Moving to South Africa from Senegal
What to Expect
Considering a move from Senegal to South Africa? Here's how the two countries compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Senegal to South Africa, and you’d need to navigate life in Afrikaans, English, Northern Sotho, Southern Ndebele, Southern Sotho, Swazi, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa and Zulu. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left.
Get free moving quotes to South Africa
We've teamed up with a vetted network of international movers to help MyLifeElsewhere readers plan their move with confidence. Tell us about your move and get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes in under 2 minutes.
- ✅ Up to 5 quotes from screened movers
- ✅ Licensed and insured providers only
- ✅ 100% free — you choose who contacts you
Who Else Is Making This Move?
What the data shows about people moving from Senegal to South Africa.
Who's moving to South Africa?
Top countries of origin for South Africa's foreign-born residents.
- 690,243
- 350,463
- 192,008
- 94,119
- 67,382
- 63,892
- · · ·
-
50.3,325
Senegal
Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in South Africa compared to Senegal.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
Senegal performs better than South Africa across all safety metrics.
How's the healthcare?
annual government + private spending per person
affects wait times and access to care
WHO index from 0–100 measuring essential service access
per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support
Senegal generally does better on health & wellbeing, though South Africa leads in doctors per 10,000 people.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
Senegal generally does better on environment, though South Africa leads in air pollution deaths.
Will I have good infrastructure?
fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work
higher means greater strain on freshwater supply
annual consumption — reflects grid capacity
South Africa generally does better on infrastructure, though Senegal leads in water stress level.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
the highest marginal rate on personal income
Senegal generally does better on employment & economy, though South Africa leads in gdp per capita.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better
government spending on education as % of GDP
percentage of adults who can read and write
South Africa generally does better on family life, though Senegal leads in life expectancy.
Data: Direction Generale des Impots et des Domaines, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Dakar | Pretoria |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 77°/64°F (25°/18°C) | 83°/64°F (28°/18°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 79°/70°F (26°/21°C) | 72°/48°F (22°/9°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 86°/77°F (30°/25°C) | 72°/47°F (22°/8°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 85°/73°F (29°/23°C) | 79°/60°F (26°/15°C) |
View all months
| Month | Dakar | Pretoria |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 77°/64°F (24.9°/17.9°C) | 84°/65°F (29.0°/18.1°C) |
| Feb | 77°/64°F (24.8°/17.8°C) | 84°/64°F (28.7°/18.0°C) |
| Mar | 77°/65°F (25.1°/18.3°C) | 81°/62°F (27.3°/16.6°C) |
| Apr | 76°/66°F (24.7°/19.1°C) | 77°/56°F (24.8°/13.1°C) |
| May | 79°/69°F (25.9°/20.6°C) | 72°/48°F (22.4°/8.7°C) |
| Jun | 83°/74°F (28.5°/23.5°C) | 67°/41°F (19.6°/5.2°C) |
| Jul | 86°/77°F (29.9°/25.0°C) | 68°/42°F (19.8°/5.3°C) |
| Aug | 86°/77°F (30.2°/25.2°C) | 72°/47°F (22.3°/8.2°C) |
| Sep | 87°/77°F (30.6°/25.0°C) | 76°/53°F (24.4°/11.8°C) |
| Oct | 88°/77°F (30.9°/25.2°C) | 77°/57°F (25.2°/14.0°C) |
| Nov | 85°/74°F (29.7°/23.2°C) | 79°/60°F (26.0°/15.4°C) |
| Dec | 81°/69°F (27.2°/20.5°C) | 82°/63°F (27.9°/17.0°C) |
Data:
Agence nationale de l'Aviation Civile et de la Météorologie (ANACIM),
South African Weather Service
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Senegal and South Africa. To live, work, or study long-term in South Africa, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check South Africa's immigration authority.
Senegal passport holder visiting South Africa
Visa Online (e-Visa)
South Africa passport holder visiting Senegal
Visa FreeData: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I work remotely from South Africa?
Connectivity is usually fine (South Africa: 3.3 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does South Africa offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?
Is South Africa safe for expats?
Senegal performs better than South Africa across all safety metrics.
How is healthcare in South Africa compared to Senegal?
Senegal generally does better on health & wellbeing, though South Africa leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 8.1 doctors per 10,000 people in South Africa, compared to 1.3 in Senegal. South Africa scores 71 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Senegal: 50).
What's the weather like in South Africa compared to Senegal?
The average high temperature in Pretoria is 77°F, compared to 82°F in Dakar. Pretoria receives around 27.0 in of rainfall per year, while Dakar gets 14.9 in.
What language do they speak in South Africa?
The official languages in South Africa are Afrikaans, English, Northern Sotho, Southern Ndebele, Southern Sotho, Swazi, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa and Zulu. In Senegal, the official language is French.
Compare further: Senegal vs. South Africa
At a Glance
SN
|
ZA
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Population | 17,923,036 | 57,516,665 |
| Currency | CFA Franc BCEAO (F CFA) | South African Rand (ZAR) |
| Languages | French | Afrikaans, English, Northern Sotho, Southern Ndebele, Southern Sotho, Swazi, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda, Xhosa, Zulu |
| Driving side | Right | Left |
| Calling code | +221 | +27 |
| Time zones | 1 | 1 |
| Emergency number | 17 | 10111 |