Dear family, friends & followers,
we are sending you festive/Christmas greetings from hot Upington in the Green Kalahari, near the Namibian/Botswana border, which is apparently the hottest town in South Africa – and after an average of 36 degrees the past days and steaming 42 degrees yesterday that cooked up everything in our motorhome, we believe it, too! Ever tried brushing with hot tooth paste, cooling down your electrical devices on freezer blocks to prevent over-heating or lying on a pre-heated mattress in a hot summer night? Well, you got the idea – and it’s definitely another important hardcore test for our Ubuntu Makasi for the other planned African countries closer to the equator…

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Since our departure from our beloved Cape Town two weeks ago, we did test-driving with our zebra camper up the N7 towards Namibia after important engine repairs in Cape Town. We had stops in one of South Africa’s best campsites, in Tietiesbaai near picturesque Paternoster, then at small town Garies’s local petrol station where the young manager was so kind to give us not only a safe parking place for the night, but also keys to their very clean staff bathroom facility! Our next overnight stop was in the mining town Aggeneys, where we were warmly welcomed by Ranjeed from India and his local girlfriend at their home, both chefs in the mining resort’s restaurant, where we learned more about the mining community – and after further stops in Pofadder and Kakamas, we have been spending the last days at Upington’s beautiful campsite along the Orange River, while an experienced mechanic is currently checking out an oil leak at our camper before we cross borders!

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So that’s just as a quick trip update! We are also happy about more people following our African journey on Facebook, Twitter & Instagram, and we are especially excited about the published interviews & articles about us and our trip, so if you haven’t seen them yet, please check them out on the following platforms:

1. ‘What a Mission’ website via founder & social entrepreneur Melanie Akerboom: http://whatamission.com/2015/11/28/ubuntu-makasi-trip/
2. Our media partner African Perspectives via founder & consultant Jo Havemann: http://afriperspectives.com/2015/12/02/ubuntu-makasi/
3. Berry Gargan’s (radio & print journalist) highly recommendable article about our trip: www.berrybehr.com/an-african-adventure-story/
4. ‘Adventurous Chica’ website via Elle Afrique editor Nellie Umutesi: http://adventurouschica.com/meet-dayana-dreke-part-1/

We are also already looking forward to share soon with you our new ‘Ubuntu Makasi Helpers’ series as we have been already overwhelmed and touched by the interest, support & welcome by the people we met just alone the last days during our SA journey!

Enjoy the festive season with your beloved ones!
Peace & love,
Dayana, Tresor & Benisha

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