dapp64

If money wasn't a limitation, what parts or area/s of Africa would you
most like to spend your retirement in and why ?

Les!

<[email protected]> wrote

    | If money wasn't a limitation, what parts or area/s of Africa would you
    | most like to spend your retirement in and why ?
    |

Without a doubt, Egypt. I know that all of Africa has history, but the
Egyptian history has always fascinated me (most ancient cultures do). I'll
be visiting Egypt for the fist time in November of 2006, and I'm REALLY
excited already (Thank goodness I have other vacations planned between now
and then so I have something to distract me!)

LES!

Hans Martens

    > | If money wasn't a limitation, what parts or area/s of Africa would you
    > | most like to spend your retirement in and why ?

South Africa!

It is such a beautiful country with varied landscapes/habitats/wildlife
and a great climate. Also extremely good infrastructure (often hard to
find in the rest of Africa) and reasonable prices.

Also a decent law system that should protect your
possessions/investments. Just hope Mbeki doesn't slide off to Zimbabwan
levels.....

Regards,
Hans

==================================
Hans Martens

Wildlife & Nature Photography
http://www.wildpicture.com
==================================

Pat Anderson

In message <[email protected]> , Hans
Martens <hans.martens@wildpicture_remove_.com> writes
    >> | If money wasn't a limitation, what parts or area/s of Africa would you
    >> | most like to spend your retirement in and why ?
    >South Africa!
    >It is such a beautiful country with varied landscapes/habitats/wildlife
    >and a great climate. Also extremely good infrastructure (often hard to
    >find in the rest of Africa) and reasonable prices.
    >Also a decent law system that should protect your
    >possessions/investments. Just hope Mbeki doesn't slide off to Zimbabwan
    >levels.....
    >Regards,
    >Hans
    >==================================
    >Hans Martens
    > Wildlife & Nature Photography
    > http://www.wildpicture.com
    >==================================
Kenya-- I`d like to live in a house overlooking Mount Kenya.
Why? Because we lived where we could see Mount Kenya and when the
time was up, we had to leave. Every day around five pm for three years
I watched the mountain emerge from the mist. I never tired of seeing it
and shed a tear because of it`s splendour! That is where I would like
to be.
Pat.
--
Pat Anderson

Odysseus

I agree.

I just got back from Sa and Zimbabwe. There is a big difference between the
countries. It's like the difference between the US and Central America.

I think SA is more like a European country than an African country.

I think the prices in SA are high (compared to the US) but that may be because
the dollar is weak.


There is only one thing that makes me not want to make a return visit to SA.
It is the long flights. Coming home, I was in that SAA plane for 20 hours.

    >> | If money wasn't a limitation, what parts or area/s of Africa would you
    >> | most like to spend your retirement in and why ?
    >South Africa!
    >It is such a beautiful country with varied landscapes/habitats/wildlife
    >and a great climate. Also extremely good infrastructure (often hard to
    >find in the rest of Africa) and reasonable prices.
    >Also a decent law system that should protect your
    >possessions/investments. Just hope Mbeki doesn't slide off to Zimbabwan
    >levels.....
    >Regards,
    >Hans
    >==================================
    >Hans Martens
    > Wildlife & Nature Photography
    > http://www.wildpicture.com
    >==================================

Dave Patterson

We did buy a home in South Africa more than 2 years ago.
One poster mentioned that it seems expensive there, and
I agree - with the weak dollar, many things we need are
costlier than in the US. Cars, petrol, all supermarket items
that are packaged or processed - these are really higher.
Insurance, local taxes & municipal services are about the same.
Phone service is the most expensive in the world.
Fresh foods are less, and usually better than what we can
get here in the US.
But, actually retiring there, and living full time, is impossible
because of the restrictions, unless you have some wealth.
Take a look at the requirements - and these are per person,
not per couple.

    > A pension with a minimum value of R20,000 per month or an
    > irrevocable retirement annuity or retirement account to the equivalent
    > amount;
    > A net worth of no less than R12 million providing an income
    > of at least R15,000 per month.

In dollars, for example, a couple would need pension income
of $80K per year, or a net worth of $4 million. If you qualify,
you can get a permit for unlimited time in the country that
is good for 4 years and is renewable.

In our case, the regular 90-day visa obtained on entry to
the country works just fine.

Hans Martens

Dave Patterson schreef:
    > I agree - with the weak dollar, many things we need are
    > costlier than in the US. Cars, petrol, all supermarket items
    > that are packaged or processed - these are really higher.

But still MUCH less than in most of Europe. Prices in the US are already
very low.

Another option is to invest in a South African business. Then you only
have to invest 2.5 million Rand and employ 5 (black) South Africans.

Regards,
Hans

==================================
Hans Martens

Wildlife & Nature Photography
http://www.wildpicture.com
==================================

Gross50

[QUOTE=Hans Martens]Dave Patterson schreef:
    > I agree - with the weak dollar, many things we need are
    > costlier than in the US. Cars, petrol, all supermarket items
    > that are packaged or processed - these are really higher.

Another option is to invest in a South African business. Then you only
have to invest 2.5 million Rand and employ 5 (black) South Africans.

