Dear Meruschka,
Soon after I heard the news last night, I started making a list of all the adventures we’ve had over the years. The list was longer than I realized.
I can’t remember for sure the first time we traveled together. It might have been Port Elizabeth in 2013, when we jumped into a mountain of wool.
On another trip we spent 10 days traveling the length and breadth of South Africa. You had a terrible cold the whole time. But still I could hardly keep up with you. We slept in tents and grungy youth hostels and fancy hotels. We flew over the Magaliesberg in a hot-air balloon and paddled down the Orange River in a two-person canoe. (You were a far better paddler than me.) We ate hot Durban curry and drank lots of wine. We swam from South Africa to Namibia and back again, then walked back to camp without shoes. The soles of your feet were riddled with thorns.
You laughed and winced but never complained. Later we watched the sun set over the Richtersveld.
A couple of years later we traveled around Turkey for two weeks. It was the trip of a lifetime for me. I couldn’t have chosen a more perfect travel partner.
I spent a couple of hours going through my Turkey photos and found so many beautiful shots of you. Damn girl, you knew how to look good in pictures. You were so fucking beautiful.
And then of course there were all of our adventures in Joburg — walking, eating, drinking, and dancing our way through Melville, Soweto, Alex, and the Joburg CBD.
No one loved this city like we did.
Barely more than a month ago you co-hosted my book launch. I went to visit you the day before and I could see how tired and weak you felt.
“Are you sure you want to do this?” I asked. “You can change your mind any time, even an hour before.”
The next day, you showed up at the bookstore looking more fabulous than I’d ever seen you. You charmed the crowd and kept the discussion on topic. You were poised and articulate and brilliant. You made me look good and I was so glad you were there.
You went out for drinks afterward. I was too tired and went straight home.
“You’re amazing,” I told you that night. “I couldn’t have done this without you.”
How can I keep doing this without you? How can the country keep loving itself without you?
What will Africa do without you?
I honestly don’t know and neither does anyone else. We’re bereft.
Thank you, MzansiGirl, for being the most passionate traveler I’ve ever known.
Meruschka Govender was a travel blogger and social media influencer who went by the name MzansiGirl. (“Mzansi” is slang for “South Africa”.) She died on 15 January 2019, at age 38, after a battle with cancer. (Fuck you, cancer.) Meruschka’s impact on the African travel community was — and is — too big to explain in words.
Read another tribute to Meruschka by my good friend Kate Els. I’m sure there will be more.
Heather, this is the saddest news.
I am so sorry.
I didn’t know Meruschka although I felt like I knew her, through you and through her love of Johannesburg.
RIP and love to her family, her friends and to you.
She had an influence on sooooo many people, even those who never knew her. It’s just the saddest.
A beautiful tribute to an awesome person.
Thanks Gail. x
So sorry for your loss. Meruschka sounds like someone who really lived.
She should have lived much longer.
Yes, much much longer. But if anyone lived their life to the fullest it was her.
Goosebumps. Cancer is … I follow you both and all your Jozi adventures. The best South African town, where I lived for a while and keep returning too. You ladies are both an inspiration to me. My condeleances for losing your friend & travel buddy. x
Thanks Sophie 🙂
Beautiful tribute. I met Meruschka through the AfrikaBurn community. She thrummed with vibrancy and life. I’m so sorry for your loss Heather xx
So sad. Cancer is such a terrible desease taking so many people in the primef life.
Just devastating! I met Meruschka about 3 times and she just lit everything up. I remember her last at your Book Launch looking gorgeous and had no idea she was so ill. That lovely laugh. So very very sad.
Thanks Peggy. I’m glad you were there that night.
thank you for writing this. a wonderful tribute.
Thanks Timmee ????❤️????❤️
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Beautiful celebration of her life. RIP MzanziGirl. Sorry for your loss Heather.
Thanks Adeline 🙂
Thank you for writing such a beautiful tribute, please accept my condolences.
Thanks 🙂
Yes, fuck you cancer – The Bloody Butcher – Such a great loss. Gone too soon.
Indeed.
What a vibrant presence! Your pictures and story are a remarkable tribute to someone who sounds beyond remarkable. Thanks!
This is so sad. She was obviously a great person and wonderful friend. I’m so sorry.
Thanks Ellen ????
You wrote a beautiful tribute to your friend. Meruschka looked radiant on your last photo together. Sincerest condolences to you.
Thank you.
oh damn. i guessed right what happened while i was reading. :-/ damn. had it myself and i think it’s starting up again.
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The last time I saw her was sometime in April after she had persistent on meeting me! I was so happy because I had looked up to her for such a long time before starting my blog. We instantly clicked and I felt so privileged to be one of those people in the blogging space she admired. I am broken. I feel your pain and can’t stop crying. She taught how to live fully and I will do that. I was looking forward to a Campaign with her this year, but honestly I don’t know how to honour her and her life in a way that’s fitting for her character. There’ll never be anothe Mzansi girl who lived the South African spirit in and out. Love Meru and miss you.
Thanks so much for your comment Mapitso. I’m glad you got to meet her 🙂
So extremely heartbreaking, she had the biggest smile and the most energy, the first person I felt comfortable with at the Sandton places book launch way back when. I saw her two months ago looking absolutely amazing it still doesn’t seem real. Lovely post. Truly the saddest I have felt in yonks. Rip M </3
I know what you mean. Thanks.
I love looking at these photos, she lived such a life and we were in it too! Still can’t quite believe it even now. I have such a list stored up in my head of things she recommended that I would love – festivals, musicians, countries, cities – that I still didn’t do yet, need to start doing them
OMG I had no idea. I also only new Meruschka as Mzanzi Girl though your blog. I hadn’t even seen a picture of her, and yet I am so saddened by this news. How unfair the world is. Thank you for this wonderful tribute.
Thanks Sine. It’s a real tragedy for South Africa.
This is one of my favorite of all your posts, Heath. Such a beautiful tribute to a remarkable, full-of-life person. I wish I could have met her, and you are fortunate to have had so many incredible adventures together! Very sad and sorry for your loss, dear friend.
Thanks friend. I can’t wait to see you soon ❤️
So sorry for your loss. Beautiful tribute. She truly lived her life fully and we can all learn from that lesson. Big hug x
Thanks 🙂
#fuckcancer ????
Yes yes yes
Oh man,this is the saddest news. What a vibrant soul. RIP my darling.
Thank you.
Such a lovely tribute, I remember meeting you both at the Oriental Plaza. I was always inspired by your adventures.
That was a fun day 🙂
Such a beautiful tribute! Sorry for your loss, Heather. She was a beautiful adventurous soul from what I know about her. I will miss following her insta travels and adventures. RIP Meruschka ❤️ Thank you to for inspiring us to travel, thanks Heather!
I’m very sorry Heather. You put together a beautiful tribute. Hugs from Thailand.
This is a good read . I followed her pages more than any other South African .
Go well @Mzansigirl .
And to you Heather ,Greetings from Kampala ,Uganda .
I heard about her as a dynamic young person with a passion for life. She resonated with most of us.I even asked one of the hotels, Angsana Balaclava in Mauritius, to contact her in December as I thought of her while doing water cycling among the corals
This is such a beautiful tribute to our beautiful Meru. I still can’t stop crying.
❤️❤️❤️