Is retiring to Africa a wise decision?

[bowfishoholic]

My concern in South Africa would be : can a non resident or dual resident have a firearm? We were offered a nice chunk of land in the Free State that we could have come up to buy with cash. Also as a retired US citizen, I think you have to return to the US every so often to keep your retirement. I knew a guy that retired to Guatemala, he had to fly back several times a year, but he lived like a king down there. He invested in a jade market and brought back jewelry on each trip.

 

[spike.t]

To be honest...I think this is a pipe dream for 99.9999999999% of people......

 

[Rare Breed]

In many parts this is true in my research this really is in the cities…I am finding real opportunities outside them. I am seeing long term rentals as the best option with several great opportunities

 

[Rare Breed]

For example in Raptor wild life estates in safe Hodspruit SA you can get a 5 BR 4 BR for $2500 for 30 days rental. In Zim, brand new 5 Cottages $1500 per month all very safe and secure.

 

[ActionBob]

For example in Raptor wild life estates in safe Hodspruit SA you can get a 5 BR 4 BR for $2500 for 30 days rental. In Zim, brand new 5 Cottages $1500 per month all very safe and secure.

It looks like you can buy one of those in Hodspruit I'm sure in other areas as well.

Maybe renting would be the way to go through... a month in Hodspruit, a month in Capetown, a month at Vic Falls. A couple weeks in a hunting camp in between each, maybe before and after Back home for half the year?

 

[steve white]

Is there a corollary with investment strategies? That being that the nearer you get to retirement the safer you play investments to avoid loss you don't have a lifetime to recoup? A loss of assets in Africa for a young man, well, you played the game and lost. While for a senior, maybe devastating?
Rental has a back door, at least.

bowfishaholic--are you saying that if a US citizen doesn't return home they lose their social security income? Wasn't aware that was limited in portability.

 

[ActionBob]

Is there a corollary with investment strategies? That being that the nearer you get to retirement the safer you play investments to avoid loss you don't have a lifetime to recoup? A loss of assets in Africa for a young man, well, you played the game and lost. While for a senior, maybe devastating?
Rental has a back door, at least.

bowfishaholic--are you saying that if a US citizen doesn't return home they lose their social security income? Wasn't aware that was limited in portability.

True Steve, or keep the risk investment at a level that can be tolerated

 

[spike.t]

Aa I have said before you need to remember that in most countries the max days in 12 months you can stay is 90 .....this isn't Jan to Dec it's 12 months from when you were there.....a friend from where I come from with his wife used to go to SA over the southern summer period..ie winter in northern hemisphere..and one year got out of sync.....got pulled by immigration and were informed about this...end result they couldn't go back for either 2 or 3 years as a punishment.....

 

[bones]

This thread made me think.
We have a house in a wild-life/fly-in estate in Mooinooi, South Africa.
We visited there often, but as the kids got busier over weekends, we use it seldom.
We never considered short-term renting out because of the hassles. If someone is interested in renting it for a month or more, this could be an option for me.
Big house, sleeps 10 comfortably.
There are quite a few species plain game, although it is not a hunting farm. The house has a lovely lookout on an area where they always roam.
There is an old hilux in the garage, not a long drive car but for short distances and farm driving perfect.
Distance to OR Tambo 145km about 1hr 30min drive. 8km gravel road.
If someone is interested, they are welcome to pm me.

 

[Mark A Ouellette]

@bones This is an outstanding idea! Thanks for posting.

 

[Rare Breed]

curious, If I bought a home in Raptors in Hoedspruit are there any well respected outfitters close to there so I would not have to fly or drive far?

 

[Hunter4752001]

Derian's nearest town. @DERIAN KOEKEMOER SAFARIS

 

[Flipper Dude]

curious, If I bought a home in Raptors in Hoedspruit are there any well respected outfitters close to there so I would not have to fly or drive far?

Ernest Dyason @Spear Safaris isn't far from there. SCI International Hunter of the year. And a swell guy in spite of it.

 

[DLSJR]

curious, If I bought a home in Raptors in Hoedspruit are there any well respected outfitters close to there so I would not have to fly or drive far?

