Ellie and the Family - how a family found their home on the road
Some people dream of leaving everything behind. Romy and Mario from Switzerland did just that. In 2022, they swapped house keys for ignition keys, gray blocks of houses for sunsets in the desert, dusty off-road tracks and encounters that will stay with them. Together with their children Sherine and Sam Jay, they set off into the unknown in their self-built expedition vehicle - and on 35,000 kilometers they not only found adventure, but also a new home. Today they live in Namibia and enjoy welcoming travelers to their new home.
We talk to people who live their lives differently - consciously, courageously, sometimes radically. Not to impress. But to inspire, to question and to show: There is another way. And that's okay. This is not about empty phrases. Not about gloss. It's about real answers - to the questions you ask yourself around the campfire when no one is making small talk anymore. Because when you're on the road, you have a lot to tell. And often more to give than you think.
You don't need a common language to understand each other - just respect and an open heart.
Romy & Mario,tell us briefly about yourselves: Who are you? How long have you been on the road? What have you already done? Where are you/living right now? And what's coming up next?
We are Romy, Mario, Sherine (6) and Sam Jay (5) - an adventurous family who decided to turn our backs on traditional Swiss everyday life in 2022. Instead, we set off into the unknown with our expedition vehicle "Ellie" - and have been living our very own dream as digital nomads ever since.
Our journey began in Europe, took us across the Balkans to Turkey and finally along the west coast of Africa to Namibia. Over 35,000 kilometers, countless off-road tracks, dunes, river crossings and wild campsites later, we found our little paradise in Namibia - and left a piece of our hearts there.
Today, Namibia is our base: a place to arrive, recharge our batteries and make plans. After an intensive rebuilding phase and a visit from home, we saddled up again in March and explored southern and eastern Africa. We have been back in Namibia since July 2025. We're looking forward to settling down a bit, to welcoming friends and travel buddies - and of course to the next big and small trips that start from here. Because even though we now have a home: We won't be running out of slopes any time soon - and the thirst for adventure remains!
Do you remember the moment when you felt it for the first time? I want to get out. I want more out of life?
Absolutely. And even if the trigger wasn't a nice one - it was the Covid period that flipped the decisive switch for us. Suddenly we were both working from home, day after day, overlooking the same block of houses. And we asked ourselves: why not look at a beach, a mountain range or the desert while we work?
This time opened our eyes. We worked from home to pay for daycare - even though we wished we had more time together as a family. Time that never comes back. At the same time, it became clear that location-independent working is not only possible in many professions, but also sustainable.
That was our moment. The point at which we said: it's now or never. We finally wanted to really combine work and family - and discover the world in the process. We couldn't let go of the idea of shaping our own lives instead of just organizing them. The idea became a plan. The plan became an adventure.
What does your everyday life on the road look like - or does it no longer exist?
Yes, there is - just in a freer form. We don't just live for the day, that's never been our thing. We also need a certain amount of structure on the road - especially with two small children on board. But we plan flexibly and leave enough room for spontaneity.
Our day starts with fixed rituals: breakfast together, washing, packing. The kids know this - and it gives them the necessary feeling of security, no matter where we are. The evening before, we often discuss what the next day will look like: Are we going to stay? Are we going further? Do we need to go shopping, fill up with water or is there a new off-road adventure waiting for us?
We usually schedule driving times for part of the morning or afternoon, depending on what else is on the agenda. We usually work in the evening when the children are asleep - or during the day when we stay in one place: The kids play, we work on our laptops or outside on small projects.
And sometimes we've only just arrived when we're already moving on again. We find it difficult to stand still - our curiosity about what lies around the next bend is too great.
What has been the most beautiful place you've stayed in so far - and why?
Definitely Namibia! Not only did we find a new home there, we even bought our own house - that's what we call "staying longer" ;-)
Before that, we spent three months in Turkey, in the Izmir region. We liked it so much that we completely rebuilt our container home there - a real DIY adventure!
Apart from that, our curiosity usually drove us on. Before the trip, we had the plan to travel slowly: stay in one place during the week and travel at the weekend. In reality, even the most beautiful beach rarely lasted long - sometimes the infrastructure was lacking, sometimes the weather didn't cooperate or we simply felt like moving on.
In short, we are explorers through and through - and that's exactly what our adventure is all about.
Were there moments when you wanted to give up everything?
No, fortunately not! Rather, we are grateful and proud that we are able to live our dream. Sure, life on the road brings challenges, but we see them as part of the adventure - as something that makes us grow and brings us closer together. For us, it was never a question of giving up, but always of making the most of every day. This feeling of being in control simply makes us happy.
If you could give your former "self" one sentence before you left - what would it be?
