Is retiring to Africa a wise decision?

[barryk]

Spike I think Zambia is a bit cheaper than Harare or Johannesburg, but what I am getting at is the cost of the lifestyle that the OP has outlined, he isn't coming to live frugally in Africa (if I understood him correctly). I am going from my own experience where at the end of the day when the dust has settled there is always far more cost than you estimated, and it is far wiser in my view to take the worst case and get a pleasant surprise when it works out better. I will give you some examples of where the creep comes from:
Any fancy groceries are very expensive, a bottle of olives for example is $4 to $5.
Power cuts in Harare ere debilitating and in South Africa annoying. A solar installation will be $15k to $25 k in my case, and there is maintenance, it all needs to be factored in.
Buying water. $60 for 5000 litres,
Garbage collection is via a private company,
Fuel is expensive, I think about $1.65 a litre.
Car hire is very expensive, especially if you want to use it to go out into the bush as well as run around for the month. Probably $2.5k alone. And if you choose to buy one and park it when you arent in Africa the purchase price still has to be amortised.
Of your brought- in funds into Zim 25% will be converted into local bonds at the official rate, and where you can use them you are offered far less, so bank on half the value of that 25% disappearing.
It sounds like a bit of a nightmare, I suppose it is, but there again lions and flat top acacia trees come at a cost. To me it is worth it, I live here by choice.

I love living where we do in northwest Kansas....been hunting in South Africa once........there is that draw about your continent though...I can easily see why one would want to retire there. The alure of Africa....does get into your blood.

 

[Tanks]

One other thing one can do is what a lot of Europeans have done, and still doing. Get a villa in North Cyprus. About $300K+. Very close to all the European countries, beaches within walking distance, and 8-9 hour flight to Africa, rather than the 17+ hours from the States.

Other positives of course are excellent medical care, all the water sports of the Mediterranean, golf courses, and great cuisine. There are great places to scuba dive and one can also charter sailboats to sail.

Beautiful water.

DM me if interested and I'll hook you up, with the investment one can get residency if not a citizenship.

 

[Kharn]

I'm going to do what my parents did.

Many years ago my parents befriended a local family of farmers & fishers and over the years/decades my parents would "financially support" them (they never asked for things they didn't need) after X years my parents started to encourage them towards a "better" life than one in the rice fields or out at deep sea in a simple wooden canoe.

They proposed to the family that if they were prepared to change the fate of their futures & see it through not for themselves but for their children (& their childrens children etc) then my parents would fund it all, with one condition.

That condition was a 'private house' within the resort of which only my parents were permitted to use (no resort guests) too which the family happily agreed to & maintain too this day along side their expanding resort (we started with 6 rooms they now have 12).

Too be clear my parents own nothing within the resort as foreigners can't but such is the relationship my parents have established with this family that everyone is treated like family, the thought of my parents ever being unwelcome there is "none existent", it is getting to the stage where I believe it is where I will be burying my parents because they just love it there so much.

This is my plan too but I got to get a move on...

 

[Kharn]

View attachment 635726

Nice Hat.
Ironically I was in contact with them not 24hrs ago.

 

[Tanks]

Nice Hat.
Ironically I was in contact with them not 24hrs ago.

I have had 3 hunts with them. I would recommend them without reservations.

 

[IvW]

Spain is good all around for an expat retirement

A bit far from Africa...

 

[Kevin Peacocke]

If I get the background behind the original question the OP posed, the objective is a) to stay in hunting paradise longer so that the painful travel over is spread out, and b) to enjoy living in Africa generally, for the weather, a different vibe, etc. Retiring elsewhere, no matter how nice it may be, does not tick the 'in country' hunting box or the Africa vibe box.
Both SA and Zim offer a formula, but it is not the same one. Zim offers the wilder side, but it comes with some challenges that nevertheless melt if you have the financial means. SA is definitely more civilised, but tamer. And less expensive.

