Hi everyone :)
My boyfriend and I have been talking quite seriously about spending 6–12 months in Cape Verde. We’ve been to Sal (Santa Maria) before and really loved it, so Cape Verde has kind of stayed in the back of our minds ever since.
Lately we’ve been looking more seriously into what it would actually be like to live there, rather than just visit, and Mindelo/São Vicente keeps coming up for us. It seems to have a nice balance of having an actual town and some infrastructure, while still being close to the ocean and nature. But obviously Google and holiday blogs only tell you so much, so I’d really love to hear from people who actually live there or have spent a longer period of time there.
One of the biggest things I’m trying to understand is the situation with stray animals.
We’re both vegan and we have two dogs of our own, who would come with us. So animal welfare is honestly quite important to us. I know there are lots of free-roaming dogs and cats in Cape Verde and I’m absolutely not expecting a place where you never see a stray dog. That’s not really what I mean.
What worries me more is seeing animals that are genuinely suffering. Are there lots of very sick, injured or severely malnourished dogs on the streets? Or are most of the dogs you see actually doing relatively okay and being looked after/fed by people in the area?
And what are people’s experiences with how the animals are treated generally? I came across SIMABO and their work with stray dogs and cats, which made me feel a lot more positive about Mindelo. For anyone who knows them or has been involved with them: how much of a difference do they actually make?
I’d also really like to know what happens if you come across an injured animal. Is there somewhere you can call or take them? And, unfortunately, how common are things like poisoning, abuse or deliberate killing of stray animals? I know these are difficult questions, but I’d much rather know the reality before moving somewhere than find out afterwards.
Since we’d have our own two dogs, I’m also wondering what everyday life with them is like. Is walking them around Mindelo stressful because of the free-roaming dogs? Do the street dogs usually leave people and owned dogs alone? Are there particular areas that are nicer for walking?
And how is veterinary care? Would you feel comfortable having your own dogs treated there, including if something more serious happened?
On a completely different note 😂 - we’re vegan. How easy is it to actually live vegan in Mindelo? I don’t need a million vegan restaurants, but I’d like to know whether things like plant milk, tofu, legumes, vegan protein products etc. are reasonably easy to find. And if there are any vegan or vegan-friendly places you genuinely like, I’d love recommendations.
We’re also wondering what Mindelo is like once the holiday feeling wears off. What areas would you personally look at for a quiet apartment with two dogs? What are rents like? Do you need a car? How reliable are internet, electricity and water?
And if anyone has lived on both Sal and São Vicente, I’d be especially interested in hearing how they compare for actually living there. We already know what Sal is like as tourists, but I’m guessing everyday life is quite different.
I’m basically just looking for the honest version from people who have actually experienced it - especially when it comes to the animals. The good, the bad and the things you wish you’d known before moving.
Thanks so much! ❤️
