 Graeme Smith's side won over the Australian public
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South Africa's cricketers have returned home to a heroes' reception after they became the first team to win a Test series in Australia for 16 years.
Coach Mickey Arthur said his side were overwhelmed after more than 1,000 fans came to at Johannesburg Airport to welcome the team back.
"We left Perth this morning as a very proud team and now we are even prouder," said Arthur.
"The magnitude of what we've done has hit us after this fantastic reception."
Australia will visit South Africa for the return series next month, and Arthur said he is expecting a tough challenge.
"We're under no illusions they are really hurting," he said.
South Africa's historic 2-1 Test series victory in Australia - which was followed up by a 4-1 win in the one-dayers - means expectation will be high.
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"With success comes expectation and we'll be playing in front of our home crowds so that will be a lot more difficult.
"But I'm confident the players have it in them to repeat their success."
The traditionally prickly relationship between the two sides seemed to thaw over the course of a memorable series, and Arthur was delighted with the way his players won over the Australian public.
"To see (captain) Graeme Smith walking in front of the Noble Stand in Sydney, which gave us all sorts of abuse the last time we were there, and get a standing ovation was phenomenal," he said.
"I think we won them over through our humility, we were extremely humble when we won. How you handle winning and losing is very important and the team were superb on and off the field.
"We showed a lot of respect for Australia and I think they recognised that.
"Our success was down to the leadership of both captains (Smith in the Tests and Johan Botha in the one-dayers) but it also calls for an incredible work ethic, courage and commitment from the team and they left Australia as heroes."
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