Where in Africa would you live

[Anonymous]

There are opportunities for me to work in numerous places in Africa (health field), and we're trying to narrow the choices to a few countries. We have two children (baby & toddler) and the following criteria is important to us:

a place that is safe or relatively safe

English-doesn't have to be the primary language but where you can get by with English.

A place that has a preschool/nusery school that DC could attend (she loves being with other children).

[Anonymous]

Sub Saharan? If so, maybe Tanzania - I think there's a decent expat community in Dar and would be surprised if there aren't english speaking nursery schools. If north Africa counts, how about Egypt or Morocco? I think the latter would be a far more interesting cultural experience but still safe and with English being enough.

[Anonymous]

Botswana has a stable government. Lovely place.

[Anonymous]

Stay out of South Africa if safety is important to you.

-signed expat from SA.

[Anonymous]

Ghana. End of thread.

[Anonymous]

Malawi. Ghana. Tanzania. Uganda.

In that order.

Safety will always be more of an issue than here though.

[Anonymous]

Ghanaians are the nicest people ever. Have also heard nice things about Tanzania.

I would stay away from most of South Africa, and Nairobi. Can't speak to smaller cities in Kenya.

I have friends raising small children in Harare. They seem to have a wonderful community, though lots of hassles with the utilities, especially.

[Anonymous]

Definitely not South Africa with crime, although it is beautiful and very developed.

I went to college in Tanzania and just loved it. There are international schools in most major cities with any diplomatic presence, so you shouldn't have to worry too much about the schools. Dar was great, as was Arusha.

You could also look at Zambia, Botswana, Kenya, and Ethiopia. Also, while not subSaharan, Egypt is lovely and fits most of your criteria.

[Anonymous]

Just curious why is SA so bad? HAve a friend who lives in Cape Town and loves it, or so she says. She has a 2 year old and a newborn.

[Anonymous]

Ghana is a direct flight from JFK, Dulles, or BWI (closer to home). Also Ghana has 2 of the best international Schools in Africa. (Ghana International School and Lincoln Community School)

[Anonymous]

Ghana or Tanzania. SA is an option but it means a way more sheltered life. I spent 2 years in Pretoria and lived behind gates at work or home except for occasional trips to other cities or national parks. Some fellow expats were very happy there--high standard of living for them, good housing with domestic help.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just curious why is SA so bad? HAve a friend who lives in Cape Town and loves it, or so she says. She has a 2 year old and a newborn.

Cape Town is beautiful and a great place to live. Security is a real issue there though, as it is everywhere in south africa.

[Anonymous]

I've heard great things about Mali.

[Anonymous]

Madagascar

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just curious why is SA so bad? HAve a friend who lives in Cape Town and loves it, or so she says. She has a 2 year old and a newborn.

South African here. South Africa is the most beautiful place on the planet. The scenery is breathtaking and there is never a lack of things to do, food to eat, and intersting people. South Africa is cosmpolitan and full of diversity and people from all over the world.

However, the crime is horrendous. The crimes against people go well beyond normal and move into the sadistic. There is a real problem with baby rape...supposedly the younger the virgin you have sex with the greater the protection against AIDS. Its a real problem. Rape is a common form of voilence...many people live in their homes behind rape gates at night. The violence is a whole other monster there and it is not a place I would have raised my children, you cannot stay away from trouble as most of the crime is so random. There are many people trying to get out of the country, with dreams of Australia, Europe, or the US. Living here is being able to live, living without fear, taking a walk outside without looking over your shoulder, comming home and not having to enter through gates, electric fences, and razor wire...circling the block a few times to make sure no one is following you. It is a horrible place to live.

SA is a country of contradictions. There is so much beauty and wonder, but the crime spoiles it, it really is sad.