I've lived as an ex-pat in South Africa and unfortunately I wouldn't recommend it. Don't get me wrong, it's a great place to visit but the crime rate is ridicu

I've lived as an ex-pat in South Africa and unfortunately I wouldn't recommend it. Don't get me wrong, it's a great place to visit but the crime rate is ridiculous and that has many knock-on effects - for example, you have to drive nearly everywhere as people are afraid to walk places after dark. You often have to live in walled off houses/compounds with a lot of security. Drink driving is very prevalent there and vehicle accidents happen all the time because of the electricity going out/how people use intersections. There is a lot of fear amongst people but much if it is justifiable, as everyone seems to have a horror violent crime story. Eventually, the limitations caused by perceptions and realities of crime make the actual world where you live quite small (certain areas, towns, streets, etc) and we found it quite stifling (for people from Ireland). Occasionally there are hints of the old racism (often black vs black these days). Also, the culture of everyone having a maid and how the poor are treated becomes very uncomfortable (felt a bit like 12 years a slave sometimes) if your not used to it. Bureaucracy is a bit of a nightmare. Also the medium term prospects of the country because of the corruption now in the ANC don't look great TBH. Still, it's well worth a visit, especially to the national parks, Cape Town, etc. If you get a chance go to Zimbabwe - weirdly that's actually a country I would choose to live in over South Africa, as criminal (not political) crime is a lot lower and you feel much more free.