Is retiring to Africa a wise decision?

[VertigoBE]

Just to provide an update. You can’t in places like Rapter Estates in Hoedspruit for a 4BR 3 Baths for $1500 per month. Stay June through August each year as a base of hunting operations $4500. After reading all responses this seems like the best decision. Three months in a gated secure awesome wildlife area easy jump to anywhere in Africa to hunt with no capital investment. If I can convince the beautiful Mrs. Rarebreed I would spend 9 months in US and three months Hoedspruit

I'm also thinking along these lines. Especially to be able to spend the summer holidays, with my kids surrounded by wildlife (on 4 legs, instead of wild life on 2 legs), while still working from distance half the time. At first maybe renting, but eventually why not purchasing something that can be rented out the rest of the year. The latter would likely allow for more options for keeping a rifle in SA (anyone have any insights into this?)

Looking forward to seeing more of your dream place @Rare Breed.

 

[Kevin Peacocke]

I have been doing some more research on this idea of part time living in Zimbabwe, Harare in particular, and venturing out from there. It will not be easy to rent for say four months and then just drop it. You would need to look at a continuous rental and then just occupy it when you wish, lock up and go basis.
The positive is that you can buy a car and leave it there and the owner takes care of everything.
You can get a really nice 2 bedroom place, new or recent build, with solar, appliances incl washing machine, gas stove, drier, dishwasher for around US$1400 per month. Nice yard. This is far less than I thought would be the case and it means a whole year rental with maybe a group occupying in turns from your hunting group may be quite viable.
PM me and I'll give you more details.

 

[Rare Breed]

I have been doing some more research on this idea of part time living in Zimbabwe, Harare in particular, and venturing out from there. It will not be easy to rent for say four months and then just drop it. You would need to look at a continuous rental and then just occupy it when you wish, lock up and go basis.
The positive is that you can buy a car and leave it there and the owner takes care of everything.
You can get a really nice 2 bedroom place, new or recent build, with solar, appliances incl washing machine, gas stove, drier, dishwasher for around US$1400 per month. Nice yard. This is far less than I thought would be the case and it means a whole year rental with maybe a group occupying in turns from your hunting group may be quite viable.
PM me and I'll give you more details.

Great research Kevin and thanks so much from all of us!!! I would never waste your time unless I can get the wife to do something like this. The bottom line seems to be whether in SA or Zim you can have something close to what Mark asked X the hunting type co-op he was asking about for a reasonable cost without a big capital outlay which is great to know!!! It’s always great to have options!!!!

 

[abnhog]

I have been doing some more research on this idea of part time living in Zimbabwe, Harare in particular, and venturing out from there. It will not be easy to rent for say four months and then just drop it. You would need to look at a continuous rental and then just occupy it when you wish, lock up and go basis.
The positive is that you can buy a car and leave it there and the owner takes care of everything.
You can get a really nice 2 bedroom place, new or recent build, with solar, appliances incl washing machine, gas stove, drier, dishwasher for around US$1400 per month. Nice yard. This is far less than I thought would be the case and it means a whole year rental with maybe a group occupying in turns from your hunting group may be quite viable.
PM me and I'll give you more details.

 

[Mark A Ouellette]

Great research Kevin and thanks so much from all of us!!! I would never waste your time unless I can get the wife to do something like this. The bottom line seems to be whether in SA or Zim you can have something close to what Mark asked X the hunting type co-op he was asking about for a reasonable cost without a big capital outlay which is great to know!!! It’s always great to have options!!!!

To all,
This thread generated a lot of facts and brainstorming which dovetailed into our daydreaming... The options of retiring to Africa as one could to Belize, Costa Rica, or Spain seen to be limited to the stability of the host nation. Many have stated, in Africa invest only what you can afford to lose. Sounds like good advice! Too bad for most if not all of the sub-Saharian countries could certainly use injections of capital from new long-term residents.

Like pleasures in life that fly or float, renting seems to be wisest!

 

[Rare Breed]

Mark I want to thank you for generating one of the most enjoyable threads I have experienced on AH.com!!!!

 

[Borderer]

I have been doing some more research on this idea of part time living in Zimbabwe, Harare in particular, and venturing out from there. It will not be easy to rent for say four months and then just drop it. You would need to look at a continuous rental and then just occupy it when you wish, lock up and go basis.
The positive is that you can buy a car and leave it there and the owner takes care of everything.
You can get a really nice 2 bedroom place, new or recent build, with solar, appliances incl washing machine, gas stove, drier, dishwasher for around US$1400 per month. Nice yard. This is far less than I thought would be the case and it means a whole year rental with maybe a group occupying in turns from your hunting group may be quite viable.
PM me and I'll give you more details.

