Relocating to South Africa or for that matter is an easy process of you have someone handling things on the ground who knows whom to contact. Things that you will take for granted in your city become an almost impossible task in a foreign land. The writer has relocated on various assignments over the past fifteen years, including New York, Dhahran Saudi Arabia, Athens Greece, Gottenborg Sweden and London England. Each occasion was marked with the same problems, all relating to access to information and the effect of misinformation. Therefore, unless you are resilient and single, the writer advises you to use a Relocations Consultant least you wish to become divorced and single. Psycologists have shown that the five most stressful situations people endure in life are:

• Buying or selling a property
  
• Relocating a family
  
• Separation from a spouse.
  
• Divorce
  
• Death
  

Ignore these tips at your peril.

1. PREPARE YOUR FAMILY

1.1. Before you break the news to the family or ask the kids what they think, introduce the concept to your wife slowly, showing the benefits of the move in terms of family benefits, fulfillment of her personal goals & the benefits of your career advancement in meeting the family's goals. If you do not know what your spouses goals are you had better find out before you approach her. Dinner is good place to start, but a few weeks effort with emphasis on giving quality time together before dropping the bomb is more effective.

1.2. Involve her in the decision making process by discussing the pros and cons in detail. Don't hide the cons or you might pay later. In these discussions bear these things in mind:

1.2.1. You will be at work among colleagues that share common interests and have lots to stimulate you. In comparison your spouse will be at home battling in an unfamiliar environment, without her family and friends who are her support group. She will handle not only her own emotional adjustment, but the children's too.

1.2.2. Planning ahead of your arrival will eliminate a lot of hassles. I.e. Search www.gae-hotels/relocations.html for:

1.2.2.1. Schools
1.2.2.2. Estate Agents & Property News see www.propertyrentals.com
1.2.2.3. Sports Clubs & Associations.
1.2.2.4. Weekends away at http://www.greatafricanexperiences.com

1.2.3. There are benefits for a spouse living in South Africa. Labour is cheap by comparison to European or American Standards and it is common to have a domestic servant or two to do your cooking and house work. That will allow your spouse more quality time with the kids. Education is different from abroad. We are still on the old school system whereby children are required to participate in sports in the afternoon. You'll build strong healthy bodies as well as minds. We are an outdoor society and there are many things to do. Have a look here for more information: http://www.greatafricanexperiences.com/sportleisure-jhb.htm

1.2.4. Resist the urge to buy property even if looks too good to be true, before you have lived in the country and know the adjustment is complete and where you want to live. Choose a location that is good for your spouse and children in terms of getting them into the right schools and cutting down on time in the car fetching and carrying kids. We have a number of recommended estate agents, but let your Relocations Agent organize your diary when in South Africa. That is what they are paid to do. If you hi-jack the process you won't get the best results. Browse the Estate Agents sites through www.gae-hotels.com/rentals.html to establish what you are likely to pay in rent, access to schools and do your budget! You can get more information on this subject by going to or directory page www.greatafricanexperiences.com/livingcost.html

1.3. ONCE ALL OF THE ABOVE IS DONE & you have buy-in from your CEO (spouse), you are ready to break the news to the children.

2. GET THE KIDS IN THE MOOD

2.1. Irrespective of age, get the kids in the mood. Searching the web for information on the move is a good way to start. Watch out for moodiness especially among teenagers and give them projects to do, like planning a safari. It helps if they want to go. The writer moved school eight times during his school career and each arrival at a new school was a process of acceptance leaving old friends and making do with the new. It takes time. The younger they are the easier it is. If handled properly you'll have few problems.

2.2. As said earlier, the SA school system is great. It is however wise to choose a school that employs International standards such as the British, American or French systems. While our standards are good, these qualifications are more readily recognized abroad. You kids will love the climate and out door life. South African children are gregarious by nature. Foreigners are welcomed and considered interesting. Your child is likely to be viewed as a novelty and will have many opportunities to make friends.

