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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.
The Most Popular Places to Retire to in the UK
Around one in five people in the UK is now over the age of 65 – and many will be looking for somewhere new to live after retirement. Norfolk removal company Hamiltons Removals has many years of experience in helping people move to all parts of the UK. Here we look at five of the most popular parts of the country for people to retire to.
Sussex
Both east and west Sussex ranked highly in a recent survey by insurer Prudential into the best counties to retire to. Many people are attracted by the seaside resorts such as Eastbourne (above) and Brighton, while the life expectancy and quality of life are good too. In west Sussex, men and women can typically expect to live for another 12 years without suffering any form of disability, one of the highest figures in the whole of the UK.
Norfolk
Hamiltons’ home county is also a popular destination. Low crime levels, good weather and a large community of senior citizens make it an attractive place to live after leaving work. Average property prices are also comparatively low compared to some of the other locations. Among the retirement hotspots are the coastal resorts of Wells-next-the-Sea and Cromer, above.
Dorset
This south-western county has proved a big draw for retired people because of its natural beauty. The so-called Broadchurch effect, named after the ITV drama series which was filmed in the county, has attracted many people to this picturesque part of the world. The mild climate is another contributory factor in its popularity. Bournemouth and Christchurch, a coastal market town where around three out of 10 residents are aged over 65, are among the most popular destinations.
Oxfordshire
Moving to Oxfordshire is still popular with the over-65s, even though it is one of the more expensive parts of the UK – the average home costs more than £350,000. However, residents here enjoy a healthy, active lifestyle. South Oxfordshire has topped a recent Halifax survey as the best non-urban place to live in the whole of the UK, with picture-postcard villages and the Chiltern Hills among its top attractions.
Moving House with Hamiltons Removals
Norfolk removal company Hamiltons can help you relocate to any part of the UK, wherever you want to retire to. We move people to and from all cities, towns and villages, in counties including Oxfordshire, Devon, Dorset, Norfolk and Sussex.
We provide a competitively-priced, high-quality service for all our customers, and can pack all your items for you. All your possessions will be carefully handled, and fragile items individually wrapped, and everything will be put in clearly labelled cartons. If you would like to know more about our removals service, follow this link or call us on 01379 855203.