On the road to a new life: A Swiss couple lives with two dogs in a VW bus in Africa

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Blick reaches Pamela Hutter-Bianchini (37) and Andreas Hutter (44) at a campsite south of Agadir in Morocco. The couple arrived in Africa a month ago in a VW bus with their two dogs and have been traveling in Morocco ever since.

They gave up their rooms in the house of a colleague at Rudolfstetten AG, sold or gave away everything, and deleted their registration in Switzerland. They have been at home in VW buses ever since. Both do not yet know where immigrants will settle in the future. For now they want to explore Africa. “Then we’ll see where we can find a place to stay,” says Andreas Hutter.

We are unhappy in Switzerland

This isn’t the couple’s first trip in their VW bus. They had been traveling in America with their dog, Kalea, for six years until May 2020. In Switzerland, globetrotters started working for their former employers again. He is the department manager and she is the branch manager. Once again they saved every franc for another journey. Their buses had been undergoing maintenance for about two years. «This was necessary. 200,000 kilometers of our adventurous journey have left their mark on the old VW bus,” says Andreas Hutter.

But the six-year journey also left its mark on the couple. In daily life in Switzerland, they increasingly realized that they no longer felt comfortable in their homeland. “It’s not Switzerland’s fault, it’s rather our fault. Traveling changed us and we became more and more unhappy,” says the woman. It was a gradual process until they both realized they wanted to give up their lives in Switzerland altogether and find happiness somewhere in the world. It was the process.

Travel to Africa with Plan B

After their experiences in America, the duo decided to go to Africa this time and perhaps find a new home there. Morocco has long been known as a travel destination. The Swiss will probably want to move on to South Africa from there.

Without time pressure, unplanned, open to the country and its people, and perhaps with a new life center. “But we have a plan B. We loved Mexico, Canada and the USA. Even if we didn’t feel at home in Africa, we would feel comfortable there,” says Andreas Hutter, who was in South Africa many years ago and still speaks highly of the wildlife and landscapes today.

Emotional farewell and growth of animals

After giving up their jobs and rooms in the summer of 2023, the Hutters first traveled to France, Portugal and Spain in their newly refurbished VW bus, and first holidayed in Europe before taking the ferry to Africa.

“Saying goodbye to our family and friends was very emotional, and we wanted to process it and recharge our batteries first,” says Pamela Hutter. There was also another addition to the Hutters family before they left Switzerland: a young dog named Malia. The young dog first had to get used to living on the bus and traveling with the family. “Kalea and Malia get along well and traveling with dogs goes smoothly,” says Andi Hutter.

Special improvements and innovations in the African bus

In Morocco, the couple traveled by VW bus to the Atlas Mountains as well as to cities such as Marrakech. «We have specially equipped our bus for Africa, so we can travel as autonomously as possible. This means we can stay wherever we want, not just in campsites,” says Andreas Hutter.

They mostly use electricity at campsites to Skype with their loved ones in Switzerland, use the internet, fill up the water tank on the go, and enjoy the luxury of a long shower.

The bus now has an auxiliary heater as well as freshwater purification and hot water, as well as solar panels on the roof. “Nights can be cold in the desert,” says Pamela Hutter. The couple also renovated the bus’ kitchen and bought new beds. “After six years of traveling, the mattresses are no longer useful,” he says with a laugh.

What should not be missing in your luggage are spare parts. Her husband can make repairs himself. He has enough experience in this regard from his last trip. Speaking of experience: This has now become a source of income for the Hutters. They offer online travel advice including visas, transport or especially traveling with animals.

The search for ‘home’ continues

The couple will spend the next few weeks in Morocco with their dogs before heading south via Mauritania. The couple has no security concerns. This was also the case on the last trip, and from their experience they also know how and where to move safely. «The locals of Morocco are friendly. “We like it here so far, and the food tastes great with all the spices,” says her husband.

Who knows, maybe the Swiss will return to Morocco after his African tour and find a “little place” here and feel at home.

Source : Blick