Have you ever wondered what the longest road trip ever taken was? Well, wonder no more!
In 1981, a man named Gunther Holtorf set out on a road trip that would last for 26 years and cover over 800,000 kilometers. Holtorf was a German mechanical engineer who had just retired when he decided to embark on this epic journey.
The Beginning of the Journey
Holtorf’s journey began in Germany in 1981. He set out in his trusty Mercedes-Benz G-Wagen with his wife Christine.
Their plan was to travel through Africa and return home after a year. However, things didn’t quite go as planned.
The Unplanned Adventure
As they traveled through Africa, they fell in love with the continent and decided to continue their journey indefinitely. Over the next 26 years, they visited 177 countries and territories across six continents. They even drove through war zones and were once taken hostage in Syria.
The Trusty G-Wagen
Throughout their journey, Holtorf relied on his trusty Mercedes-Benz G-Wagen which he named “Otto.” He made some modifications to the car to make it more suitable for their travels. For example, he added an extra fuel tank to increase its range and a rooftop tent for camping.
The End of the Journey
In 2014, after traveling for 26 years and covering over 800,000 kilometers, Holtorf finally returned home to Germany. Sadly, Christine had passed away during their journey in 2010. However, Holtorf continued the journey alone as a way of honoring her memory.
Conclusion
Gunther Holtorf’s epic road trip is truly one of a kind. It’s hard to imagine anyone else embarking on such an adventure today given the state of the world.
However, his story is a reminder that the world is full of amazing places and experiences waiting to be discovered. So, if you’re feeling adventurous, why not plan your own road trip and see where it takes you? Who knows, maybe you’ll break Holtorf’s record!