Life is too short for 'someday. Just do it - don't wait for everything to be perfect. The perfect moment often only comes when you take the first step. Sometimes you get stuck brooding or waiting for far too long. But it's often that first step that makes all the difference - whether it's when traveling, starting a new project or in everyday life. Just doing it gets you further.
The question everyone asks themselves: How do you finance this life? And how do you deal with the uncertainty that may come with it?
An absolutely legitimate question - because without winning the lottery, you naturally have to see how you can finance life on the road. For us, it was clear from the start that if we wanted to be on the road for the long term, our work would have to travel with us. Living off savings for just a few months was out of the question - we wanted to remain open to everything that arises on the road, without a fixed return date.
That's why we consciously opted for self-employment - with all its freedom, but also responsibility. Romy works as a virtual assistant and we advise families on their travels and emigrants to Namibia. This gives us flexibility and the opportunity to work from any location.
Of course, uncertainty is part of it. But it also exists in a traditional life with a permanent position - it just often feels better hidden there. We have learned to live with it, to improvise and, above all, to trust. Because if you are passionate about your dream, you will always find a way to keep it alive.
Being on the road as a life principle. What does traveling mean to you - beyond postcard motifs and bucket lists?
For us, traveling means one thing above all: freedom - in our minds and in our hearts. It's not about ticking off places or collecting perfect pictures, but about immersing yourself, feeling and growing.
For us, traveling is a way of life. It's the luxury of not knowing in the morning what the day will bring - and going to sleep at night with stories that would never have happened at home. It's the conversations with people on the roadside, the laughter of children playing with other cultures, improvising when everything goes differently than planned.
Are there any encounters that have particularly shaped or changed you? One that you will never forget?
Definitely - and it wasn't just one, but countless. Every person we met on the road left their mark in their own way. Other travelers in particular have always inspired us, encouraged us or believed in us at just the right moment. You hardly know each other - and yet you immediately share stories, experiences, sometimes even mishaps or successes. This connects us on a very special level.
Some of these encounters have become real friendships, others were only brief - but all the more intense for that. In Turkey, for example, we spent six weeks completely converting our container home. Mario specifically looked for a local company that he could work with so that he could install the electrics himself - learning by doing, in the middle of everyday working life in Turkey. What happened next was more than just a job: although no one spoke the same language - not even English - they worked, sweated and laughed together from morning to night. A real bond that worked without words. In the end, tears were shed - on both sides.
This experience showed us that you don't need a common language to understand each other. Just mutual respect, open hearts - and perhaps good tools.
We were also impressed by other travelers - people who travel through Africa by bike or in an old Ford Transit, without four-wheel drive, without comfort, but with unbridled courage and stamina. That taught us humility. Because suddenly our comfortable expedition vehicle no longer seems so "adventurous". These encounters are grounding - and at the same time incredibly inspiring.
The openness in countries that we previously had great respect for was particularly impressive: Nigeria, Cameroon, Congo. We had a lot of preconceptions in our heads based on media reports - and then we were welcomed with a smile, hospitality and genuine interest. These experiences changed us deeply. They showed us how much we are influenced by negative images - and how important it is to form our own opinion. With an open heart.
In the end, it is precisely these encounters that make the journey. They have shown us that we are not alone with our way of life - and that there are many people out there who feel, think and live in a similar way. They have enriched us and made us think.
One of these experiences that really stuck with us - and from which we were able to learn a lot about the African way of life - was the following:
Imagine this: You are in Africa at a traditional dance performance. Everyone is excited. You sit down - front row. And the audience? Almost all Europeans. So: whisper mode is activated. Everyone sits there like at the opera - just don't show any emotion. The show begins! Drums, dances, pure energy! And what do the Europeans do? Sitting there with the facial expression of someone staring at an Excel spreadsheet.
No coughing, no blowing their nose - not even a hint of enthusiasm. Why is that? Because you don't want to disturb the mood. The children ask questions? Immediately: "Shh! This is a cultural experience!"
Everyone watches reverently. And when it really gets going? Then there's ... a polite smile and two claps. Emotional state of emergency: a slight nod. After all, that's how we're brought up: "Show your feelings? Not without written permission."
So really - imagine you're in the middle of this vibrant, lively show - and there's a group of people sitting all around you as if they're enjoying a candlelit string quartet."
But now ... here comes the African audience. And people - the place is on fire! There's whistling, clapping, dancing - even in the rows of seats! Children jump around, people cheer and shout out their names to the dancers, just like at a soccer match. Everyone joins in the celebrations - as if it were a family party. And the best thing? Nobody whispers. Everyone feels it! And you're sitting there in the middle of it all, thinking to yourself: "Okay ... THIS is life!"
What role does "home" play for you - and where would you say today: "I'm staying here"?
