.
More information on traffic laws in South Africa is available here.
Healthcare in South Africa
Those looking to move to South Africa should be aware that public health provision is very limited and of a low quality.
As a result, the majority of South Africans have private health insurance known as Medical Aid. Cover ranges from basic hospital plans through to comprehensive screening cover.
All will include certain chronic medication. However, limitations for pre-existing conditions apply so make sure you’re aware of all the details of your particular package.
If you’re uninsured or under-insured, you could be faced with some high medical bills and so it is imperative you take out sufficient cover. It is difficult to be general with the costs, but as a guide, prices range from R1,000 (£60) to R2,000 (£120) per month for a family of four.
Local Currency
South Africa’s unit of currency is the Rand (ZAR).
All major credit cards can be used in South Africa, and Visa and MasterCard accepted most widely. In addition to this, there are plenty of ATM’s located outside banks and in most shopping malls.
Shipping My Effects to South Africa
The whole moving experience can be incredibly stressful, especially so when relocating abroad.
Goodmove has 35 years’ experience handling international moves and can help make the process a lot less burdensome. We can arrange a free no obligation home survey and quotation to be carried out by one of our qualified surveyors. They will be able to answer any of the questions and concerns you may have and offer advice where necessary.
The purpose of the survey is to determine the volume of effects you will be shipping. The cost of shipment is based on the space your effects will take up in the container. Following the visit, you will receive a written quotation.
Export Packing for Removals to South Africa from UK
Your possessions are treated with respect and care throughout your door-to-door service. Our experienced teams located across the UK will pack and prepare your valuable, fragile and bulky furniture ready for export.
We use a modern range of environmentally friendly, purpose-made packing materials and can pack everything for you prior to your move. China and glassware is wrapped in special paper and packed in double-thickness cartons to ensure its protection during transit.
GoodMove packs items requiring specialist care, such as antiques, in made-to-measure wooden crates. Furniture can be wrapped in bubble blanket for extra protection.
Upon arrival at your residence in South Africa, our trusted agents will place boxes and furniture in appropriate rooms as directed. They will unpack your belongings onto flat surfaces and dispose of all packing materials.
Storage Provision
You may find you need to store some or all of your possessions for a period of time prior to moving abroad.
Goodmove has storage facilities at all of its branch depots across the UK. Our depots offer secure containerised storage in personal dedicated storage containers.
All our warehouses are clean, dry, secure and accredited to European standard BS EN 14873. Just speak to our surveyor for further information.
Our partners in South Africa can also offer you storage. You may be renting for a while and may not need all of your effects to be delivered immediately.
If so, you can arrange for certain items to be delivered and once settled in your new home, the rest can follow. Please note that storage rates may apply.
Contacting GoodMove
For further information on our removals service to South Africa, or any other international destination, contact our international office on the number listed above.
Alternatively, complete the form below with your details and we will contact you.
Why Choose Us?
Worldwide Coverage
Our experienced team of removals specialists have been relocating customers all over the world since 1984.
100% Satisfaction
With a reputation for outstanding customer service, there's no better choice of removals firm for your next move.
Here For You
Our friendly support team are always on hand to offer help and guidance, whenever when you need it.