Backpacking in South Africa?

• One of the best backpacking destinations in Africa, with dedicated backpacker buses, unique hostels, variety of beach life, surf spots, nightlife and camping among the big five.
• Characteristics: diverse, adventurous, rich culture, safaris, great differences between urban and rural.   

Traveling in South Africa?

• Top destination with safari in the Kruger Park, nightlife in Cape Town, diving around Durban and particularly beautiful car routes. 
• City spotting: Cape Town, Johannesburg, Durban, Pretoria, Stellenbosch.
• Activity spotting: Safari in Kruger National Park, wine tasting in Stellenbosch, mountain climbing on Table Mountain, surfing in Durban, whale watching in Hermanus, diving with sharks in Gansbaai, bungee jumping off Bloukrans Bridge. 
• Nature spotting: the Drakensberg Mountains, the Garden Route, Blyde River Canyon, the Kruger National Park, the Cedar Mountains, the game reserves of KwaZulu-Natal, Tsitsikamma National Park and much more. Imagine vast savannahs, imposing mountains, lush forests, rugged coastlines and spectacular waterfalls. 
• Animal spotting: Spot the Big Five (lion, leopard, rhinoceros, elephant, buffalo) on safari, observe whales in Hermanus, see penguins at Boulders Beach, spot dolphins along the coast, and view rich bird life in the many national parks and nature reserves.  

Studying in South Africa?

• Education in South Africa: The South African education system is internationally recognized and has a number of highly regarded universities, such as the University of Cape Town and the University of Witwatersrand. 
• Language: the language of instruction is mainly English. 
• Studies: popular fields of study include social sciences, environmental sciences, medicine and development studies. South African universities also offer excellent programs in law, psychology, and business studies. Healthcare courses and co-ops in South Africa are also popular.
• Study cities: Cape Town, Johannesburg, Pretoria, Stellenbosch, and Durban.
• Study culture: the study culture in South Africa is often dynamic and participatory, with a strong emphasis on collaboration and practical experience. Diversity and inclusion are strongly promoted, with respect for students' diverse cultural and social backgrounds.
• Language learning: for international students, a good command of English is sufficient to study there. 

Doing an internship in South Africa?

• Internship opportunities: South Africa offers a wide range of internship opportunities, especially in sectors such as tourism, wildlife and nature research, health care, social development, engineering and renewable energy. Large companies and international organizations may also offer internships, often with a focus on innovation and hands-on experience.
• Internship cities: Cape Town, Johannesburg, Durban, Pretoria, and Stellenbosch.
• Characteristics: many options, mixed culture, dynamic economy, English, lots to do in free time, discovering local cultures and contributing to global challenges.  
• Competencies: during an internship in South Africa, you will develop skills in professional English, practical work experience while contributing to global challenges, and learn to deal with a diverse and inclusive work culture. Thus, you will also learn intercultural communication skills and networking. 

Doing volunteer work in South Africa?

• Many projects in animal care, education, social work and nature conservation. 
• Animals/Nature projects: many options such as wildlife protection, research, nature conservation, marine conservation, animal care and rehabilitation. 
• Characteristics: many options both social and nature. However, you do often pay a hefty sum unless you find something through private individuals. 

Work in South Africa?

• Jobs: for temporary work e.g. opportunities at helpdesks and in tourism. For long-term work, for example, in health care, IT, education, mining and engineering, tourism. It is important to note that unemployment is quite high in South Africa. 
• Work culture: especially in the financial sector and large corporations, the work culture is informal and hierarchical. South Africans are generally very loyal to their employer, being on time, avoiding confrontation and building trust is important. In meetings, therefore, South Africans tend to be direct and honest, any vagueness can be taken as a sign of unreliability. Furthermore, they work hard, but also like to have fun. If you are invited to social gatherings, don't turn them down and use them to build better relationships and trust with colleagues. 
• Characteristics: English, sometimes a word of Dutch, lots of unemployment, hierarchical, hard work. 

Working as a digital nomad in South Africa?

• South Africa is very popular among digital nomads because of its amenities, English language, recreational options and relatively low costs compared to similar places elsewhere in the world. 
• Favorite locations: hotspots include Durban, Cape Town, Port Elisabeth, Stellenbosch and several smaller towns in beautiful locations.
• Characteristics: large community, lots of activities, good amenities, English language, wonderful life with a good salary. 

Living in South Africa?

• A beautiful, modern country with a mix of colonial and ancient history. If you like nature you will feast your eyes and the amenities are good, but security does leave something to be desired. 
• Quality of life: South Africa offers a good standard of living with modern amenities, a well-developed infrastructure and plenty of stores and restaurants. The country is known for its beautiful nature and outdoor activities. In addition, it is one of the most unequal societies in the world and, as a result, there are considerable security challenges. The cost of living, especially in major cities such as Johannesburg and Cape Town, is also quite high. 
• Culture: South Africa has a diverse and inclusive culture with influences from various ethnic groups, including the Zulu, Xhosa, and Afrikaners, in addition to European colonial history. Respect for indigenous cultures and customs is strongly encouraged. South African culture values diversity, environmental awareness, and a relaxed lifestyle.
• Features: modern living options, excellent infrastructure and many cultural and recreational activities. English is sufficient to communicate and work, but knowledge of local languages such as Afrikaans or Zulu may be helpful. The work-life balance is not very good, and the country is not secure. Many expats invest in their own security.   
• Health care: health care in South Africa varies widely between private and public facilities. Private hospitals are generally well equipped and provide high-quality care, while public hospitals have fewer resources and can be overburdened. So arrange your own (international) health insurance well.

Stories, tips and experiences from South Africa