FrançaisHi, I'm Tommy.
I’m from Alsace (France), and am lucky enough to work in Switzerland. My job allows me plenty of free time and whenever I can, I hit the road with my camper van, Kirikou.
About Kirikou
Why Kirikou? “Kirikou et la Sorcière” is a French/Belgian cartoon that came out when I was a kid, featuring a tiny naked child, Kirikou, in an African village. He’s small but strong and super smart. I spent five years of my life in Africa and I deeply love this continent, and, since the van is small but tough, that name just made sense to me!
Kirikou isn’t just any van. Its first owner, inspired after visiting a RV show in 1980, decided to build one by himself. He ordered a bare Toyota HiAce II H20, just the cab, and then built a custom cell in steel and aluminum (I still have the original plans at home!). He fully fitted it out and had it certified as roadworthy. For more than 40 years, he pampered his creation and drove it across Europe. In 2024, I was lucky enough to buy it, with just under 70,000 km on the clock.
About Tommy
I love traveling, learning, and spending time in nature. My activities are diverse: hiking, scuba diving and freediving, climbing, kitesurfing… I’m curious about everything and always looking for new things to try.
About ten years ago, I stopped eating meat, and five years ago I gave up dairy and eggs as well. For a long time I described myself as vegan, but that label doesn’t feel right to me anymore. It’s too heavy, often associated with being “a pain” or restrictive. I simply made this choice for myself, because I didn’t want to take part in the cruelty inflicted on animals every day—not out of some anarchist conviction.
About Kirikou.travel
Here, I share:
- my travels,
- my life on the road,
- my gear,
- my DIY projects and renovations,
- my thoughts on moving toward a simpler lifestyle.
This site is first and foremost my travel diary. I hope it will inspire others to hit the road, step off the beaten path, or simply enjoy the present moment.
Welcome aboard Kirikou 🚐✨