Ready to get gone for real? The Guide's expert advice comes from Stefanie de Saude Darbani, the top immigration and citizenship attorney in South Africa. 

Give a listen to Cape Talk in Cape Town and its sister station Radio 702 in Johannesburg for talk radio that serves as the place for water-cooler conversation in these communities.  The Daily Maverick is a must-read for political and cultural perspective. The SABC, the public broadcaster, also provides a window into South African society online. Also, have a listen to Back to the Water, an award-winning podcast that explores the special connection South Africans have with the ocean. 

Private healthcare in South Africa is first-rate and affordable. There's private insurance like the USA before it became a nightmare. Discovery, one of the biggest providers is a good place to start shopping. It offers a wide array of plans plus supplemental coverage.

From grade school to grad school, South Africa has excellent educational opportunities. Public, private and international schools for K-12 provide a positive environment for "learners" (what they call students here). Top private institutions cost a fraction of like schools in the USA. University of Cape Town is the best on the continent, and peer to great American institutions. The difference? It's affordable. 

South Africa is LGBTQIA+ affirming, since the constitution prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation. Cape Town enjoys a global reputation for this, and will host WorldPride in 2028. On the Web, Mamba Online is the go-to connection. Gender Dynamix is on the front lines advancing transgender human rights. 

South Africa is a land of destiny. Catch the spirit in this rendition of the national anthem by the  Ndlovu Youth Choir. Also, anything from Zolani Mahola is essential listening. She has long been the voice of hope for the nation.