2.3. Sport brings all persons together and team playing is an essential part of our society. In Europe and the US the writer has observed that families have less time together. South Africans take their kids everywhere and tend to do more with them. I believe that is the sole reason that delinquency among children is a rare occurrence. If your child is in a school that does not play sport, perhaps spend a Sunday or two playing football in the park to introduce the idea. Goto this site to what you can do around town … www.greatafricanexperiences.com/family&friends.html

3. Allow at least four weeks before departure for personal administration. NB! Unless you have a right through residence status or visa exemption, you cannot get access to South Africa without a visa. If the visa is not granted in time for your departure most airlines & operators will charge you a penalty for change or cancellation of your itinerary, so be careful to do it right first time, with or without a travel agent!

3.1. Check your visa requirements through this link www.gae-visas.com & apply for your visa.

3.2. Plan Itinerary or select a pre-planned itinerary from www.gae-travelplans.com

3.3. Select a GAE Travel Plan or:

3.3.1. Select your hotels by date and transfer.
3.3.2. Select connecting transport services.
3.3.3. Choose the dates and times of activities you would like to do by adding hotels intended events, products & services to your shopping basket on this link www.gae-accommodation.com Forward your travel plan to one of the listed travel agents listed in this directory for a quotation www.gae-travelagents.com Ask them specifically to check if the hotel has an overbooking policy and check their occupancy level. Note it is always safer to choose hotels that do not have an over bookings policy, as you may very well find yourself being shifted from pillar to post upon you arrival. The main culprits are the larger hotel chains that pass business from one hotel to another when overbooking occurs. How often does this happen you might ask? In Johannesburg about three days per week during mid week. Look here for hotels that have a "NO OVERBOOKING policy www.greatafricanexperiences.com/no-overbooking.html

4. APPLY FOR A VISA

4.1. Down load the visa form from this address www.gae-visas.com Fill it in and sign it.

4.2. Deliver it to either your travel agent (if they provide that service) or to the South African Embassy in your country of origin. Goto www.gae-visas.com to get the address and further requirements. All this can be done for you through an agent in your area. Goto www.gae-visas.com/v-agents for a visa agent in your area. In most cases you will need:

4.2.1. Two passport sized photographs.
4.2.2. Money per the published rates of the Department of Immigration click here for rates applicable.
4.2.3. A fully completed Visa Application.
4.2.4. Etc - Grant check and add if more is required.

5. CONFIRM YOUR FLIGHT HOTEL & SERVICES

5.1. Once you have your visa, confirm your flights with your flights, hotels & itineraries with your travel agents. Ask them specifically to check if the hotel has an overbooking policy and check their occupancy level.

5.2. Prepay all your expenses in advance through the Travel Agent and get them to send you written confirmation that your reservation is confirmed. Note it is always safer to choose hotels that do not have an over bookings policy, as you may very well find yourself being shifted from pillar to post upon you arrival. The main culprits are the larger hotel chains that pass business from one hotel to another when overbooking occurs. How often does this happen you might ask? In Johannesburg about three days per week during mid week.

5.3. Collect your vouchers.

5.4. Arrive at the airport at least two hours in advance of your flight departure time. I always find it relaxing to amble around the duty free shopping area. Travelers, please note that South African duty free shops are a rip-off. There is not a single item that the writer has identified in such shopping centers that cannot be found cheaper in any European and some Arab countries. My favorite shopping places are Heathrow, Bahrain, Dubai & Hong Kong. Last year (2005) I bought an Omega Sea Master for ZAR 8,400 at Heathrow. The same watch retailed at ZAR 23,000 in Johannesburg and ZAR 21,000 at the airport.

GAE IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ACCURACY OF THE INFORMATION GIVE WHETHER IT BE PROVEN WILLFUL OR NEGLIGENT. THE TRAVELLER IS ADVISED TO ALLWAYS CHECK THE INFORMATION GIVE WITH YOUR LOCAL SOUTH AFRICAN EMBASSY.