Jan and Leone Forster have been travelling for two months, watching the world go by from the windows of their motor-home. The fifty-five year old South Africans decided to retire early because they prefer being on the move to sitting behind a desk. They want to drive around the world. When they stopped off in the UAE last week, they had already travelled 20,000 kilometers in their “retirement cottage”.

The ‘cottage’ is a converted motor-home. It has all the things you need for a long journey including a special water filter system, which makes all water safe to drink. Inside it is just like a home with a lounge, dining room, two bedrooms, a kitchen and a tiny bathroom. There is a fridge, freezer, TV, CD player, radio and microwave oven. A table converts to a bed and there is even a shower in the bathroom.

Before he retired, Jan worked in a factory that makes motor homes. When he retired, he bought a motor-home for himself. Leone was a financial information librarian for an international company. They both love travelling. “We travel whenever we can,” says Leone. “Twenty years ago, we took a long trip to South America with our daughters when they were four and six years old. And we often travel through southern Africa.

The Vorsters began their present journey from Johannesburg, South Africa, their hometown. They drove on to Zimbabwe, Zambia, Tanzania, Kenya, Ethiopia and Djibouti. From Djibouti they took a ship to Yemen. They then moved on to Oman before driving into the UAE.

Jan and Leone were impressed with the Gulf countries. “We saw a spectacular camel race in Al Ain and enjoyed a great sunset in Muscat harbour. We like Dubai very much – excellent roads, very clean city, lovely parks and museums and a very interesting mix of people,” they told the Gulf News.

On the road, each of the Vorsters has their own duties. “Jan drives and keeps the vehicle going. I look at the scenery,” laughs Leone. Actually she does a lot more than that. She takes photographs, writes a daily diary and enters a report of each country on her laptop. The Vorsters also send a regular newsletter home to their friends.