A different kind of holiday: the Mutschler family travels through Africa in a Unimog
Story
Robert Mutschler and his family have been exploring Africa for 20 years. Their constant companion since 2017: the U 416.
Why travel through Africa in a Unimog? “Counterquestion: where else would you want to go?” retorts Robert Mutschler. “Germany? Drive through a gravel pit? Nope, there’s better terrain out there.” Through rivers, desert sand and muddy pits, for example. And preferably with giraffes, elephants and zebras to look at. “That’s what Ossewa was made for.” Ossewa – that’s Afrikaans and means something along the lines of ox wagon. That’s what the Mutschlers named their U 416.
Trusty travelling companion.
Father Robert, mother Martina and daughter Hanna have been travelling around Africa for 20 years. Initially in a rental car and later in their Unimog. “Suddenly, you’re presented with completely different routes,” says the 47-year-old adventurer. Ossewa has been the family’s trusty travelling companion since 2017.
Ossewa was built in 1977, and the six-cylinder OM 352 engine with a capacity of 5.6 litres gets it up to 74 kW. With a coffee machine, refrigerator, ceramic glass hob and a place to sleep on board, it’s the idea companion through the savannah and co.
The Mutschler family lovingly converted their Unimog into an alternative camper van all by themselves. “The old German armed forces vehicle had tin boxes hanging under the platform for tools and the like, for example, that weren’t an optimal use of space at all,” says Robert Mutschler.
“I replaced them with aluminium storage boxes of my own construction. Now you can really get a lot in there.” To be exact, several 20-litre canisters of fuel, engine oil, gear oil, tools, spare parts, dunnage, a 20-metre steel cable, a diesel cooker, kettle barbecue, extension cable, charcoal, an emergency generator and finally the mandatory folding shovel.
“Suddenly, you’re presented with completely different routes.”
– Robert Mutschler
The whole family is delighted with their Unimog.
Where did the father pick up the necessary expertise? As a trained
electrical mechanic, he also did a doctorate in mechanical engineering
– and was involved in almost 40 patents as an inventor. He has always
been a Unimog fan. He passed his passion on to his wife and daughter.
“Hanna is determined to get her C1 licence on top of her ordinary
driving licence,” the father proudly reports. The family now even runs
its own Unimog rental in Africa, for anyone that wants to go and
experience the wilderness for themselves. On top of that, there’s
training for using the all-wheel drive and differential lock as well
as driving up and down steep gradients. The Mutschler package also
includes changing a tyre on unstable ground and a tour through sand
and mud. “Afterwards, you’re fit for the safari,” laughs Robert
Mutschler. “And for gravel pits in Germany without a doubt.”
Photos: Robert Mutschler
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9 comments
me alegro mucho y suerte.
me alegro mucho y suerte.
Ist "das" ein zahmer Elefant auf dem Bild, der Hauselefant? Sonst wär' der "große Abstand" etwas zu klein... 😉.
Da wünsche ich weiterhin viel Spaß und ... Erfolg in dem business...
Gruß
Klaus
Ist "das" ein zahmer Elefant auf dem Bild, der Hauselefant? Sonst wär' der "große Abstand" etwas zu klein... 😉.
Da wünsche ich weiterhin viel Spaß und ... Erfolg in dem business...
Gruß
Klaus
hätte noch etwas länger sein können (Grins )
Und natürlich ein Unimog wäre auch meine erste wahl wenn ich sowas vorhätte.
Gruss Andreas
hätte noch etwas länger sein können (Grins )
Und natürlich ein Unimog wäre auch meine erste wahl wenn ich sowas vorhätte.
Gruss Andreas
Ein toller Artikel und schöne Fotos mit einer interessanter Story!
Grüße Jörg
Ein toller Artikel und schöne Fotos mit einer interessanter Story!
Grüße Jörg