Ever feel that itch? The one that whispers there’s more to see than what’s at the end of a flight? For Elly and Michael Ruge, that whisper was a roar. They didn’t just answer the call of the open road; they built a life around it, proving that the world’s greatest stories are found not at airports, but on the winding, dusty, and utterly magnificent roads less travelled.
The Philosophy of the Journey
Meet Michael: a bloke they describe perfectly as “an intrepid traveller with an insatiable appetite for adventure, food, and the open road.” But this isn’t a solo act. Alongside him is Elly, together forming the dynamic duo Elly and Michael Ruge, a pair for whom a map is a book of endless possibilities and a reliable vehicle is the best travel companion you could ask for.
Their philosophy is beautifully simple yet profound: find “joy in the journey as much as the destination.” In our fast-paced world of direct flights and instant gratification, they champion the art of the journey itself—the unexpected detour, the chance encounter at a roadside stall, the sheer triumph of navigating a tricky pass. It’s a mindset that transforms a simple drive into an expedition and a holiday into a lifelong memory.
Forged on Africa’s Epic Roads
This philosophy was forged on some of the planet’s most epic routes. Take their monumental Trans Africa rally. Imagine circling an entire continent in a classic 1975 Mercedes-Benz named Marsel! This wasn’t a rushed sprint; it was a grand tour from Cape Town up through the stunning deserts of Namibia, across the wildlife-rich plains of Botswana and Zambia, over to Zimbabwe and Mozambique, before swinging back home. It was the ultimate immersion, a lesson in patience, resilience, and the breathtaking scale of our world.
A Global Tapestry of Tarmac, Gravel and Ice
From the heat of Africa to the bone-chilling cold of the Arctic, Michael Ruge’s adventures show a commitment to experiencing our planet in all its raw glory. He’s tackled the legendary Mongol Rally, a gloriously chaotic test of machine and mettle from the UK to Mongolia, and survived the “mud, mud-filled boots, and more mud” of the Trans Borneo expedition in a trusty Landcruiser. Each rally, from the precision of the Targa New Zealand to the wild freedom of the Cannonball Run, adds another chapter to their unique story of exploration.
Your Invitation to Adventure
Today, with their project Around The World Safari, Elly and Michael are sharing this ethos. They’ve bottled the essence of their rally experiences—the navigation savvy, the mechanical know-how, the deep respect for local cultures—and poured it into creating guided adventures for others. They are the perfect guides because they’ve been there, fixing a tyre in the Kalahari or marvelling at a frozen river in the Yukon.
The story of Elly and Michael Ruge is an invitation. It’s proof that adventure isn’t reserved for a special few. It starts with a decision to look at the map differently, to value the bumps in the road as much as the smooth tarmac, and to understand that sometimes, getting wonderfully, blissfully lost is the best way to find exactly what you’re looking for.
For More on Elly and Michael Ruge’s adventures check out Around The World Safari
For More on Michael Ruge HERE
Michael Ruge | Michael Ruge | Michael Ruge
More Michael Ruge Links