I am surprised rents are that high. We are currently letting a newly rennovated two bed two bed house for $550 a month and a large three bed with a good garden for $750 per month. Both within an hour of Edinburgh in a pleasant rural area. Would be 2/3x the rent close to London though.

 

[spike.t]

I am surprised rents are that high. We are currently letting a newly rennovated two bed two bed house for $550 a month and a large three bed with a good garden for $750 per month. Both within an hour of Edinburgh in a pleasant rural area. Would be 2/3x the rent close to London though.

Try googling some agents here and check the rental or purchase prices in nice areas of Lusaka....not cheap....

 

[Wheels]

Try googling some agents here and check the rental or purchase prices in nice areas of Lusaka....not cheap....

Perhaps 10 years ago I was setting next to a 20 something year old UN worker moving to Dar for the first time. Her housing budget was $6,000/month back then if I recall correctly.

I have always wondered what would happen to the higher end real estate market in Dar if the US and EU NGO market along with the UN market dried up. It would still be strong compared to the rest of the country but might get knocked backward or at least be stagnant for a few years. Not sure if Lusaka is comparable or not.

If Musk and Ramaswamy are successful with DOGE, I have a feeling the US NGO market in many African countries will be feeling a pinch. I also have a feeling that US funding of the UN and it's agencies will be significantly less during the Trump administration.

 

[spike.t]

Perhaps 10 years ago I was setting next to a 20 something year old UN worker moving to Dar for the first time. Her housing budget was $6,000/month back then if I recall correctly.

I have always wondered what would happen to the higher end real estate market in Dar if the US and EU NGO market along with the UN market dried up. It would still be strong compared to the rest of the country but might get knocked backward or at least be stagnant for a few years. Not sure if Lusaka is comparable or not.

If Musk and Ramaswamy are successful with DOGE, I have a feeling the US NGO market in many African countries will be feeling a pinch. I also have a feeling that US funding of the UN and it's agencies will be significantly less during the Trump administration.

Previous tenant in house we rent at moment worked for some euro NGO.....she was dutch

 

[spike.t]

To all,
This thread generated a lot of facts and brainstorming which dovetailed into our daydreaming... The options of retiring to Africa as one could to Belize, Costa Rica, or Spain seen to be limited to the stability of the host nation. Many have stated, in Africa invest only what you can afford to lose. Sounds like good advice! Too bad for most if not all of the sub-Saharian countries could certainly use injections of capital from new long-term residents.

Like pleasures in life that fly or float, renting seems to be wisest!

OK mark now as your wife is zambian does she have dual nationality zambian/usa?....if she still has zambian passport/ nationality you can get a residence permit here as you are married...not sure on the small print or the minimum time you would have to spend here to make it work...I believe if you are on a residence permit if you are going to be out of zambia for longer than 3 months you have to advise DG of immigration this fact and reason you will be out of country so long....also as it would be issued due to you being married to a zambian I am not sure if that would be different than someone working here....just a thought

 

[ActionBob]

I wouldn’t recommend retiring to Africa 100%. Keep your other citizenship and travel home as and when you want to. South Africa was my recommendation because it makes that easy. The country isn’t going south any time soon, if ever, there are problems to be worked through, but the doom merchants should take a side seat and watch the rest of us enjoy life so long.
But why come? You have to get your priorities sorted out:
1. It is warm (unless you move to the Eastern Cape or the Freestate. So stick to northern Limpopo, Hordspruit, Nelspruit area.)
2. You can hunt more often.
3. Also travel to some very nice attractions in South Africa, and also regionally.
4. You can eat out forever. It is rearonable.
5. They have great wine.
6. You can travel to the UK or Europe over night.
7. You can play golf or any sport you like as much as you like.
8. The fishing is good and varied, especially if you add in the Zambezi.

Kevin we were in Victoria Falls this past July.... that had to be the most pleasant weather possible The fishing sucked at that time. The scenery was beautiful.

 

[Hogpatrol]

RSA weather, just outside Petrusville, Northern Cape, a couple days ago. 40C=104F

 

[spike.t]

RSA weather, just outside Petrusville, Northern Cape, a couple days ago. 40C=104F

View attachment 652694

Pleasant weather then....

 

[spike.t]

Nice here sat outside my bar on the verandah looking towards the kafue...

 

[spike.t]

Nice here sat outside my bar on the verandah looking towards the kafue...

View attachment 652699

Just checked in my bedroom...just over 31c....

 

[spike.t]

Kevin we were in Victoria Falls this past July.... that had to be the most pleasant weather possible The fishing sucked at that time. The scenery was beautiful.

Too cold bob....

 

[Manwe]

I would suggest Rwanda for good security system, and people here are friendly. But not everything is cheap. in some places in city somethings are expensive. But overall compared with what you will be getting it's not that expensive. I hear Tanzania is good place too maybe locals can tell you more about the country.