 

[spike.t]

Spike I think Zambia is a bit cheaper than Harare or Johannesburg, but what I am getting at is the cost of the lifestyle that the OP has outlined, he isn't coming to live frugally in Africa (if I understood him correctly). I am going from my own experience where at the end of the day when the dust has settled there is always far more cost than you estimated, and it is far wiser in my view to take the worst case and get a pleasant surprise when it works out better. I will give you some examples of where the creep comes from:
Any fancy groceries are very expensive, a bottle of olives for example is $4 to $5.
Power cuts in Harare ere debilitating and in South Africa annoying. A solar installation will be $15k to $25 k in my case, and there is maintenance, it all needs to be factored in.
Buying water. $60 for 5000 litres,
Garbage collection is via a private company,
Fuel is expensive, I think about $1.65 a litre.
Car hire is very expensive, especially if you want to use it to go out into the bush as well as run around for the month. Probably $2.5k alone. And if you choose to buy one and park it when you arent in Africa the purchase price still has to be amortised.
Of your brought- in funds into Zim 25% will be converted into local bonds at the official rate, and where you can use them you are offered far less, so bank on half the value of that 25% disappearing.
It sounds like a bit of a nightmare, I suppose it is, but there again lions and flat top acacia trees come at a cost. To me it is worth it, I live here by choice.

Yeah prices here in last few months have gone nuts.....shopping now is painful....

 

[ActionBob]

Yeah prices here in last few months have gone nuts.....shopping now is painful....

Mike it is painful everywhere.

 

[Rare Breed]

I can’t help it…every night I keep looking at four homes for sale in what’s called Raptor wildlife area in Hoesdpruit. All of them are in a gated security monitored area and all between $250-$300,000 US asking price…be still my heart!!!!!

 

[PerH]

I asked a SA buddy , he said lots of options , one is buying a house in a larger nature reserve and then go hunting in the area .

 

[Lee M]

This is a good thread and i appreciate the detail many have added on different locations. Some honest pro’s and con’s as well. For me, i would struggle with the uncertainty of being a part time owner who lives far away 50%+ of the time. I think spending a month or so a year in some of the places mentioned would be great. . It would also allow for different experiences, food, culture, outdoor activities without the hassles of ownership. I went to Maui last year with spouse and had no issues working in a Spanish goat hunt.

 

[GuttormG]

A bit far from Africa...

Nope; 8miles/13km between Spain and the African continent...

 

[Borderer]

I can’t help it…every night I keep looking at four homes for sale in what’s called Raptor wildlife area in Hoesdpruit. All of them are in a gated security monitored area and all between $250-$300,000 US asking price…be still my heart!!!!!

This place looks perfect. They even offer regular checking whilst you are away.

 

[sgt_zim]

I can’t help it…every night I keep looking at four homes for sale in what’s called Raptor wildlife area in Hoesdpruit. All of them are in a gated security monitored area and all between $250-$300,000 US asking price…be still my heart!!!!!

I think we're looking at the same properties. One of them has a couple pictures of a nyala bull walking around the "front yard."

These are some REALLY big houses for that kind of price.

 

[GuttormG]

I still have some years and to much to do before retirement is a reality.

Living up here where summer is defined as a part of the calendar and has no connection to the weather it is of course a tempting idea to spend time somewhere warmer.

Bu I wouldn't relocate on a permanent basis, and I wouldn't buy property.
Renting is the way to go.
And having a really good medical insurance!

Now, if they just can get some oil production going off South Africa....

 

[Rare Breed]

This place looks perfect. They even offer regular checking whilst you are away.

Stop it your not helping…lol!!!!!

 

[Rare Breed]

I think we're looking at the same properties. One of them has a couple pictures of a nyala bull walking around the "front yard."

These are some REALLY big houses for that kind of price.

Exactly…we are!!! I was shocked as well. This was an area @Kevin Peacocke recommended!

 

[sgt_zim]

Exactly…we are!!! I was shocked as well. This was an area @Kevin Peacocke recommended!

It may be the house with the nyala, I looked at several so don't remember exactly; but one of them was pretty close to 4K sf for like 275K USD. I reckon something a bit more modest in the 2500 sf range might even go for under 200K.

Yeah, I'd never really considered retiring in Africa. Thanks for putting this splinter in my mind, @Mark A Ouellette !

 

[RichieG]

Perhaps you could consider renting a house like that for a season and seeing how you get on?

It's a big step to buy a house and change your living plans from abroad without really having high conviction that it suits you. Consider it a 3 month Safari and at the end of it you will definitely know if it works for you or not!