Client Profile: James Carne

How later life financial planning helped James trade London life for the African Bush

The freedom to start again

James returned to London, but his time in Africa had changed him. As he puts it, “the bush bug had bitten”. Six months later, he was back in South Africa, this time enrolling on a course to become a safari guide.

“My friends all thought I’d lost the plot. They probably thought ‘there are midlife crises – and then there’s this!’”

What may once have seemed like an unlikely leap became a rewarding long-term reality. Today, James runs Sausage Tree Safari Camp with his wife Sonja in South Africa’s Greater Kruger National Park. The lodge, which they have owned since 2012, is surrounded by extraordinary wildlife and remarkable natural beauty – a world away from the stress and routine of his former life in London.

His story shows what can be possible when a career change is not simply about leaving one role, but about creating the freedom to live differently. For James, stepping away from one career opened the door to something far more meaningful.

Building a life around what matters most

Sausage Tree Safari Camp offers guests an intimate and unforgettable experience, but for James it represents something even deeper – a life designed around the things that matter most to him.

Like many people considering a major career change, James wanted more than just financial security. He wanted purpose, fulfilment and a lifestyle that felt right. By investing wisely over the years, he was able to make choices that supported that vision and turn a long-held ambition into reality.

“When I worked in London, it was 90% stress and 10% satisfaction,” he says. “Since coming to South Africa, it’s the reverse.”

His story is a powerful reminder that later life financial planning is not only about finances. At its best, it helps create the confidence to make life-changing decisions earlier, and with greater clarity.

Creating impact in a new chapter

James has not only built a new life for himself, but also created something that gives back. With every booking, Sausage Tree Safari Camp donates to a local animal orphanage. The camp also supports the Black Mambas, an all-female anti-poaching patrol, and recruits most of its staff from local communities.

This next chapter has allowed James to combine lifestyle with purpose – something many people aspire to when considering a career change. Rather than slowing down, he has been able to channel his time and energy into something personally meaningful.

An experience like no other

With room for just eight to 10 guests, Sausage Tree Safari Camp offers a highly personal way to experience the African bush. Whether guests are heading out on a game drive or taking part in a Sounds Safari, the camp provides close encounters with wildlife in one of the most extraordinary landscapes in the world.

Along the way, James sees visitors connect with Africa much as he once did.

“Many first-time visitors sit at the end of our skydeck for hours absorbing the uniqueness of the environment,” he says.

“It revitalises the spirit and is an antidote to the stresses of modern-day city living. Seeing your first elephant in its own backyard is something that blows people away – Africa is an experience like no other.”

Sausage Tree Safari resort in Africa

Turning career change goals into reality

James’s story is an inspiring example of what a career change can make possible when it is supported by careful planning and a clear sense of what you want from life.

Later life financial planning can help make a major career change feel more achievable – whether that means starting a business, changing pace, pursuing a passion, or building a completely different life.