Is retiring to Africa a wise decision?

[Tanks]

Let me tell you of my own retirement plans that kind of covers what you wish.

-- Home base in Texas, 3 -6 months.
-- Hunting in Africa and around the world. 2 - 3 months.
-- Mediterranean coast - 2-3 months (sailing, beaches etc.)
-- Argentina, 1 month. (Tango and friends)
-- Misc. travel 1-2 months.

Currently, I take a month off each quarter for a combination of the above places/activities. Once I am retired the duration would increase to match the times above. Obviously, as my body gets older time spent in home base would also increase.

Now, I have residences in two countries on the Mediterranean already, and people to take care of them so no further purchases required.

As a teenager I loved Africa (still do) when I first went there with my dad. Later, visiting an uncle in Zambia reinforced my romantic fantasies. I even had this idea to move there for retirement when I went to college. However, political realities in the 50+ years since that first trip nixed that idea.

Once piece of additional data to look at that is readily available is to look at life expectancy and number of doctors per 100K in African nations one is considering as well as facilities. As one gets older, access to medical care becomes very important. I will be 67 next week, even though based on my six monthly blood tests my biological age is 9 years younger (according to my PCP) that is still old, and one never knows .

 

[Foxi]

A man of my experience "gathers intelligence locally". Thanks for your input. Did you notice that Zimbabwe was not in my list of countries? Hmmm, why would that be?

you must be under drugs if you want to do that.
And I dont belive that
I was last there last year, I love the nature and the people I am friends with there.
When you drive out of Harare or Bulawayo airport ,you don't see a single white face walking there.Also a hint for many things.


@ Kevin-
all well and good what you say.
But if you look at a country economically, you know better than me that RSA is heading south.
There are big problems with the energy supply alone. The state-owned energy supplier Eskom could drag the entire national economy into the abyss. Up to twelve hours of power cuts anywhere in the country, often every day.

The constant power cuts are a seismograph for the stability of an economy.
If this doesn't work, internal security will soon be worth nothing.
And when I see the gardens secured with Nato wire or walled-in broken glass bottles on the fences, I don't want to leave my wife there alone.
Others have to, fortunately I can choose.

But maybe I'm just a pessimist.
Sorry for my opinion.

 

[MTA]

All sounds very romantic. My wife is ill right now with cancer and we are very fortunate to live within a 2 hour drive from NYC. Our life now takes us in and out of the city on a weekly bases and actually are renting an appt for a month at this time while she gets daily treatment. God willing, as the doctors are communicating thanks to the level of care she is receiving at Memorial Sloan Kettering life may go back to normal within a year of diagnosis. I don't believe that this would be the case if we were not located within easy reach of world class health care. I guess my point is, I'll fly for pleasure but have learned it is very valuable to drive for world class care when the crap hits the fan.

My mom went to Sloan Kettering when she had breast cancer. She has been cancer free for a few years now. Its an outstanding hospital for that and I wish you and your wife all the best

 

[ftrovato]

My mom went to Sloan Kettering when she had breast cancer. She has been cancer free for a few years now. Its an outstanding hospital for that and I wish you and your wife all the best

Very Kind. Best to your mother too!

 

[Mark A Ouellette]

Let me tell you of my own retirement plans that kind of covers what you wish.

-- Home base in Texas, 3 -6 months.
-- Hunting in Africa and around the world. 2 - 3 months.
-- Mediterranean coast - 2-3 months (sailing, beaches etc.)
-- Argentina, 1 month. (Tango and friends)
-- Misc. travel 1-2 months.

Currently, I take a month off each quarter for a combination of the above places/activities. Once I am retired the duration would increase to match the times above. Obviously, as my body gets older time spent in home base would also increase.

Now, I have residences in two countries on the Mediterranean already, and people to take care of them so no further purchases required.

As a teenager I loved Africa (still do) when I first went there with my dad. Later, visiting an uncle in Zambia reinforced my romantic fantasies. I even had this idea to move there for retirement when I went to college. However, political realities in the 50+ years since that first trip nixed that idea.

