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In recent years, working from home has exploded in popularity. The trend, which can be in part attributed to the Covid-19 pandemic, means that more people than ever are able to complete their roles remotely.
And if you can work from home, why not make the world your home? You can then use this as an opportunity to work remotely while traveling.
This digital nomad phenomenon is only growing in popularity, with no continent left untouched by digital nomad activity.
But where are all these digital nomads going?
According to new research, South Africa is the most popular country in Africa for digital nomads, attracting 20,402 digital nomads using #digitalnomad on Instagram.
By contrast, Botswana was the least popular country in Africa with digital nomads, attracting just 1,082 travelers.
Cape Town has more than twice the amount of digital nomad activity on Instagram than any other African city.
Here’s why South Africa is so popular with digital nomads:
A Thriving Community
A thriving community means that when you arrive in the country, it should be relatively easy to meet like-minded people to socialize, collaborate, or even share accommodations with.
There’s a vibrant co-working and entrepreneurial spirit in South Africa that is particularly attractive to digital nomads that don’t like to work alone.
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And while South Africa has 11 official languages, English is the language that is most widely spoken in South African business environments.
This makes it easy for foreign ex-pats to communicate and integrate themselves into the digital nomad community in the country.
It also makes it easier to navigate a new country, making South Africa a great choice for digital nomads that are new to the traveling lifestyle.
Easily Accessible
South Africa joined the digital nomad revolution by announcing its plans to introduce a new visa program that will make remote working in the country easy and accessible.
This visa will allow digital nomads to stay in South Africa for up to a year.
While this scheme still hasn’t come into force yet, in the interim, securing a business visa to work as a digital nomad in South Africa is relatively straightforward.
This visa is granted to individuals who want to work or create a business in South Africa. You will need to apply for this before you travel, and processing time currently takes around four weeks.
Affordable
One digital nomad enthusing about life in South Africa said that they were able to live a 5-star lifestyle on a 3-star budget.
Property prices in Cape Town are the highest in the country, so you can expect to spend more here than anywhere else. But you can still rent a room in a shared apartment or house for around $270-$530 per month, depending on size and location.
If you prefer to stay in a hostel, then shared dorm rooms can be found for as little as $15 per night.
Eating out in South Africa is also incredibly affordable, and food standards here are high. A decent meal in a nice restaurant will only set you back between $6.60 and $13.20 per person.
If you’re not eating out, you can expect your grocery bill to be very low, between $46-80 per person per month.
There are many cafes in Cape Town that offer free WiFi to attract remote workers, and if you’re looking for something a little more upmarket, there are also an abundance of coworking hubs in the city.
This means that finding somewhere to work here is affordable too.
A Beautiful Country
Finally, perhaps the most obvious reason why South Africa is so popular with digital nomads is that it’s such a beautiful country.
You’ll find an abundance of cultural attractions to explore, including museums and galleries, as well as natural attractions such as parks, forests, and beaches.
Because Cape Town attracts visitors and expats from around the world, it is a vibrant and multicultural city.
South Africa boasts a Mediterranean climate, which means that it is hot and dry during the summer months.
This makes it a great place to live and work during the summer months when the weather is just as good, but the crowd levels are much lower than in Western Europe.
Many digital nomads choose South Africa specifically for its excellent surfing.
If you’re looking for excellent surfing options in your downtime, then there is nowhere better to be. You can experience incredible surf spots such as Seal Point at Cape Francis Bay at the end of your working day.
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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
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