Ernest & Marita Dyason of @Spear Safaris live very near Hoedspruit.

 

[DERIAN KOEKEMOER SAFARIS]

curious, If I bought a home in Raptors in Hoedspruit are there any well respected outfitters close to there so I would not have to fly or drive far?

Good day sir yes im right here just a phone call +27 60 369 6320

 

[RSL]

There's a lot to be said about turning the faucet and having fresh clean water come out. I am in Arizona and am concerned about the increasing depletion of our aquifers/groundwater by the steady increase in homes and water intensive industries. I can image the hassle in Africa to get clean water. But it may not be as much of a problem as I think.

 

[rafter3]

Ernest Dyason @Spear Safaris isn't far from there. SCI International Hunter of the year. And a swell guy in spite of it.

I second this, I hunted Greater Krueger in July with Spear Safaris, and Ernest is amazing I can't wait to hunt with him again and that area is a hunters and wildlife lovers paradise!!!

 

[JG26Irish_2]

Interesting idea and retirement as a part-time Ex-Pat is one that I too have considered. While in Limpopo hunting this year, I hunted a few days on a concession near the Sterk River in the Waterberg Mtns. This was a 10,000 hectar farm reportedly owned by a foreign citizen. He employed a farm manager to oversee and maintain the facility. They had 7-8 chalets and offered photo safari and destination wedding services themselves and they allowed my PH and one other local PH to hunt with clients on the farm.

I was told that the owner comes to live on the property for certain times of year but was not a full time resident. They also employed 3-4 native tracker/laborers and a small house staff. My guess is it is not a money maker but might generate enough revenues to covers parts of the cost of ownership. The scenery was stunning and the plains game was abundant. They also had Cape Buffalo and Leopard on the estate. They did not function as an outfitter.

As for foreign citizens owning firearms? I think this is highly restricted. RSA limits its own citizens to the owner ship of up to 3 guns only without other special permits. I think it is 1 or 2 rifles, and one shotgun and a pistol with a pistol permit. A dedicated collector can have more and PH/Outfitters can have many. The solution here is to buy into a game farm that operates as an outfitter with a on-site full time PH. As a business they can amass a modest collection of suitable arms available for use by part time owners from out of town. As a tourist hunter coming in for a month or so, you can also bring in a couple of your own guns temporarily.

I am not sure the exchange rate in RSA is as advantageous as it may be in other parts of the world. But the weather is nice and if you like Africa it is a little slice of Paradise. Now the cons:

• I get an undercurrent of racial tension between the white entrepreneurs/business owners and the black population. It is not overt but it is there.
• While violence is not much worse than most American cities, it is a fact that the whites in Africa are outnumbers 9:1 and are not loved by the much of the rest of the population. Not so much for being oppressors but mostly from a sense of jealousy by the have nots.
• Whites are often aggressive as a means of self protection which only increases tensions.
• If you stay in the country, you would be mostly safe but requires care and planning to go to the cities. That said, I would rather visit Joberg as Chicago.
• For me with small grandkids, I find Africa too far from home to be a comfortable fit as a long term residence. If not for family, it might be different.

 

[Rare Breed]

If I did it I would visit for only months at a time as a kind of base then put it with a rental company for remainder. I hope to work three to four more years then call it a career

 

[The creed]

I read articles and watch a lot of YouTube videos on retiring. There is a lot of information about retiring to Central America, Spain, and other places where a couple could live very well on their savings.
Why not sub-Saharan Africa?

Medical care is a big one. Hmmm, a couple months ago my wife's mother had to go to the ER in Lusaka. The "public" hospital option was a non-starter. We sent her to a private hospital where she was put in intensive care for a few days, had a CAT scan, and other tests. Mother in law is doing pretty good now. The total hospital bill was around $1000.

Medical evacuation insurance is probably a good idea in case needed medical care isn't available. If one is 80 years old, will a company still offer evac insurance?

Yes, many travel insurance companies do offer emergency medical evacuation coverage to travelers 80 years old and above, you should try looking up some. used one years for my wife's father. will send in the link.