Once piece of additional data to look at that is readily available is to look at life expectancy and number of doctors per 100K in African nations one is considering as well as facilities. As one gets older, access to medical care becomes very important. I will be 67 next week, even though based on my six monthly blood tests my biological age is 9 years younger (according to my PCP) that is still old, and one never knows .

I say this in all seriousness, "When I grow up, or am reincarnated, I want to be very much like Tanks!"

 

[SFRanger7GP]

I say this in all seriousness, "When I grow up, or am reincarnated, I want to be very much like Tanks!"

You and me both! Until that happens, we just have to enjoy his posts, reports and pictures of his fine weapons and kit.

Safe hunting

 

[Mark A Ouellette]

A man of my experience "gathers intelligence locally". Thanks for your input. Did you notice that Zimbabwe was not in my list of countries? Hmmm, why would that be?

you must be under drugs if you want to do that.
And I dont belive that

Correct! I am not under the influence of drugs or even alcohol. Only a fool drinks and types...
I think we have a language barrier. My referenced post was sarcastic in Zim was not in my list.

I did however like Zim. I felt very comfortable around the native Zimbabweans.

Once again, thanks for your valuable input!

 

[Nyati]

I would never invest a single Euro in an African country.

I was born in an African country, third generation, and I know what I´m talking about.

In Africa, laws change, and not to the benefit of the mzungu (whites)

 

[Tanks]

...
But if you look at a country economically, you know better than me that RSA is heading south.
There are big problems with the energy supply alone. The state-owned energy supplier Eskom could drag the entire national economy into the abyss. Up to twelve hours of power cuts anywhere in the country, often every day.

The constant power cuts are a seismograph for the stability of an economy.
...

CA has more power cuts than some of the third world countries I have been in. Also, homes, offices, high rise buildings etc., in third world countries have generators backing up the local infrastructure. Because we are not supposed to be a third world country there is no backup.

Southern CA got hit with a major storm (Hilary) a couple of weeks ago. In a meeting with a major City's disaster management team, I provided data for all the power outages that occurred at Storm Pump stations last three years (my company manages them for the City). As a result, we put portable generators at a few crucial stations, and they did get used as the power company failed once again. Last thing one wants is freeways and homes to be flooded during a storm.

So, power outages are not unique to Africa.

 

[Dewald]

I think @kevin sums it up very well. I will probably in the next 5-10 years move either to the Hoedspruit area on the border of Mpumalanga and Limpopo, or more likely to the Kwa-Zulu Natal midlands around Dargle or Nottingham Road, and stay there until I kick the bucket. Both areas are stunning, they are safe compared with the rest of RSA, the hunting is good, wing shooting and fly fishing is excellent in the Midlands, and you are close to good healthcare.

I do not believe the top tier private hospitals in South Africa have to stand back for any in the world ( feel free to google Life Hilton Private Hospital, which is close to Howick, right in the heart of the KZN Midlands). As a matter of fact given our training in the government sector, which is an absolute Petri dish for trauma and infectious disease, South African doctors are some of the most experienced in the world.

What I will say about retiring here is to decide on an amount that you are willing to plow into your Africa dream, make peace with the fact that it might not appreciate, or that you might lose it, and keep the bulk of your funds abroad, where they are not only safe, but also beat the local inflation and depreciation of the Rand.

 

[pilar]

I would never invest a single Euro in an African country.

I was born in an African country, third generation, and I know what I´m talking about.

In Africa, laws change, and not to the benefit of the mzungu (whites)

Yeah I’m Leary of investing in Africa, we had a family friend who sank a large chunk of his portfolio into a ranch in Zimbabwe in the 1990’s and lost everything when some laws changed, can’t remember what happened but it was bad

 

[Doubleplay]

CA has more power cuts than some of the third world countries I have been in. Also, homes, offices, high rise buildings etc., in third world countries have generators backing up the local infrastructure. Because we are not supposed to be a third world country there is no backup.

Southern CA got hit with a major storm (Hilary) a couple of weeks ago. In a meeting with a major City's disaster management team, I provided data for all the power outages that occurred at Storm Pump stations last three years (my company manages them for the City). As a result, we put portable generators at a few crucial stations, and they did get used as the power company failed once again. Last thing one wants is freeways and homes to be flooded during a storm.

