GREETINGS FROM … are short field notes. Friends of OLLI send us their impressions from their travels.
Spitzkoppe, Namib Desert. Many call it the “Matterhorn of Namibia.” A solitary granite mountain rising from the vast expanse—visible from afar, its presence felt even further. Romy and Mario have made this their home. After three years traveling through Africa in their expedition van “Ellie,” they’ve found a home with their children in the Erongo Mountains—in a place that’s more than just a stopover.
Hi, we’re Romy & Mario, along with our kids Sherine & Sam. We spent three years on the road—on dusty trails, endless roads, and right through the heart of Africa—in our expedition van. It was a journey that changed us. And it ultimately led us right to where we are today: Namibia.
The fact that we found our new home near Spitzkoppe of all places feels almost like fate, because:
💡 Did you know that Spitzkoppe is often called the “Matterhorn of Namibia”? It’s a striking, roughly 1,728-meter-high granite inselberg in the Namib Desert between Usakos and Swakopmund—and its rock is over 120 million years old.
Our new home is nestled in the Erongo Mountains—between Windhoek, Swakopmund, and this very special place that captivated us from the very beginning.
For many, Namibia is “Africa light”—and yes, it makes settling in easy: good restaurants, little tastes of home like Mettbrötchen, and encounters with German speakers. But for us, it’s so much more. It’s the vastness. The silence. The feeling of freedom.
One of the highlights for us was Spitzkoppe, a vast area for wild camping and letting loose on our e-motorcycles. The massive rock formations offer ideal conditions for hiking and climbing. Hundreds of rock paintings can be found on the cliffs. And once a year, this quiet, almost mystical landscape suddenly comes alive: when electronic beats echo through the rocks and a rave festival transforms the desert into a place full of energy, encounters, and unforgettable moments.
Best regards from
Romy, Mario, Sherine & Sam
More about Ellie & the Family
