10 Best Places to Retire in Africa

One of these best places to retire in Africa could be the answer for those thinking of an abroad retirement plan.

When most of us turn 50 or so, a recurring thought starts to occupy our minds: retirement. Many questions arise: What’s the proper age? When’s the perfect time to do it? Should I stay where I live, or should I move somewhere else? Will money be enough?

For those concerned with the economic aspect of retirement, the idea of moving to a less expensive country can sound very tempting. The math is quite simple, by moving to countries with lower costs of living, our retirement funds become much more efficient. If our retirement money isn’t enough, it might just be in another country; and if it is, it could be worth much more over there.

According to Numbeo, the cost of living in South Africa is on average 50% lower than in the US, and keeping in mind that South Africa is one of the most expensive countries in Africa, numbers speak for themselves.

For those who haven’t yet been there, the idea of moving to Africa can be a little unsettling.  Thoughts of war, malnourished children, exotic diseases and political instability come to mind. But those images couldn’t be further away from the truth. Africa is the world’s second largest and most-populous continent, encompassing 54 sovereign states, 23 of which have English as an official language. It offers an enormous range of cultures, languages, and landscapes, and, though it is the truth that certain countries lack proper development and stability, there are plenty of others with modern, civilized, advanced societies, as one could find anywhere else in the world.

Still, since we know safety is a concern for those thinking about retiring in Africa, we chose to make this list following the Global Peace Index provided by the Institute for Economics and Peace, which ranks African countries according to their overall level of peace and safety conditions. We gave extra points to the countries that have English as an official language. To complete our list, we chose the places with the best flight connectivity in each of the best countries, using data provided by World Aero Data, because we know family visits are important to retirees. Living costs were left out of this list as a ranking criterion, since, as mentioned earlier, even the most expensive of African countries have a very important price difference from the US.

Even though Africa is a wonderful continent offering many possibilities for aspiring retirees, we understand that moving there might not be in everyone’s mind, so we invite anyone with doubts about Africa to check out our list of best places to retire in Australia, all of which could be nice, but definitely not as cheap as these best places to retire in Africa.

10. Cape Town, South Africa

Global Peace Index: 40th in Africa.

Has English as an official language.

Home to Cape Town International Airport, South Africa’s second busiest airport.

Though South Africa doesn’t rank high on safety indexes, Cape Town might be an exception since many American tourists have reported feeling safer there, than in most major cities of the US.

With wonderful clean beaches, panoramic views, and South Africa’s strongest health care system, this beach city could be the favorite choice of retirees wanting to live out their golden years next to the ocean.

9. Johannesburg, South Africa

Global Peace Index: 40th in Africa.

Has English as an official language.

Located close to O. R. Tambo International Airport, South Africa’s largest airport.

South Africa’s most populous city is known to have the country’s cultural spotlight. It’s one of the continent’s richest cities – thanks to the gold deposits found along the river Witwatersrand, and it has the architecture to show for it. Year-round festivals, museums, universities and stadiums make this, a perfect spot for expats wanting to settle down in a city with a vast offer of cultural life.

8.  Nairobi, Kenya

Global Peace Index: 38th in Africa.

Has English as an official language.

Located 9 miles away from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, Kenya’s largest airport.

Offering all the aspects of a major global city, Kenya’s capital combines the ease of urban life with the enchantment of the African savanna. Nairobi National Park, located just 4 miles away from the city, hosts a huge variety of wild animals including giraffes, zebras, rhinoceros, and lions.

 

7. Kampala, Uganda

Global Peace Index: 27th in Africa.

Has English as an official language.

Located 25 miles away from Entebbe International Airport, Uganda’s principal airport.

Those looking for perfect weather conditions should have a look at Uganda’s capital and largest city. With average lows of 62 ºF in the winter and average highs of 84 ºF during the summer, the city of Kampala has a privileged location on the coast of Lake Victoria, Africa’s largest lake.

 

6. Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Global Peace Index: 10th in Africa.

Has English as an official language.

Home to Julius Nyerere International Airport, Tanzania’s main international airport.

Though not the country’s official capital, Dar es Salaam stands as Tanzania’s capital for finance, music, arts. Offering a wide variety of activities involving regional and international culture, this port town, with some of the most beautiful residential suburbs in southern Africa stands as number 6 on our ranking of the 10 Best Places to Retire in Africa.

 

5. Lusaka, Zambia

Global Peace Index: 7th in Africa.

Has English as an official language.

Home to Kenneth Kaunda International Airport, Zambia’s largest airport.

Zambia’s capital gathers many qualities that make it a great spot for expat retirees. An international airport for family visits, museums, stadiums and restaurants are among its best features, but none surpasses its perfect climate, with daily means going from 70 ºF in the summer to 58 ºF in the winter time.

 

4. Kumasi, Ghana

Global Peace Index: 6th in Africa.

Has English as an official language.

Home to Kumasi Airport, Ghana’s second largest airport.

As one of the highest-ranking African countries on the Global Peace Index, Ghana has a lot to offer retirees, and the city of Kumasi is among the country’s most beautiful destinations. Known as “The Garden City” – because of its broad variety of plant life, it is a great opportunity for folks wanting to retire in an urban environment that leaves room for flora. Beware, though, it can get very hot in the summer, with record highs of 100 ºF.

 

3. Accra, Ghana

Global Peace Index: 6th in Africa.

Has English as an official language.

Home to Kotoka International Airport, Ghana’s main airport.

Ghana is known to be one of Africa’s most prosperous countries, with a growing economy and a clean record of political stability. Its capital city, Accra is one of Africa’s central points for finance, culture, and leisure. Paved roads, a good health care system, and a beach-side scenery make Accra a great opportunity for aspiring retirees looking to settle down abroad.

 

2. Windhoek, Namibia

Global Peace Index: 3rd in Africa.

Has English as an official language.

Home to Hosea Kutako International Airport, Namibia’s main international airport.

With a long history as the capital of German colonies in Africa, Windhoek still guards some of its German flavor in culture and architecture. Going under British control in the 19th century, the city developed as Namibia’s center for cultural, political and economic activities.

 

1. Gaborone, Botswana

Global Peace Index: 2nd in Africa.

Has English as an official language.

Sir Seretse Khama International Airport, located 9 miles away from Gaborone is the largest in the country.

Botswana’s capital is a great place for people wanting to have a quiet retirement in Africa’s most peaceful country. Being one of the richest in the area, thanks to Botswana’s business in diamond exports, it’s a perfect spot for folks wanting to avoid the stress of large cities.

With an international airport and great weather conditions, this medium sized city ranks first on our list of 10 best places to retire in Africa.