HAPPY CAMPERS

These three widows are living their best lives exploring South Africa

-  PIETER VAN ZYL

THEY met when they were camping at a resort near Bloemfontein and hit it off immediately. Marina Venter, Engela Erasmus and Daleen Osborne had a lot in common: they were all 65, they were all widowed and they all shared a passion for the great outdoors.

A deep friendship was forged and before long the trio had decided to take things to a whole new level and explore the country together.

They now travel in a convoy of camper vans, each one pulling a Suzuki Jimny for when they need something nippy to zip around in, and stay in campsites around South Africa.

Marina, Engela and Daleen have spent the past four months journeying 1 000km through two provinces - a voyage that's cost about R4 500- and they're revelling in their adventurous retirement on the road.

The women are chatting to us from Point Caravan Resort at The Point near Mossel Bay in the green belt of the Garden Route, where they've been camping for six weeks.

"We sit here outside the campers a lot, sewing. Usually at this time of day I'll be playing a game with pictures on my phone, Marina says.

But it isn't all about contentedly whiling the hours away - the women also need to get their hands dirty to ensure their vehicles are in good nick.

"We're going to get under our campers over the next few days to do some rust repairs, sanding and repainting," Marina says.