Van conversions have been a hot topic in the kite community, but Kaimar and Kerli Halliste have taken their van to a different level - and to a different continent! Read all about their ultimate kite van and road trip from northeastern Europe to northwestern Africa in this exclusive interview!

Kaimar, we've been following your incredible adventures online and are excited to hear more about them! Tell us a bit about where you're from and how you got into van life!

My wife Kerli and I are from Estonia. We were the first to start such a lifestyle among surfers in Estonia, and we started our van life very modestly, in a caravan that hooked onto a regular car and cost only €1,500. We started small to understand if such a lifestyle would suit us. Three years and eight different caravans later, we finally understood which layout worked best and realised we would be more comfortable in a van instead!

Where are you now?

Winter in Estonia is not our favourite for kitesurfing. The temperature is between -5°C and-25°C, and the weather can be snowy and sleety, so we are not there! We rolled around Southern Europe on wheels for five months, spending the end of 2022 and the start of 2023 in Tarifa. But this year in Tarifa had below-average wind and weather, so we drove further south. Now, we are in Dakhla in the western Sahara, where we have spent two months kiting as much as possible!

How did you cross from Europe to Africa? Was that a complicated process?

We started in Tarifa, crossing to Africa by ferry. When we disembarked, we went through many security checks, including driving the van through a giant X-ray machine, which was quite exciting. When going to Morocco, you can choose which port to dock at. We chose the Tanger-Med one right next to the highway, allowing us to travel quickly to the south.

What was it like travelling by road in North Africa?

Being our first road trip outside of Europe, the idea was initially a bit scary, but we did a lot of preparation and research. Southern countries and cultures have always attracted us, but not everything is as easy there, making the journey more exciting and unpredictable. The first 850 km were nice highways, but then it got exciting! Passing through small villages with markets on the road and driving through them is an experience! People are everywhere waving and offering their goods. We drove down to Dakhla along the coast and saw many epic wave surfing spots on the way.

Tell us about some of the spots that you visited and sessions you experienced in Morocco!

Jumping down from the Dune de Blanche and the mirror-flat water of the speed ​​spot were especially memorable. My favourite was the speed spot in Dakhla, where the water surface during low tide is magical - super smooth with golden sunsets. The most incredible thing about this spot is that you park right on the lagoon's edge. The wind quality is very stable and ideal for practising different tricks. You have wind there every day, and it's warm - this is all we want, right?!

There are more awesome flat water spots and several mega cool wave spots like LaSarga and "The Rock" (not sure what the official name of this spot is), but to get there, you need to walk through the desert with your surf gear for 3 km - an authentic experience, where you will surf in the middle of nowhere.

How did you prepare for this epic adventure? Did you need any special equipment?

Before the trip, we researched what we might need in the desert to make our life there more comfortable. We arranged insurance for the bus and contents and, of course, health insurance. We usually travel with a sauna on our trailer, but this time we left it in Tarifa, which meant we had plenty of extra space for luggage.

The first things on our equipment list were a shovel and plastic tyre tracks/pods that are good for driving on sandy surfaces. Next were a tow rope and a tow hook in the front and back, so it's easier to be pulled out if we get stuck! An extra water tank and a watering can are a must and were a big help while on the road and in Dakhla. You never know where the next place to get water is, and most camping sites do not have a convenient hose connection, so a watering can always helps! Of course, we also packed all possible medicines that we could need and essential equipment for fixing the car.

We brought lots of soft drinks because they are expensive in Dakhla. However, food, fuel and other living expenses are very low compared to Europe. For example, in Estonia, I pay 35€ for a hairdresser's service, whereas in Dakhla, they ask only 1.5€ for the same level of service! I gladly gave 5€, and we were both happy!

When we travel, we always have at least one month's supply of clothes with us and have always managed to find a suitable place that offers the option of washing clothes. But, in Dakhla, we were reminded of the magic of hand washing! It's good to experience such things sometimes. You learn to appreciate your life and the comforts you are typically used to.

What kind of kite gear did you bring with you?

We had everything we needed for kitesurfing - 7 Eleveight kites of different sizes, bars, twin tips, wave board and foil board, and wetsuits of different thicknesses. Many people like to wear neoprene socks/booties with thick soles in Dakhla because there are very sharp thorns. These thorns can be up to 4 cm long and sharp as a knife. I didn't wear socks, and luckily never injured myself, but it's good to know to take them with you.

What about when the sun goes down? Do you camp or sleep in the van?

I don't recommend driving at night because there can be 40 cm deep potholes, stones, and sand dunes of different sizes on the side of the road. Most people have said it is safe to stay in the van overnight at gas stations, but we always tried to find a camping site so there was security and other travellers. Campsites also allowed us to fill the water tanks, empty the waste water tank, and wash the car if necessary. It's well worth it as the fee for all services is only between 30-70 dirhams, which is 3-7€ per car!

How did the van hold up to the environment and the long trip?

The dry and sandy climate and the intense sun are not good for the bus. Van lifers with more experience cover their vehicles when they camp - it was quite interesting to see. Finally, I started to understand them, and we sealed the area between the ground and the van so that the sand doesn't fly so much.