Home is no longer a fixed place for us - it's a feeling. It arises where we feel comfortable, come to rest and feel real connections. This can be a pitch in the desert, an evening around the campfire with new friends - or simply our cozy interior in "Ellie", our expedition vehicle.
If we had to say today: "I'm staying here", then it would definitely be Namibia. This country touched us ten years ago - with its vastness, its serenity and its wild beauty. We have not only found our own home here, but also the feeling of having arrived. Namibia gives us room to breathe, space for the children, a perfect starting point for new adventures - and a safe home port that we can always return to.
Is there anything you have let go of on the road - and don't miss?
Oh yes - and probably even more than we initially realized. We let go of a lot of material things along the way: Clothes, kitchen stuff, decorations - all the "what if" stuff that accumulates in everyday life. But that was just the beginning.
It was much more important that we also let go of mental burdens: the constant pressure to do everything perfectly, external expectations, fixed routines that restricted us rather than supporting us. We let go of this "always having to function" a little more with every week on the road.
And to be honest, we don't miss any of it. On the contrary - it frees you up when you realize that you can live so much more with less. What remains is the essentials: Time for each other, real encounters and the freedom to shape each day anew.
What do you want to leave behind - not in the sand, but with the people you meet?
If we want to leave something behind, then it is the feeling that courage is worthwhile. That you don't have to be perfectly prepared to go your own way - you can just get started. We want to show that you can travel with children, that work and freedom can be combined and that a different life is possible if you are prepared to let go of the familiar.
It is important to us to leave a real mark - in terms of encounters, exchanges and humanity. A smile, an open conversation, genuine interest in the other person. If someone has the feeling of being strengthened, inspired or simply seen after a meeting with us - then we have achieved exactly what counts.
And perhaps one or two people will be left with the thought: "If they can do it - why can't I?" Then it was worth it.
What drives you when things get tough?
Clearly: our why. We deliberately chose this path - not because it's always easy, but because it feels right. And when things get difficult (which fortunately has rarely happened so far), we remember why we set off: to spend more time together, discover the world and give our children a different attitude to life - free, courageous, curious.
What also sustains us is looking back. When we see what we have already achieved - on the road, as a family, as a team - it gives us strength. And we often realize: The most difficult moments are the ones from which we have learned the most.
What else do you dream of - personally, honestly?
Honestly? We dream that this attitude to life will remain - no matter where we are. That our children grow up with a vision, an open heart and the confidence that they can always go their own way.
We dream of being able to continue to decide freely - when we travel, how we live and who we spend our time with. And sometimes it's also very simple wishes: a campfire with old and new friends, because unfortunately the moments with them are often too short along the way. In the end, it's not about big goals, but about living a life that feels real.
Living with less has made us richer - in terms of time, encounters and real moments."
Is there something you would like to share? A project that is close to your heart? A place we should take a look at? Or a channel where we can follow you?
Yes, we would love to! We are always happy when people want to follow our journey - whether out of curiosity, for inspiration or simply to satisfy a little wanderlust. You can find us on Instagram under ellieandthefamily, where we regularly share insights into our everyday travel life, special encounters, off-road routes and also the little challenges of this life.
Our new home in Namibia is a project close to our hearts - not only for us, but also as a place to meet people. We want to welcome other travelers and offer them a place to arrive, exchange ideas and recharge their batteries. To this end, we have created an overlander site and a guest house - a place where you can stay for a short time and still feel at home.
So if you are ever on the road in Namibia: come and visit us! We look forward to new faces, exciting conversations and perhaps a campfire together under the stars.
About the adventurer family:
Romy and Mario from Switzerland decided to turn their lives completely upside down in 2022. Together with their children Sherine (then 3) and Sam Jay (then 2), they swapped everyday life for adventure - and set off on a journey with no fixed end point in their self-built expedition vehicle "Ellie". Their route took them through Europe, the Balkans and Turkey, down along the west coast of Africa - all the way to Namibia.
Along the way, they learned that a home does not consist of four walls, but of moments, encounters and the feeling of having arrived. After the conversion project in Namibia, they traveled to South Africa, Lesotho, Eswatini and Mozambique before returning to their new home in Namibia. There they created an overlander site and a guest house - as a place to arrive, exchange ideas and recharge their batteries.
Today they live between the desert and the starry sky, welcoming travelers from all over the world and setting off again and again to make new discoveries in southern Africa. Their story is not a fairy tale - but proof that courage, openness and a little improvisation can turn life into a journey.
Follow Romy, Mario, Sherine and Sam Jay here:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ellieandthefamily
Website: www.ellieandthefamily.ch
By the way, we are selling our Ellie
Our fully equipped expedition vehicle "Ellie" (CH-approved, 4-6 persons) is for sale - ideal for off-road tours through Africa. Location: Namibia. Whether return trip via the west coast, road trip in the south or shipping - the choice is yours --> click here for the ad.