QUOTE]

do hey have to be black? whats about white citizens? or mixed race?

Philip

Dave Patterson wrote:


    > In our case, the regular 90-day visa obtained on entry to
    > the country works just fine.
    >
Can you get a 90 day visa more than once in a 12 month period?

Regards

Odysseus

On my limited trip to SA I found:

Books are much more expensive than the US.
Packaged foods are more expensive.
Clothes at most stores are more expensive even after the VAT refund.
Electronics are more expensive.
Meals at high end restaurants are often cheaper than in US cities.
SA wine and beer is a bargain.

    >We did buy a home in South Africa more than 2 years ago.
    >One poster mentioned that it seems expensive there, and
    >I agree - with the weak dollar, many things we need are
    >costlier than in the US. Cars, petrol, all supermarket items
    >that are packaged or processed - these are really higher.
    >Insurance, local taxes & municipal services are about the same.
    >Phone service is the most expensive in the world.
    >Fresh foods are less, and usually better than what we can
    >get here in the US.
    >But, actually retiring there, and living full time, is impossible
    >because of the restrictions, unless you have some wealth.
    >Take a look at the requirements - and these are per person,
    >not per couple.
    >> A pension with a minimum value of R20,000 per month or an
    >> irrevocable retirement annuity or retirement account to the equivalent
    >> amount;
    >> A net worth of no less than R12 million providing an income
    >> of at least R15,000 per month.
    >In dollars, for example, a couple would need pension income
    >of $80K per year, or a net worth of $4 million. If you qualify,
    >you can get a permit for unlimited time in the country that
    >is good for 4 years and is renewable.
    >In our case, the regular 90-day visa obtained on entry to
    >the country works just fine.

Hans Martens

Odysseus schreef:
    > On my limited trip to SA I found:
    > Books are much more expensive than the US.
    > Packaged foods are more expensive.
    > Clothes at most stores are more expensive even after the VAT refund.
    > Electronics are more expensive.
    > Meals at high end restaurants are often cheaper than in US cities.
    > SA wine and beer is a bargain.

If you consider South Africa to be more expensive than the US (don't
know as I have never visted the US), you better be carefull not to visit
Europe. For us Europeans South Africa is a land of bargains....

For example, I try to buy as many books as I can carry every time, as
they are extremely cheap in my opinion.

(But then, we also pay around $7/gallon for fuel....)

regards,
Hans


==================================
Hans Martens

Wildlife & Nature Photography
http://www.wildpicture.com
==================================

Liz

In message <[email protected] >
Hans Martens <hans.martens@wildpicture_remove_.com> wrote:

    > Odysseus schreef:
    >> On my limited trip to SA I found:
    >> Books are much more expensive than the US.
    >> Packaged foods are more expensive.
    >> Clothes at most stores are more expensive even after the VAT refund.
    >> Electronics are more expensive.
    >> Meals at high end restaurants are often cheaper than in US cities.
    >> SA wine and beer is a bargain.
    >
    > If you consider South Africa to be more expensive than the US (don't
    > know as I have never visted the US), you better be carefull not to visit
    > Europe. For us Europeans South Africa is a land of bargains....

I haven't been to SA, but I have been to the US.
Most things in shops there seem to cost the same in USdollars as they
do here in UKPounds.
Housing seems much of a muchness, unless you're looking at Manhattan
and a few other honeypots.
Someone doing my job at my level in the States gets paid 1/3 more (in
actual cash) than me.

Slainte

Liz

--
Virtual Liz now at http://www.v-liz.com
Kenya; Tanzania; Namibia; India; Seychelles; Galapagos
"I speak of Africa and golden joys"

Odysseus

In article <[email protected] >,
hans.martens@wildpicture_remove_.com says...
    >Odysseus schreef:
    >> On my limited trip to SA I found:
    >> Books are much more expensive than the US.
    >> Packaged foods are more expensive.
    >> Clothes at most stores are more expensive even after the VAT refund.
    >> Electronics are more expensive.
    >> Meals at high end restaurants are often cheaper than in US cities.
    >> SA wine and beer is a bargain.
    >If you consider South Africa to be more expensive than the US (don't
    >know as I have never visted the US), you better be carefull not to visit
    >Europe. For us Europeans South Africa is a land of bargains....
    >For example, I try to buy as many books as I can carry every time, as
    >they are extremely cheap in my opinion.
    >(But then, we also pay around $7/gallon for fuel....)

If you want to get an idea of US prices look at
www.amazon.com. Look at the prices for items shipped to addresses
in the US. Books cost about half of what I saw at stores in SA.

I know that prices in Europe are high compared to the US. One
lady from the UK explained, "We have to pay for our free health
care."

Please, don't turn this into a thread about national helth care.

The Wagners

botswana !!!!!!
No question1
Rearch it yourself it is the abolute best country in the world.
Bar none . An honest government helps, but wouldn,t it just!
No problemb, consideration is the norm.
Why go anywhere else ?
My view,
Ken


--

<[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected] oups.com...
    > If money wasn't a limitation, what parts or area/s of Africa would you
    > most like to spend your retirement in and why ?