This Couple Took Their G-Wagen on a 20-Year Road Trip Around 177 Countries
Just before the Berlin Wall came down in 1988, Gunther and Christine Holtorf packed their blue Mercedes-Benz G-Wagen, affectionately named “Otto,” and set off for what they thought would be an 18-month drive across Africa. That short trip stretched into an astonishing 26-year adventure that took them through 177 countries and nearly 550,000 miles. There were no sponsors, no film crews, and no social media updates, just two people and one incredibly reliable car chasing the open road.
A Road That Wouldn’t End
Gunther had spent 30 years in aviation, often gazing down from airplanes at the twisting roads below, wondering what it would be like to drive them. When he retired, he decided to stop wondering. He met Christine, a single mother from Dresden, and soon invited her on a “little trip.” That suggestion turned into a lifetime of exploration.
They crossed deserts, jungles, and mountain passes. They cooked their meals on a small gas stove, showered with makeshift bottles hung from the car, and slept either inside Otto or in hammocks under the stars. Gunther carried 400 spare parts and did every repair himself. Otto had no computers or electronics, just nuts and bolts, which made it perfect for the kind of remote travel most people wouldn’t dare attempt. Through floods, sandstorms, and rough terrain, Otto just kept going.
Wild Adventures And Close Calls
Africa was their first big test. They faced malaria, infections, and run-ins with wild animals. One night, Gunther woke up face-to-face with a spotted hyena. Startled, he barked in surprise, scaring it off. Later, in Sudan, he dislocated his shoulder and still drove one-handed through the desert for weeks until he made it to medical help. His secret, he said, was patience and optimism.
The pair saw lions tear apart a buffalo, crossed the Sahara under a full moon with Beethoven playing on Otto’s cassette deck, and drove along the Andes at 13,000 feet. Otto’s only real accident came 26 years later in Madagascar when it rolled onto its side. Gunther crawled out unharmed, dusted himself off, and smiled when the engine started on the first try. After nearly 884,000 kilometers (about 549,000 miles), Otto was still running strong.
The Promise To Keep Going
Christine passed away in 2010 after battling cancer. Before she died, she made Gunther promise to keep traveling, and he did exactly that. Her photo hung from Otto’s rearview mirror as he continued visiting countries they’d dreamed of seeing together. Eventually, he was joined for a time by a friend, Elke Dreweck, who shared his love for adventure.
Gunther’s travels weren’t without challenges. He faced endless paperwork, corrupt officials, and border guards asking for bribes. He handled it all with patience, humor, and a printed map showing Otto’s global route in red ink. Every problem had a solution, he believed, as long as you stayed calm and resourceful.
World’s Most Traveled Car
Image via Wikimedia Commons/Thilo Parg
By the time Gunther finally returned home to Berlin, he and Otto had spent 26 years on the road. The trip cost around €450,000 (about $480,000), including more than 100,000 liters of fuel, 41 ocean shipments averaging €3,500 ($3,700) each, and countless minor repairs. He liked to point out that the total came out to about €1,500 ($1,600) a month, a price that was cheap for a life filled with adventure.
Otto is now proudly displayed at the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart as the world’s most-traveled car. Gunther often said that people gave him too much credit for the journey. “When people praise me, I say it’s Otto,” he once joked. For him, it was never about fame or records but about curiosity, freedom, and the simple joy of seeing what was waiting around the next bend.