Removals to South Africa | Simpsons International Removals

The Move

South Africa is a route we know well, from Cape Town to Johannesburg.

Whether you are moving for work, retirement or a fresh start, we have been shipping British households to South Africa for years. Our destination partners handle the local delivery, so the standard of care you see at your door in the UK carries through to the other end.

Sea freight is the natural choice for a household move, and air freight covers anything you would rather have sooner.

Popular destinations we ship to

Cape TownJohannesburgDurban PretoriaPort ElizabethStellenbosch

Typical Transit Times

Sole-use container4–5 weeks

Shared (groupage) container5–7 weeks

Air freight1–2 weeks

Times shown are to port. Please allow additional time for South African customs clearance on arrival. We recommend booking 2 to 4 months ahead of your move date.

Your options

Choose the right way to ship

Every move to South Africa is different, so we shape the service around yours.

Sea · Sole-use

Your own 20ft or 40ft container

Your belongings travel alone, packed and sealed at your door and not opened again until they reach you. The fastest and most secure sea option.

Best for: full household moves

Sea · Shared

Groupage / part-load container

Your goods share container space with other shipments heading to South Africa, splitting the cost between several moves. Slightly longer transit, but excellent value.

Best for: smaller moves, flexible budgets

Air Freight

Fast-track for essentials

Air freight suits the things you need soon after you land, such as documents, clothing and everyday items. It arrives in a fraction of the time.

Best for: essentials & smaller shipments

Excess Baggage

A few boxes or suitcases

Not moving a whole household? Our excess baggage service is a simple, affordable way to send personal items and smaller consignments overseas.

Best for: light movers & students

Good to know

South African customs rewards good paperwork

Household goods entering South Africa clear through SARS customs. With the right documents in place well before your move date, used personal effects generally enter without becoming a hold-up.

Proof of residency

A valid immigration permit or long-term visa supports duty-free entry of your household goods.

Rebate on used effects

Personal and household effects that have genuinely been used usually qualify for a full duty rebate.

Restricted items

Firearms, ammunition, and certain plant or animal products cannot travel in a household shipment.

Inventory & documentation

A clear, itemised inventory keeps inspection quick. We prepare it with you before your goods sail.

★★★★★

Our things arrived in Cape Town in great shape and well within the window we were given. The local team were just as careful and professional as the crew who packed us in the UK.

Illustrative example · UK to Cape Town, South Africa

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Moving you anywhere in the world

Door-to-door across the Continent

Everything your move needs

International Removals to South Africa