Moving back to South Africa can be just as stressful as moving away from it. The country is evolving everyday and therefore it can feel almost like a different country when you go back if you are not careful. There are still ongoing safety issues, you might need to revise the rules of the road and you will need to get used to using the Rand again. So take some of our simple advice and your experience back in South Africa will be a pleasant one!

South Africa like any other African country suffers from a bit of violence, however if you follow a few safety tips, you will have a holiday to remember for all the right reasons!!

• Be aware of roadside sellers and beggars.
• When in a car put valuables under the seat (Do not have them on show).
• Stay within the areas designated.
• Make sure car doors are locked and rooms are locked when leaving the house.

If these precautions are followed you can be sure that your holiday can be safe and enjoyable. However most of the crime that takes place in South Africa is between people who know each other and random acts of violence are only a minority of cases.

If you intend on driving in South Africa, you have to be familiar with the driving laws over there and precautions that should be considered…

• Like Great Britain it is compulsory to wear a seatbelt and this is strictly enforced by the law. Failure to do so will result in a fine.
• Drink Driving is a serious offence. Perpetrators will be prosecuted! The alcohol allowance in the blood is 0.05%. This translates as 1 and a half glasses of wine for a man and 1 glass of wine for a woman.
• South Africa boasts of their excellent road conditions. However there are usually significant distances between the towns. To ensure a safe journey it is a good idea to plan an itinerary so that you are not driving long distances. Tiredness kills.
• Avoid driving at night as this carries more risks of fatigue and dangers to your safety.
• Stray animals in rural and remote areas can be a problem as the roads aren’t fenced. This can result in an accident at night as street and road lighting there are minimal.

The Rand is constantly changing its value and therefore to stay on track before moving back you must make sure that you take note of the exchange rates so that you will be comfortable knowing where you stand with payments. If you keep this up you will be thinking in South African terms and stop converting the money!

I hope that you’re life in South Africa will be a prosperous and enjoyable one!