If you've never visited South Africa before, any thoughts of doing so might focus on the safari experience of a lifetime. If, on the other hand, you have, and you were lucky enough to sip a 'sundowner' cocktail on the sand whilst watching the sun sink into the sea, chances are you won't be thinking of lions, giraffes or elephants, but emigration. If not the evening cocktail then maybe it was the iconic Table Mountain – once seen, never forgotten – that will get you thinking of a new life in South Africa? Or perhaps it was the Cape Dutch towns with their old oaks and ornate gables, or the vine-braided winelands, or springtime's floral fireworks, or whales breaching a few metres offshore… and this is just the Western Cape!

With such sights, sounds and tastes on offer, it's no surprise that the Western Cape is the popular choice for Brits who migrate to the southern tip of Africa – whether as permanent residents or 'swallows' who fly south every year at the first signs of Britain's winter. Although property prices in Cape Town – the traditional favourite – are now high and mighty, the dream of a spacious house in a large garden with a big pool and a wide ocean view is still well within reach in many parts of the Western Cape for us property profitable Brits, even for those with comparatively small budgets.

Head further east along the coast – to the Eastern Cape or subtropical KwaZulu-Natal – and the ocean, which is of the warmer Indian variety, is no less fringed with beautiful beaches, but the temperature goes up and property prices go down. Those looking for vibrant city life should also explore Johannesburg, Port Elizabeth and Durban – each with their own unique attractions and backdrops.

With so much to see and do, from epic natural vistas to a colourful kaleidoscope of African cultures, it's easy to understand why many Brits grab their pot of gold and retire to the Rainbow Nation. In fact, of the big five long-haul destinations featured in emigrate, South Africa is one of only two countries to offer a visa specifically for retirees.

Another popular route is to set up a business – a property agency, a bar, a restaurant – but you'll need a sizeable investment to be given the green light. Some even work their way into South Africa, but with high unemployment and low wages, this is a road less travelled. However, those that do follow it find the richness of the lifestyle more than compensates for the paucity of the pay. This, undeniably, is a country of both rich and poor, a country slowly but surely transforming its ever-smiling outlook, infectious energy and boundless potential into a bright future. And for the many Brits who fly south every year, their lives are much brighter in spectacular South Africa.

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