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In recent years, working from home has exploded in popularity. The trend, which can be partly attributed to the Covid-19 pandemic, means more people than ever are able to complete their duties 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 growing in popularity, and no continent has been left untouched by digital nomad activity.
But where do all these digital nomads go?
According to new researchSouth 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 among digital nomads, attracting just 1,082 travelers.
Cape Town has more than twice the activity of digital nomads 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 accommodation.
There is a vibrant entrepreneurial and co-working spirit in South Africa that is particularly attractive to digital nomads who do not like to work alone.
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And while South Africa has 11 official languages, English is the most widely spoken language in South African business settings.
This makes it easier for foreign expatriates to communicate and integrate into the country’s digital nomad community.
It also makes it easy to navigate a new country, making South Africa a great choice for digital nomads who are new to the travel lifestyle.
Easy access
South Africa joined the digital nomad revolution by announcing plans to introduce a new visa program that will make remote work in the country easy and accessible.
This visa will allow digital nomads to stay in South Africa for up to one year.
While this scheme has not yet come into effect, in the meantime, getting a business visa to work as a digital nomad in South Africa is relatively straightforward.
This visa is granted to people 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
A digital nomad excited about life in South Africa said he could 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 an apartment or shared house for around $270-$530 per month, depending on size and location.
If you prefer to stay in a hostel, shared dormitories can be found for as little as $15 a night.
Eating out in South Africa is also incredibly affordable, and food standards here are high. A decent meal at a good restaurant will only run you between $6.60 and $13.20 per person.
If you won’t be eating out, you can expect your grocery bill to be very low, between $46 and $80 per person per month.
There are plenty of cafes in Cape Town that offer free Wi-Fi to attract remote workers, and if you’re looking for something a little more upscale, there are also a number of coworking hubs in the city.
This means that finding a place to work here is also affordable.
a beautiful country
Finally, perhaps the most obvious reason why South Africa is so popular with digital nomads is that it is such a beautiful country.
You’ll find plenty of cultural attractions to explore, including museums and galleries, as well as natural attractions like parks, forests, and beaches.
Because Cape Town attracts visitors and expats from all over the world, it is a vibrant and multicultural city.
South Africa has 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 crowding levels are much lower than in Western Europe.
Many digital nomads choose South Africa specifically for its excellent navigation.
If you’re looking for great boating options in your downtime, then there’s no better place to be. You can experience amazing surf breaks like Seal Point in Cape Francis Bay at the end of your work day.
traveler alert: Don’t forget travel insurance for your next trip!
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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
