In 2011 we first started as a Mobile Dental Safari, and we were so very proud of the 1100 odd patients we treated that year. In this old photo you can see three of the veterans who still attended this year, Diego, Dino and Natalya. But in 2024 our Smile and See Safari has now grown into a massive multi-pronged medical outreach that treated 7200 patients in six days at the six clinics we set up, and to add to that workload, five of which were in our tented signature mobile ‘hospitals’.

As always there are so very many stories within stories. But the overarching one is of a team of dedicated hard-working individuals pulling together to accomplish seemingly impossible tasks.

The extractions team led by Diego (who scowls at anyone who dares take a lunch break) performed an incredible 3349 extractions over our six work days, that is a lot of painful decayed teeth!! In the photo its Diego in his Springbok rugby jersey and cousin Flaco soon to be a second-time proud father. Ezio and Carlotta in diagnostics were assisted this year by el Jefe Carlos and Cobra Scout Junior. The marvelous restorative team (fillings and root canals etc) saving teeth one by one continue to amaze us with their painstaking attention to detail.

This year Paolo and Thembane kept their equipment whirring and in these photos Natalya and Susanna work either side of Mercedes restoring a tooth for an Orlando Pirates supporter mum, whose baby calmly watched proceedings. Dr Mutemi from the Dental directorate of Ministry of Health gave them a thumbs up and all of us congratulate him on his recent promotion!

Marta here for her first tour with us, invited a group of Sipepa High School girls to watch and learn whilst she administered lignocaine anesthetics, then Alicia treated them all with glittery face stars much to their giggling delight.

Our Sterilisation team led by Sethi and Tracey pictured here on their 12th tour with us, scrubbed and thoroughly cleaned tirelessly, avoiding any holdups or delays in work flow.

At Dhlamini our record biggest day ever, (we treated 1640 patients between 08.45 and 16.30), Dr Sue Mushunje and Dr Moyo pressganged the Camelthorn managers Sibo and Alice into their pharmacy to help record all the patients and dispense antibiotics, pain killers and toothbrushes. And every patient left that clinic warmed by their great big smiles that spoke very clearly of their pride.

What a week we had during this, our best and biggest Smile and See ever!!