So, power outages are not unique to Africa.

They are not unique to Africa but there's no comparison between SA and any other developed country let alone US.
As we speak there's an ongoing 6-10 hours a day load shedding (blackouts) going on and as my son who's living there told me there's no end in sight. Lucky for him US Government is providing housing with massive generators for the whole compound.
This is not your run of the mill Texas or CA power failure because of high demand or a major weather event.
It is EVERY DAY and this year there was only one day they had power for 24 hours!
Businesses who can't afford generators are closing, people are food poisoning, insurance companies are hiring people to direct traffic at the intersections, people are afraid of using elevators, criminals taking advantage of it...
There's even an app for people to know when the load shedding will happen so they can organize their lives around it.
This is unique to South Africa and also happening in Zimbabwe.

 

[SFRanger7GP]

I think when one retires, the major investment should be in personal happiness, wherever that may be. At the end of the day, happiness is a personal choice and my primary mission for the rest of my life.

Safe travels

 

[Philip Glass]

Politically, the USG views Botswana as the most stable/secure in Africa. Could be an option - I defer to the local experts.

I am sure there are opinions of all kinds. Botswana did ban hunting for several years however and others have not. For my personal experience, Namibia is where I am most comfortable.

 

[Philip Glass]

@Philip Glass please tell us more about the success stories from Namibia!

Every time I go it seems there is a conversation about a property here or there owned by foreigners. The low land values are no doubt a big part of that. It is all tempting to think about owning something there but when the owner is not there who knows what is going on.

 

[WAB]

Every time I go it seems there is a conversation about a property here or there owned by foreigners. The low land values are no doubt a big part of that. It is all tempting to think about owning something there but when the owner is not there who knows what is going on.

It’s an interesting idea. Low fence areas mean the game wanders freely, allowing you to focus on habitat management without worrying about genetics and stocking programs. Great wing shooting and fishing as well.

 

[Doubleplay]

I am sure there are opinions of all kinds. Botswana did ban hunting for several years however and others have not. For my personal experience, Namibia is where I am most comfortable.

I went to Namibia first time with my wife for hunting in 1992 and loved it.
It's a stable and beautiful county and there's more game than people.
If I'm not mistaken hunting as a right is written into their constitution.
However I don't think anybody can buy a game farm in Namibia as a foreigner, there are restrictions.

 

[Pondoro]

To live in Namibia or Botswana..I feel safe in both countries and the hunting is good..

SA is going south at a steady pace..a life behind barbed wire is not for me..

 

[Mtn_Infantry]

Let me tell you of my own retirement plans that kind of covers what you wish.

-- Home base in Texas, 3 -6 months.
-- Hunting in Africa and around the world. 2 - 3 months.
-- Mediterranean coast - 2-3 months (sailing, beaches etc.)
-- Argentina, 1 month. (Tango and friends)
-- Misc. travel 1-2 months.

Currently, I take a month off each quarter for a combination of the above places/activities. Once I am retired the duration would increase to match the times above. Obviously, as my body gets older time spent in home base would also increase.

Now, I have residences in two countries on the Mediterranean already, and people to take care of them so no further purchases required.

As a teenager I loved Africa (still do) when I first went there with my dad. Later, visiting an uncle in Zambia reinforced my romantic fantasies. I even had this idea to move there for retirement when I went to college. However, political realities in the 50+ years since that first trip nixed that idea.

Once piece of additional data to look at that is readily available is to look at life expectancy and number of doctors per 100K in African nations one is considering as well as facilities. As one gets older, access to medical care becomes very important. I will be 67 next week, even though based on my six monthly blood tests my biological age is 9 years younger (according to my PCP) that is still old, and one never knows .

You sir have an excellent plan … care to add adopting someone on Aggieland to the list

 

[Philip Glass]

I went to Namibia first time with my wife for hunting in 1992 and loved it.
It's a stable and beautiful county and there's more game than people.
If I'm not mistaken hunting as a right is written into their constitution.
However I don't think anybody can buy a game farm in Namibia as a foreigner, there are restrictions.

Foreigners do own game farms there. Now whether there is a local silent partner involved that I do not know. It may be the case.