Why We Decided to Embark on the Van Life Journey

Life is a journey; the most important part is not the destination but the Journey itself, and it is a journey that one must cherish. Looking back, you will realize that the most significant moments of any trip were all the experiences that happened along the way. We wanted to hit the open road and meander in our own time, going wherever the road took us. I tend to get overeager to do exciting things, and sometimes, the flashes of inspiration and enthusiasm disappear just as quickly as they came. But the dream to hit the open road and travel like a gipsy with a four-legged furry friend never left. Living the Van Life Journey by journeying in a small house on wheels is a delightful experience and a dream come true.

How Our Van Life Journey Started

Hubby started sharing my dream after watching a documentary, Expedition Happiness. In the documentary, a young couple, Felix Starck and Selima Taibi, decide to quit their 9-to-5 jobs and buy an old bus, which they transform into a home. With the bus and their dog, they travel to many countries and live the lives they want. It was so incredibly exciting that I couldn’t get it out of my mind. A few days after watching the documentary, I noticed that Johan was browsing through advertisements for cargo vans and buses. I then knew that he also longs for a Van life Journey.

Shortly after, I drove past a yard where a beautiful old blue Ford school bus was parked between other ancient old cars. I turned around to take a closer look, taking pictures while visualizing our motorhome. Although I was head over heels in love with it, Johan had concerns about things like replacing rusted floors, the availability of engine parts, and the accessibility of parking and entering camping grounds.

Our Ford Transit Cargo Van

After searching for a few months, we found an advertisement for an extra-long wheelbase and extra-high Ford Transit Cargo Van. The vehicle was more than 1,000 km away, but after seeing videos, photos, and proof of a full-service record, we were convinced that the condition was acceptable. Because of its height, the Cargo Van couldn’t be transported by truck, so someone had to drive him to Pretoria. 

And so began the challenge of our van life journey. Read about the conversion process and how the Cargo Van became a beautiful home. A few years later, we don’t regret buying an old Cargo Van, which Hubby transformed into a dream Campervan. Although we still have our house with a large garden and a few furry friends, we can hit the road in our self-contained home with a furry friend. 

Considering A Van Life Journey

Living or travelling in a van isn’t for everyone, but we won’t have it any other way. We are delighted with our Campervan and love every aspect of our wandering nomad lifestyle. Moreover, we don’t regret the time, effort, and money spent converting the van. Vanlife is a minimalistic way of life and a matter of personal preference. There are many factors to consider, which must be decided over time. Living in a van is significantly different from residing in a traditional home.

Fortunately, We have a large garden and enjoy spending time at home with our animals: two dogs, Rosy and Dashuri, and our cat, Renaldo. But we also love the outdoors and the freedom of van life. Unfortunately, Rosy, an Africana, a distinct breed (endemic to Southern Africa), isn’t allowed at all campsites due to her size, but Dashuri, our Jack Russel, travel along.

There is no right or wrong answer if you want the lifestyle. It’s more about the Journey than the destination, although we like to spend a few days at certain spots. To find out if van life is for you, check out our campervan conversion post with all the details and the most important factors to consider. Let me introduce you to our Van Journey Gipsy Home.

Where to Overnight in a Van

Unfortunately, in South Africa, one cannot drive wherever you want as it’s unsafe and especially in some parts, one must be very cautious. One can only spend the night in a Caravan Park. Even in the country’s caravan parks, there are incidents of campers being mugged and robbed. Therefore, finding a safe campsite or caravan park for the night is essential.

our Van Life Journey Travels

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