Aline Heller: I never want to have to say "I listened to you - instead of me."
Aline didn't know what to expect. Only that she had to get going. No plan B, no safety net - just a tent, a bike and the absolute desire not to stop. Because the thought of not doing it was worse than anything that could come. What came next? 25,000 kilometers of reality. Heat. Doubts. Encounters. Harassment. And a new definition of strength.
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 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.
I have learned to feel at home everywhere - because I have found a home within myself.
A conversation with Aline Heller. She is 28 and rode her bike from Switzerland to South Africa - alone, under her own steam, with curiosity and a great deal of courage.
What began as an adventure became a school of life: about freedom, identity and inner security. She talks about tears in the tent, overwhelming hospitality - and the strength to just keep going, even when the going gets tough.
A conversation about home without a house, traveling as everyday life - and why it is sometimes enough to give a stranger a lighter.
About you and your path:
Tell us briefly about yourself: Who are you? When did you start traveling? What have you already done? Where are you right now? And what's next for you?
I am Aline Heller, 28 years old. I left Switzerland on March 4, 2024 - via Italy to Spain. I bought a bike there and had already brought the equipment (tent etc.) with me from Switzerland. On May 20, 2024, I set off from Valencia along the west coast of Africa. I skipped Nigeria and Cameroon for safety reasons and flew over them. I've been in South Africa since August 2025.
I want to stay for three to six months, train as a kitesurfing instructor and find a job, an apartment and the right balance between training and work. After that, my plan would be to ride back north along the east coast - by bike.
Do you remember the moment when you felt it for the first time? I want to get out. I want more out of life?
I've always been a freedom-loving person and questioned the traditional way of life early on: husband, house, children, car - being born and dying in the same village. It was clear to me that this would not be my path. I wanted more from life. More travel, more discovery. Out of my comfort zone.
I had already made smaller bike trips in Switzerland before. But the trigger was the trip from Switzerland to Croatia four years ago - the first time I was traveling alone. I didn't know the language or the countries and was scared at first. My mother was too, by the way. But after two months, everything had settled down. It felt good. It felt right. Free.
The decisive moment came in Croatia. I woke up one morning crying. And that happened for a week - every morning. Because my old image of "home" collapsed. Suddenly my tent was my home. And in this sadness came the realization: the world is my home. I realized that I can travel anywhere, live anywhere - because I have found a home in myself.
What does your everyday life on the road look like - or does it no longer exist?
Yes, there is - but it's very flexible. Sometimes I wait for the sun in the morning because it's still too cool. Then I make breakfast and ride between 80 and 100 kilometers. By 2 p.m., I'm usually in the next town where I know there's food and water. I can't take much more with me - for one or two days at most.
From the afternoon onwards, it's "closing time". I see what comes up, talk to people, rest, eat, take a shower - and usually go back into the tent at around 10 pm. And the next day, everything starts all over again.
Sometimes I treat myself to a day off. Then I just hang out, talk to friends on the phone or research a few things.
I've learned to let everything happen to me: People, sleeping places, that something might happen or not.
What's the best place you've stayed in so far - and why?
I got a bit "stuck" in Morocco. The people there are simply incredible hosts. I immediately felt welcome and safe - like part of the family. You are invited everywhere - for tea, for a meal, to spend the night. And the landscape is incredibly varied: desert, mountains, sea, rivers, towns, villages ... it's all there.
The most beautiful place for my eyes was Guinea-Bissau. Very untouched, magical, wild nature with lots of rivers and trees.
And I also really liked Benin - because of its history, voodoo beliefs and culture. I made friends there very quickly.
Were there moments when you wanted to give up everything?
Oh yes. Especially in West Africa. Being called "ma chérie" there isn't always charming - especially when it happens 30 times a day and isn't exactly meant nicely. I was often harassed in a very unpleasant, provocative way. It was extremely draining and pushed me to my mental limits.
I even had psychosomatic heart problems when I saw men. I really got to the point where I thought: "I'm going to break it off."
Being called "ma chérie" is not always charming - especially when it happens 30 times a day.
If you could give your former "self" one sentence before you left - what would it be?
"Believe in yourself. Listen to your heart's voice - and do it anyway." Even if everyone tells you: "You can't do that. You're a woman. That's dangerous." Men in particular - with their classic role models - have often not understood how strong I am. And that I become even stronger when I'm on my own. Everyone has some kind of opinion about Africa - and most of them have never been there themselves. I've learned: only listen to those who have done what you want to do. And I never want to have to say later: "I didn't do it because I listened to others."
