May 7, 2019
Meet Dineo Zonke Maduna, a full time traveller from South Africa. As of this writing, Dineo has been travelling full time for 10 months and she is not stopping any time soon. She is one of the few Africans that I know of that live on the road full-time.
It takes a lot of courage to quit your job and live on the road. Other than the fact that you are so far away from the people that you love, this lifestyle comes with a lot of uncertainty. However, this did not stop Dineo.
COLOMBIA
Here’s a little bit of her travel journey to inspire you:
1.What did your parents think? How did you break the news to them that you were quitting your day job to travel full-time? Are they fully supportive?
At first my parents thought I was joking as many others did. But I sat them down and told them my plans. Luckily, they have always known that I have I love for traveling so they were and still are fully supportive of my decision to travel full-time.
2. For how long did you save for this long term travel?
I have always saved for traveling, so I had savings ready for me to up and leave. Although, once my decision was final, I saved a bit more than usual in the months leading up to September 2018.
3. Do your parents fund your travel lifestyle?
They used to, yes. Now it’s all my expense.
4. Do you make money on the go and if you do. How?
Yes, I am a travel writer, therefore, I write articles for travel agencies.
5. This full-time travel comes with lots of uncertainty. Do you ever fear that you'll run out of money?
All the time. But I know that there are many digital nomads out there that work remotely so it is up to me to educate myself and better my skills so that I continue to make money remotely.
MEXICO
6. Did you have to get any vaccines?
Yes, I got a Yellow Fever shot before I left South Africa.
7. Do you have proper health insurance in place?
Yes, I have travel insurance for one year, which also covers my health.
8.How many countries have you been to since you started?
I have been to 10 countries since September 2018.
EL SALVADOR
9.Did you pick these countries in advance or you select countries randomly as you go?
Both. I knew that I will be traveling throughout Central and South America but the order in which I moved from one country to the other is random.
10.What's your main means of transportation from country to country?
Buses, I have only taken 3 flights (including my initial flight when I left South Africa).
11. I understand you lasted 2 months in Mexico, does this mean you rented a house or you choose to backpack by staying in hostels?
I stayed in 9 different places in the two months I was in Mexico which were either apartments or hostels.
HONDURAS
12.Obviously, you're passionate about travel, however, I reckon the African society expects you to be married, buy a house and have kids because “the clock is ticking”. To most Africans, you're unorthodox. Do you ever feel like you're odd and pressured?
I’m a non-conformist, I have always taken a different route to my peers or what society expects me to do. At the moment, I am thoroughly enjoying being the odd one out. I am living life by my own rules; I’d rather do what feels right to me then to have a life that is similar to most people because I know that’s not what brings me joy.
13. What hard truth would you tell any African anyone interested in this full-time lifestyle?
Full-time travel is not easy. I have made so many sacrifices; one of them is choosing to be far away from my family. I have missed out on many family celebrations. This lifestyle is not fancy at all. yes I’ll sometimes spoil myself but most of the time I stay in basic places and eat the cheapest food in order to stretch my budget.
COLOMBIA
Want to catch up with Dineo’s travels for inspiration?
