Yacht Ownership Guides for African Waters

What each guide covers

Cost of owning a yacht in South Africa adds up berths at the V&A Waterfront, Royal Cape and Knysna, antifouling cycles, maintenance and crew into an annual figure, and compares a Cape Town catamaran with an imported monohull.

Importing a yacht to South Africa or Nigeria explains duty, 15 percent VAT in South Africa, Nigerian clearance and the documents that hold up a landing.

Best marinas in Africa goes country by country, from the V&A Waterfront to Abu Tig in El Gouna, Tangier and Grand Baie, with lift capacity and what each is really like to live in.

Buying a used Leopard catamaran compares the Leopard 45 and 50 and lists what we check on an ex-charter hull.

Sailing the Indian Ocean from Mauritius covers seasons, routes and boat preparation for crossings to Reunion, the Seychelles and beyond.

Buying a yacht to live aboard is for buyers who want an address rather than a weekend boat: which marinas permit liveaboards, what a month on board costs in Cape Town, the catamaran-or-monohull choice, and wintering south while Europe freezes.

Common questions, and where to start

• Is it cheaper to buy a catamaran in South Africa? For many buyers it is. Start with catamarans for sale in South Africa.
• What sells in the Red Sea? Mostly motor yachts and dive boats. See yachts for sale in Egypt.
• Where do Kenyan owners keep their boats? Kilifi Creek and Mombasa. See yachts for sale in Kenya.
• Can I buy in Mauritius as a foreigner? The Mauritius sale page explains the registry options.
• Which dayboat suits dive days in Hurghada? Compare the Cap Camarat 9.0 with the Lucia 40 catamaran for longer trips.
• Is Nigeria a real market for yachts? See keeping a yacht in Nigeria and the Mauritius overview.

Why we publish the numbers

Guesswork costs owners on this coast more than most. A buyer who understands the duty position in South Africa or the berth situation in Mauritius negotiates faster and keeps more of the budget for the boat itself.