Nomads on the Dolphin Coast

David and Rae Barber from Uvongo had never camped before February 2018, but friends of theirs inspired them to try it.

Unsure if they would enjoy it or not, they first bought a small caravan to test the waters. Each time they came home from camping trips, they would immediately start planning the next one.

“We would be home for two or three days and then go out again,” said Dave. “So we said, why don’t we just do this permanently? We thought about storing our stuff, but after being on the road for a bit we decided to sell everything. Everything we own is in this caravan and the bakkie that tows it.”

The Barbers are regular visitors to Salt Rock Caravan Site and Dolphin Holiday Resort’s caravan park, and have a favourite site at each park.

“This part of the coast is so fantastic,” said Dave.

“Salt Rock Caravan Park and Dolphin Holiday Resort are literally three kilometres apart, but they are totally different.

“Salt Rock Caravan Park is on the beach, it’s more unspoiled and tropical, Dolphin Holiday Resort has the promenade and it’s more bushy with big beautiful trees. But they are both well-managed.

“From that point of view, it is a fantastic lifestyle.”

“We can live on the North Coast and just change our view every couple of months,” said Rae.

At both these venues, the maximum time you can camp is three months, which means a nomadic lifestyle is the only option.

By forcing you to move, it ensures that you are always meeting new people, the couple said.

But they also travel around the country – it’d be a pity not to make full use of their ease of movement, and there are hundreds of caravan parks in South Africa.

“We have spent quite a bit of time down in Pennington. We spent two months in the Berg. There is just so much to see and so little time,” said Rae.

The financial benefits of caravan living are also hard to deny.

“Out of season at these kinds of parks you get a pensioners’ discount,” said Dave. “It is an affordable way of living.

“All the parks have got security. And you meet people. You are rotating your neighbours all the time.

“At about five ‘o clock every afternoon all the fires get lit and you smell the meat braai-ing – there is nothing nicer.”

They have just bought a beautiful new caravan from a South African brand called Quantum Leisure, made in Boksburg.

“It’s built for South Africans, said Dave, with the kitchen on the outside, catering for outside living.

Aside from the financial benefits, the lifestyle is hard to beat, and attracts many retirees in the country.

“There’s a group called Die Swaeltjies with over 400 retirees who are semi-permanent and permanent caravaners, and visit the North Coast in May each year.

“The group started in 1998 and is still going strong, according to organiser Paul Jansen.

“Why do you want to sit in one house for the rest of your life?” said Rae.

For anyone considering the caravaning lifestyle, Dave’s advice is to buy a caravan that you can afford and that your car can tow (he recommends Natal Caravans & Marine in Pinetown for expert advice on this).

Then take the leap of faith and just do it!