We broke the drive shaft and the window wiper mechanism during the trip to Dakhla. The approach to problems there is entirely different than in Europe - the work starts immediately and is done on the street. The cost of these works is also a lot less in Morocco. But generally, the machines hold up well because we always do major repairs and maintenance before the trip and often change parts before they need to be changed.

Are you happy with the original design and setup? Do you ever feel like you need more space or supplies?

Yes, we are very satisfied with this layout, which is why we built the van ourselves. Buying a factory van would have been even cheaper, but their layout is fully built and often not spacious. Our van and trailer have electricity, hot water, a shower, a toilet, a bedroom, cold drinks in the fridge, storage spaces, a grill, a sauna, and even a terrace on the roof.

In the early years, when we started van life, we missed having more space to be in, but as time passed, we got used to less, making our life happier. The fewer things there are, the fewer worries there are - simple as that. We have everything we need and more in our cosy space and amazing views of nature!

How does Kerli enjoy van life?

I am very lucky with Kerli because she values ​​the same things as me - the most important thing for us is mental and physical well-being, gathering different experiences and keeping life simple. Kerli's favourite places to explore nature are mountains and green valleys. Kerli is also a kitesurfer, and Dakhla has been the best place for her to develop. She is also a professional photographer, and all the pictures on my social media are by her. I'm glad to share my life with someone so similar to me as Kerli! 

Did you bring the dogs along? What is it like travelling with the dogs in the van?

There are two types of people - dog people and cat people. We are dog people, which means a very energetic life that may not suit everyone. Dogs are made to love people and add so much value to our lives! Our Jack Russells are great friends and companions when travelling. When we got our first dog, immediately after that, we asked ourselves - "Why haven't we taken the dog before?!"

We chose Jack Russells because they love everything about water - just like us! They can run on the beach and follow the surfers endlessly, although we often have to stop them because they'll run even when they're out of energy. They are also not too big, which makes our life in the van more comfortable, and they have short hair with no undercoat, which means that a wet dog dries quickly and does not smell unpleasant.

Donna has been with us on every trip since the beginning, and this is our 7th year. At the end of 2022, Donna had four puppies, one of which we kept in our family. Now we travel as a team of four - my wife Kerli and I and dogs Donna (7 years) and Panda (8 months old). Donna really respects one particular kite brand, and it's not a joke - she barks at all kiteboards that don't have the Eleveight logo on them, and it's so funny!!

When you go home, what is life like? Do you stay in the van in Estonia, too?

In Estonia, the winds are predominantly southwest, and the entire coast is open to the winds, so we still spend most of our time with the van moving from beach to beach, depending on where the wind blows. If there are rainy periods, we are more likely to be at home. But, if it's rainy and windy, we chase storms despite the bad weather. 

Kerli is a portrait and wedding photographer, and very often, weddings are by the coast/beaches or at least very close to them, which means that I can surf at the same time! I do most of my work by computer and phone, but I sometimes have to go to meetings. Then I will go to the city by car and return to the beach and to the camper van in the evening. In ​​the near future, I would like my income to come only from surfing.

Would you ever park the van to pursue a more traditional lifestyle?

No. We value very highly the fact that we have the freedom to move and discover new places - it gives life so much spice! I am glad that we started this lifestyle so early, and this lifestyle will not change for us - we love minimalist life and will continue similarly. Although, we will likely update our van lifestyle to be bigger and even more comfortable!  

People often ask where you get so much money to live like this, and I usually answer, "Where do you get so much money to pay utility bills and other expenses to live in big houses?" The utility costs necessary for our life are very low, but the views we experience daily are worth millions. When one million worth of views exhausts me, I turn on the ignition and choose the next one. The van lifestyle does not tie you to a particular place but gives you absolute freedom to adventure.

Can you share any "words of wisdom" with others dreaming of van life?

To experience new and exciting things in your life, you often need to step out of your comfort zone! I didn't know what was important in this life and what made me happy until I got out of my comfort zone. I urge others who have thought about such a lifestyle to start before age sets limits. 

Don't forget that anyone can achieve any dream if they want it enough. If you dream of travelling in a motorhome, work hard for these goals - if your work sets limits for you, try to find a job that you can do from the beach. Take small but determined steps towards your goals - you won't be disappointed.

What's coming up next for you?

We are on our way back to Tarifa for 1-2 months. Afterwards, we will head back to Estonia, where the summer is so nice! Our next dream is to build a 4x4 truck with slide-out rooms, so we have even more space and can discover new beaches. We might drive the van from Estonia to South Africa... Why not?! We keep dreaming and making our dreams come true because dreaming is the key to success. 

If you want to get advice on van construction or learn more about our van, get in touch on Instagram at @kaimarhalliste and @kerlihallistephotography!

 

By Crystal Veness
Editor at IKSURFMAG, Crystal Veness hails from Canada but is based in South Africa. When she isn't busy kitesurfing or reporting on the latest industry news for the mag, she is kicking back somewhere at a windy kite beach or working on creative media projects.

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