Shipping to South Africa – Living in Durban

If you are organising international removals, such as shipping to South Africa, it is important to choose a reputable company you can trust. Greens have 40 years' experience in overseas removals and house and office moves to all parts of South Africa including Durban, Cape Town, Pretoria, and Johannesburg.

South Africa is a beautiful destination and has attracted more than 200,000 UK expats – including around 40,000 retirees – who have made it their home. What is appealing is the stunning scenery and beaches, the outdoor lifestyle, adventure, and of course the relatively low cost of living compared to the UK.

At Greens Removals we understand the concerns and apprehension of moving house, and even more so moving to a another continent. However, our removals team are experienced in shipping to South Africa and home and office moves to international destinations and we make it all run smoothly for you. Our domestic and commercial removals are entirely tailored to your requirements and whether you require packing and unpacking at your destination, storage, insurance or the shipment of specialist goods, our experience makes moving abroad easier. Click on the link below to find out more about shipping from the UK to South Africa.

Shipping to South Africa – Click here to find out more about competitively priced overseas home or office removals.

Read on to find out what you can expect if you are moving to and from the UK to Durban, South Africa.

Moving to Durban, South Africa: About Durban

Durban attracts expats who want to live in a coastal city with miles of sandy beaches, a relaxed vibe, year round warm weather, and better work life balance with outdoor activities such as hiking and surfing. A range of jobs are available for expats including posts in call centres, recruitment agencies, technology, logistics, manufacturing, marketing and security organisations. In most cases it is easy to get to and from work as Durban's central business district is surrounded by suburbs.

The city is the largest by size in the country and third largest in terms of population; however, it has a comparatively low population density of about 3.5 million occupants of the wider metropolitan area, which includes the surrounding towns. It is famous for having the busiest port on the continent, which makes it a hub of manufacturing, and it is also a centre of tourism. Durban draws as many as 8 million visitors a year from home and abroad who are attracted to the Golden Mile beaches which run more or less from South Beach to the Suncoast Casino and Entertainment World – also a tourist attraction.

Living in Durban, South Africa

If you are moving to Durban, one of the greatest things about living here is the laid back lifestyle. In Durban the city's working hours are said to be less than in other parts of the country, which of course means more time for the beach! If you love surfing, this is the place to be – and, of course, the beach is also a great place to head for to enjoy a picnic or barbecue. If you like long walks with spectacular views, why not head to the Drakensberg Mountains? Thabana Ntlenyana is the country's highest point.

Another big attraction in Durban, apart from the lifestyle, is the comparatively low cost of living. Renting a one bedroom apartment with ocean views in the central business district can set you back less than £300 a month which frees up cash to spend on other things such as shopping and dining out. There are plenty of shopping centres including the Gateway Theatre which also has a rock climbing wall, cinema complex and skatepark, the upmarket La Lucia Mall, Musgrave Centre and the popular Pavilion Centre. If you prefer street markets, you can pick up some unusual handmade gifts or stock up on exotic spices in the city's Indian District.

For those who are moving to Durban with children, the city has a wide range of independent schools. There are good schools in the northern areas around Umhlanga, and Crawford in the upmarket La Lucia is another popular choice. Eden College, Glenwood, a private school for pupils of pre-primary to sixth form level has a reputation for achieving excellent results and NS Durban Girls' College on the Berea accommodates children from ages 4 to sixth form including boarders.

Out and About in Durban

For public transport in Durban, you can get about by metered taxi (you have to call for the taxi in advance), by minibus taxi (which picks up and drops off several people at a time), or by bus, although the buses tend to be fairly unreliable. If you commute to work by bus, you can save cash by buying a weekly coupon, which will give you about a third off the price. However, most expats travel by car.

If you are going further afield, the King Shaka International Airport, 40 km north of Durban is the city's airport offering domestic and international travel.

For domestic and commercial shipping to and from Africa and the UK, or shipping to Durban contact Greens Removals – or click here for a removals quote to South Africa.