Ana Nikacevic
The CamperVana
Based in Yorkshire, UK

In the summer of 2011 I did something that I’d been dreaming about for years, I bought an orange 1979 VW Bay Window Camper Van. As a lover of camping and old vehicles I decided a VW Camper would certainly add a little colour to my camping trips. Little did I know that the purchase of Dave the Camper Van would transform my camping trips, change how I travelled and dramatically alter my view about freedom.

Dave my old 1979 VW Bay Window Camper Van
Dave my old 1979 VW Bay Window Camper Van

The concept of van life was unknown to me at the time, I naively thought I’d just upgraded to a tin tent. My love affair with van life began that first winter, camping locally below the snow capped hills of the Yorkshire dales. I was introduced to the concept of wild camping by a fellow van life lover. My days of staying at busy campsites the size of a small town were swiftly over and I’ve never looked back.

Horace my trusty VW T5 Camper Van
Horace my trusty VW T5 Camper Van

Four years later I sadly sold Dave and upgraded (in terms of reliability and speed) to a 2006 VW T5 Camper. Horace the T5 became my trusty companion for my many camper van adventures for five years. What I’d lost in retro style and all round amazingness I gained in a whole host of mod cons and the knowledge that Horace could take me anywhere. But alas, I missed the character of an old vehicle and so my ten month search commenced for a more characterful model. In to my time machine I went and headed back to the eighties, the result a VW high top T25 from 1989 called George.

George my exceptionally spacious VW T25 high top camper
George my exceptionally spacious VW T25 high top camper

 

I have travelled in my camper throughout the UK and Europe and campervanned in countries as far away as Tasmania and New Zealand. I simply love this way of travelling and seeing the world. My blog is here to inspire others to enjoy the freedom that owning a camper van can give you.

​Enjoy.

​Ana – The CamperVana