The question everyone asks:
How do you finance this life? And how do you deal with the uncertainty that might come with it?
I was already living very cheaply before the trip: I lived in a shared flat, hardly ever went out and ate rescued food (foodsharing.de/region/switzerland or https://foodsharing.network/region/zuerich?). I also worked a lot, earned well - and saved. I also waited tables at the weekend.
Even now I live a very minimalist lifestyle. Cycling costs nothing. I sleep in a tent, on campsites or in cheap accommodation - even if there are mice or cockroaches. Food is cheap (sometimes only 30 centimes in West Africa), or I cook for myself.
Being on the road is a way of life:
What does traveling mean to you - beyond postcard motifs and bucket lists?
For me, traveling means seeing more than just the "beautiful" moment. Seeing the unsightly too. The wealth, the poverty, the inequality. Meeting people, hearing their stories. Being curious, being open, being present - in the here and now.
Has being on the road changed your view of the world?
Yes - and no. I already knew beforehand that the world is a beautiful place. But I came to Africa with a lot of fixed images - with prejudices that blocked me at the beginning. It took me a while to let go of them. I'm still working on it today.
I try to see Africa through the eyes of the people here. So much has been lost through colonialism, apartheid and other injustices - culture, spirituality, community. And I see how Western consumerism has exploited Africa. Our supermarkets would be a lot emptier if we didn't do that.
Are there any encounters that have particularly shaped or changed you? One that you will never forget?
Yes, many. What was similar everywhere: people give, even though they hardly have anything themselves. In some villages, I was the first white person - the children ran away crying. Nevertheless, there was an immediate warmth and cordiality. I was invited in, cooked for - even though the people themselves only had a corrugated iron hut, no running water, no electricity.
Two experiences in particular stay with me:
In Morocco, when a thunderstorm came up and I pitched my tent somewhere - wet, hungry, stove broken. Suddenly there was an old man standing there. He only spoke Arabic, but he used gestures and facial expressions to get me inside. I was given dry clothes, blankets and food.
In Namibia, I met four boys who were herding goats. I asked if I could camp. Later they came with maize porridge and goat meat. Refugees from Angola, living in torn clothes - without water, without electricity. I sat down by the fire with them and gave them a lighter. They had never seen anything like it.
What role does "home" play for you - and where would you say today: "I'm staying here"?
Switzerland is my home. But "home" is no longer a fixed place. I long for a place where I feel seen and heard. Where I can be with people close to my heart. Where we do each other good. Where we can make a difference. Maybe that will be Cape Town.
Is there anything you've let go of along the way - and don't miss?
Basically, I need little to nothing in life and don't miss anything (anymore). What I had to learn was stability and the urge for security. Control. The desire to have everything under control. I often don't know where I sleep. And that's okay. I let everything come to me - people, sleeping places, conversations or even nothingness. I live modestly, simply - but now I also feel the need to stay in one place for longer.
Meaning & traces:
What do you want to leave behind - with the people you meet?
Courage. Confidence. The belief that more is possible than you think. I want to inspire women in particular to go their own way. Even alone. Even when it gets difficult. Follow your dreams. They are worth it.
What keeps you going when things get tough?
I've had a lot of difficult moments, especially with the harassment. But I have an invisible, driving force inside me that says: "Get over it, screw it, keep going!" I have a strong, resilient character, I don't let every wind blow me away. Such journeys make you stronger per se. And when things get difficult, I like to talk to friends or my free coach ChatGPT, who can offer amazingly insightful answers, perspectives and solutions.
What else do you dream of - personally, honestly?
I want to continue my education in botany - researching medicinal plants, finding alternatives to chemical medicines. I want to bring people closer to nature. With hikes, adventures, real moments. And strengthen them internally in the process.
When more happens along the way:
Have you come across a project, an initiative or a person who is getting something moving? Or have you started something yourself that is more than just your own adventure?
No, but it would make a big difference worldwide if we all reduced our consumption and stopped supporting or boycotting companies that have become big thanks to exploitation. This is something we can consciously influence on a daily basis.
Finally, is there anything you would like to share?
I would like women to be braver. More self-confident. That they dare to go their own way. To make things happen and not allow themselves to be limited. I recently met strong women in the South African climbing scene. And almost all of them had the thought deep inside: "I'm not good enough." That has to change. They have to get rid of it if they have dreams. And there are always ways to make your dreams come true. You just have to go for it.
Follow Aline here on Insta: aline.heller.official
