Book Reviews

This is the story of an amazingly courageous woman who traveled from Europe to Zimbabwe on her own, and what a story it is!This book reall...
Alice
Dot Bekker…my favourite person. I feel like I know but I don’t. I’ve read your book describing your amazing journey about going home to Zimbabwe...
Adele
What an amazing read,what a brave woman!!!I just cant put the book down, shes such a good writer ❤️ (Facebook)
Thoko
This book was an answered prayer, a daily entertainment and a true inspiration. I feel like I know Dot personally after reading this book....
Michelle
I found “Going Home to Africa” a gripping, authentic, informative and humorous book! Gripping…in the countless unpredictable travel/r...
Gerald
From the first chapter I was hooked and followed Dot's adventures down the coast of West Africa with awe. I bought the book because I too am con...
Jordan
Dot took me on the journey of a lifetime. I witnessed the challenges, frustrations, joys and overwhelming beauty of Africa from the comfort of m...
Wendy
I had the pleasure of meeting Dot when she was living in Solsona and have followed her adventures on Going Home to Africa on IG. I have been so ...
Ruth
This is a brilliant story of a lovely lady driving solo from Northern Africa through many countries to go home to Zimbabwe. This touches my hear...
Dallas
Going home to Africa is an honest, humble and uplifting account of an incredible adventure and Dot’s fighting spirit and firm belief in the univ...
Fiona
Absolutely Compelling I could not put this book down and I am not an avid reader, getting bored quickly. I loved every moment of her jou...
Antoinette
FANTASTIC BOOK! I LOVED every page of this book and didn't want it to end. I have read many travelogues and this was by far my favourite...
Kevin
My first impression was just: Wow! Hats off! What an impressive book... I can already now say that it is, along with Doris Kearns Goodwin's Pulitze...
Susanne
Dot is one of the most amazing "road" friends we made while overlanding through Africa, and whatever we were doing she brought a tremendous sense o...
Laurie
I absolutely love travelling so this story really spoke to me. Having followed Dot in real time on her epic journey, I’m now absolutely loving the ...
Catherine
I think the fact that you share ALL of your experiences, good and bad, and do NOT leave out the huge challenges and obstacles you had to face on a ...
Susanne
I’ve just been spending the whole evening with your book. I feel so fascinated by your story and I love the way you’re describing both breathtaking...
Alexandra
Absolutely loved it. Very inspiring and Dot I would love to meet you one day when I visit Zimbabwe again. Thank you for sharing this amazing story....
Justyna
I have just finished reading Going Home to Africa and I really enjoyed it. I enjoyed it more as the journey went on... Her experiences become more ...
Nicola

Going Home to Africa

One Woman's quest to return home, driving from Europe to Zimbabwe.

Life is on the other side of fear.

Life is on the other side of fear.

Leaving the UK after living in a friend’s loft during a cold and wet winter (two of my favourite things ... not!) left me with dual feelings. Firstly I was glad to get out of the UK, one of the reasons I left 9 years previously is that there are so many people then there is the big brother controls which are everywhere (leaving you feeling safer but at the same time without any privacy), additionally now (with Brexit fever) ever more than before an unsettling feeling within the country of rising intolerance and strife and of course the weather. I was sad to leave my lovely friends who have rescued me twice and been more supportive and tolerant than anyone can expect, the transport infrastructure meant in the first months I was there I could get anywhere by bus or train with relative ease and of course the endless consumer opportunities (although all of the little money I had was spent on BlueBelle) at more reasonable prices than in mainland Europe which always surprises me.

But leave I must if I am to continue on this journey of my dreams. But like all dreams they have practical steps that must be taken in order to make them reality. So I packed up my 2 suitcases and one bag that I came with and additionally the gear I had bargain hunted for BlueBelle which included the solar panel, leisure battery, a variety of kitchen items as I left most of these in the home I had left, portable toilet, second hand drawer unit and some odds and pieces like electric van cables, jumper leads and second hand caravan cushions which were to be my bed on the return journey.

The van was surprisingly full and then there was the matter of actually leaving ... while I have travelled and driven across parts of Southern Africa, USA, Canada and Europe it suddenly occurred to me that mostly I had company and shared the driving. Bizarrely, as I look back upon it now, I had a panic attack, could I do it, drive down, catch a ferry and drive across to Luxembourg?

I quickly realised again that if I was to continue on my journey I had to get off the island of the UK and onto the mainland of Europe, that not doing so would mean remaining in the UK, which was just not an option. So I did what I have always done when travelling with others, planned my route, worked back from the time I needed to be at the ferry and checked the travel times and where I should be stopping to rest and sleep, also where it would be likely I would need to put in fuel. The best way to defeat fear is to get the facts and information and follow those instead of the uncertainty.

The day I left the winds were at an all-time high and they stayed that way right through the ferry trip too. I was glad to have taken a leisurely drive allowing an additional day so that I could stop when necessary, do a final shop for goodies and then catch the ferry. The crossing was choppy but I’m certain there are worse days to cross but I was glad to get across in the evening and make my way to my first anticipated overnight on the mainland and arriving in Luxembourg the next day.

Upon reflection it was an uneventful journey, BlueBelle handled it all splendidly and it was interesting to become accustomed to her sounds on the open highway on a longer journey. I always think a vehicle has a voice and when that changes you know there is something to worry about.

 

Lesson learnt - I realised that “life is on the other side of fear”.

 

 leaving uk3Bluebelle leaving uk1Bluebelle leaving uk2

Copyright

© Dot Bekker

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DELANO - Luxembourg - Interview
First things first!
 

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Wednesday, 09 October 2024

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About Dot

Dot is Zimbabwean born and raised and after having lived in Europe for 20 years she decided to return home but uniquely she decided to drive  through Africa to get there.

She achieved her dream by driving 20,000kms through 18 West African countries over 8.5 months on her own for most of the journey.  Her book of the same title will soon be launched,and you can find out more about Dot or subscribe to the Blog for more.

 

Kusasa Scholarship Fund

Alongside my journey I've decided to raise funds for scholarships for girl's education in Zimbabwe, find out more about that here, to contribute to the Scholarship Fund please do so here.