My job allows me to live just about anywhere in the world, and I have visited more places than most. With that said, I have recently took up hunting. I would like to live somewhere where a balance between living conditions and hunting conditions. Please share your opinions. Also, so I know a little about you. Please let me know the following, in order for me to get an idea of what you enjoy. I will answer the questions as well.

Favorite Place you have lived: Paris, France
Favorite Place you have hunted: Northern New Mexico, USA
Worst Place lived: Houston, Texas, USA
Worst Place hunted: anywhere I can't hunt within 2 hours
Best living/hunting balance: ?????

I guess a lot depends on how much time and money one has.

What country are you a citizen of now.

In my next life I would like to try being a Canadian, with a get-out-of-jail-free card in case I get tired of hunting and want to become an American again................I also want a Latin girlfriend.................and a Harley...........and a Latin girlfriend, or did I already mention that?.............

I would be willing to go to Venezuela or Colombia or Chile in order to hunt for a Latin girlfriend, which would combine my love of hunting and Latin girlfriends. As far as "Living/Hunting Balance", it doesn't get any better than that.

You shouldn't have to leave Texas to find the latin girlfriend.

Mexican comes right after Venezuelan, Colombian, Chilean, Ecuadorian, Argentine, Brazilian, Peruvian. I'm pretty particular. Besides any Latina that has lived in the U.S. a few years is too much like an "American woman"; high maintenance.

Namibia...

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Originally posted by Opus1:
Namibia...

Any info on getting residency, buying a house and getting a car in Namibia ? Also can you keep guns there as a non citizen ? How is telecom in Namibia - Internet

Thanks,

Mike

With an investment of $300,000 USD or more you can fast track Permanent status. That takes about 6 to 9 months depending on who is doing the filing. Yes you can own guns with suppressors, you can carry, you can own cars, planes, boats, homes and best of all you can hunt year around. With the right connections you can do culling work with a licensed PH and get paid.

Through a corporate trust structure, you can own farmland however, the government waver process can be challenging depending on where you want to have farmland. Otherwise, inside the towns and cities landownership is no problem.

There are no blackout, power issues in the country and high speed internet and cell are pervasive throughout the country. There are lots of pockets in the desert areas where there is no cell service, but a satellite hotspot can fix that problem if need be.

The Hospital in Windhoek is good, however, for anything major, I would either hit Germany or the States.

You have the beach, desert, canyonlands, hills, smallish mountains, grasslands, and in the Caprivi Strip area there is plenty of marsh and water. Great inshore and offshore fishing, spearfishing, surfing, SCUBA, and sailing.

Namibia is one of the least populated and one of the most geologically diverse countries on the planet and one of the last places in Africa where wilderness still exists. Namibia is 3/4 the size of SA with 1/30th the population and none of the social issues, crime, violence, and racial tension. You do not have to live behind barbed wire, alarm systems, guard dogs, cameras, roving security and police. You can walk the streets day or night and not be bothered. Begging is illegal (I know, I've tried) and the Police do not put up with any crap from anyone. I head back in 4 days!!!

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Namibia is 3/4 the size of SA with 1/30th the population and none of the social issues, crime, violence, and racial tension. You do not have to live behind barbed wire, alarm systems, guard dogs, cameras, roving security and police. You can walk the streets day or night and not be bothered. Begging is illegal (I know, I've tried) and the Police do not put up with any crap from anyone. I head back in 4 days!!!

Don't get me wrong, I really like Namibia, but the above is a VERY rosy picture of a fairly serious crime problem which is getting worse, especially in Windhoek.

US State Dept report on crime in Namibia

I agree with Opus1 that Namibia would be a great place. It seems to me to be a great answer to the OP. But...it has its problems. There are many sections of Windhoek where one would be at risk, as in any large city. Many of the best neighborhoods in Windhoek are, in fact, behind walls, wires, and fences. Private security in Windhoek is big business.

But, all in all, it'd be a great place for a full time hunter who can "live just about any place in the world". Some of the smaller towns in the central highlands would be ideal.

Its far and away the best place in Southern Africa. No question.

And why buy, when you can rent / lease a great place, fully furnished and equipped very reasonably?

Um, what are the AIDS percentages in these south African nations? Contracting AIDS after a blood transfusion would be a major bother. In other words, fugggittabouddittt.......

Live someplace with the least overall tax burden and best quality of life (I admit the two don't necessarily go together, but there must be someplace like that). You'll be happier and enjoy travelling to a variety of hunting locations around the world, rather than letting the "ennui" of shooting your 50th springbok on a Namibian cull set in.

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Originally posted by Gatogordo:

quote:

Namibia is 3/4 the size of SA with 1/30th the population and none of the social issues, crime, violence, and racial tension. You do not have to live behind barbed wire, alarm systems, guard dogs, cameras, roving security and police. You can walk the streets day or night and not be bothered. Begging is illegal (I know, I've tried) and the Police do not put up with any crap from anyone. I head back in 4 days!!!

Don't get me wrong, I really like Namibia, but the above is a VERY rosy picture of a fairly serious crime problem which is getting worse, especially in Windhoek.

US State Dept report on crime in Namibia

I live part of the year in Atlanta GA. The crime here is far worse, far more deadly, with a lot more violent crime than what you would ever see in Windhoek which is largely purse snatching and car break ins and crimes of convenience - i.e. dumb tourists.

My home is SA has been broken into three times, my car three times, I've had several friends murdered and lost countless $$$ replacing things that magically walk off with a little assistance by the locals. In four + years in Namibia, I've not had one thing stolen, my car has never been fondled, and have never had any negative encounter with the locals (drunk Dutchmen from SA is another story.)

So is it the safest country on the planet? Nope. Is it the safest country in Africa? Probably.

Here's my top 10 in no particular order.

1. Northwest Territory or Yukon, Canada
2. Northern Territory or Queensland, Australia
3. Namibia
4. Tanzania
5. Wyoming, Montana or Idaho, USA
6. Alaska, USA
7. New Zealand
8. New Caledonia
9. San Carlos Barliroche, Argentina
10. Austria or Switzerland