Couple began a road trip in their Mercedes G-Class in 1990 and 20 years later they’d driven through 177 countries
Published on Dec 27, 2025 at 3:01 PM (UTC+4)
by Henry Kelsall
Last updated on Dec 09, 2025 at 10:23 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Henry Kelsall
A couple who began a road trip in their Mercedes G-Class in 1990 have now taken the SUV to nearly every country.
Günther Holtorf and his partner Christine Holtorf bought the car in 1988, with the pair intending to take the car across Africa in an 18-month journey.
The couple have taken the G-Class to 177 countries, in a trip that has also seen them rack up over half a million miles in one car.
The adventure began in 1990, and it continued until 2014, with the SUV pulling off a remarkable achievement.
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How the Mercedes G-Class trip unfolded
Günther bought the car while he was working as a German airline executive.
The car was a Mercedes-Benz 300 GD, and he and his wife Chritone decided to nickname the SUV Otto.
Initially, the pair had planned to go on an 18-month adventure around Africa, to take in as much of the continent as possible.
That, though, very quickly turned into a massive 20-year journey around the world.
Otto, the G-Class, became their home, as it took on a 550,000-mile journey around 177 countries.
Incredibly, they also did the trip with no sponsor and no GPS.
All they had were their maps, a camera, and some spare parts.
Christone sadly developed cancer in later years, but the two married in Bavaria in 2009.
Her son, Martin, or friend Elke Dreweck, would sometimes accompany Günther in her place.
Sadly, Christine passed away in 2010, and Günther and Otto continued the journey until 2014.
What happened after the adventure?
After the conclusion of the trip, Günther brought himself and Otto back home to Germany in 2014.
Upon his return, the car was formally inducted into the Mercedes-Benz Museum.
The car became one of the most treasured exhibits in the entire collection.
Günther sadly passed away on October 4th, 2021, having achieved so much in his life with his late wife.
One particular quote from Günther stands out from his adventures.
He said: “The more you travel, the more you realize how little you’ve seen.
“And the more you’ve seen and experienced, the more you want to continue seeing and continue experiencing.”
The trip showed the fun of going on an adventure can be, and how dependable the Mercedes G-Class is.
Henry is a content writer with nearly ten years experience, having written for various publications since 2017. Qualifying with a Sports Journalism degree from Staffordshire University, Henry loves all things automotive but has a particular soft spot for classic Japanese cars and anything Lancia. He also has a curious passion for steam locomotives.
