Destination unknown...till the next campsite

Coming from Brazil, these Randburg residents find camping with a caravan to be a completely new adventure. And now the Da Silva family's Ford Everest must keep the wheels turning from one campsite to the next.

For Rodrigo and Melissa da Silva camping consisted of pitching their tent because caravanning in Brazil is uncommon. Up to 2010 they lived in São Paulo, the largest city in the country. Thereafter Rodrigo pursued a job opportunity in South Africa and the Da Silva family arrived just before the 2010 Soccer World Cup.

Their first local camping experience was obviously with their tent, and they visited the Forever Resort in Bela-Bela. Rodrigo was intrigued by all the caravans around them and decided to investigate caravanning a bit more.

Rodrigo’s Brazilian drivers’ licence was converted to a local one although he had to complete the practical side to prove his skill. This left him with a code B licence, a licence that allows you to only tow small trailers, as you well know. The EB licence was next, and Rodrigo completed his theory and practical test.

Towing became a reality and the Da Silva’s decided to first hire a caravan and see if this is really what they wanted. Before you could say “first-time caravan camping”, they were geared up with a proper towing combination of their own.

Today the Da Silva family – including their kids Sofia (9) and Marcelo (3) – have already done a couple of thousand kilometres in their Everest on their way to the next campsite.