According to U.S. media reports, 42-year-old Herman Zapp and his wife, 40-year-old Candelaria Zapp, have been traveling the world for 13 years. So far, they have driven through at least 40 countries, covering a total distance of 200,000 miles—almost equal to the average Earth-Moon distance. The Zapp couple has given birth to four children aged between 3 and 10, each born in a different country. At least three of their children hold different nationalities. Now, the Zapps continue their unfinished global journey with their children, and they don't rule out having more “international babies” during future travels.
A family of six travels the world
Driving a “classic car” gifted by their grandfather
Have traveled across South America, North America, Oceania, and Asia
Reportedly, Herman Zapp is a former IT expert from Argentina, born in San Francisco, USA, and moved to Argentina with his grandfather during childhood. It was during his time in Argentina that 10-year-old Herman met his childhood sweetheart and lifelong partner—Candelaria, an Argentine girl two years his junior. They married in 1996. The lifelong dream of Herman and Candelaria was to travel the world together. Therefore, in 2000, the Zapp couple set off on their round-the-world journey from Patagonia, Argentina.
Although they had used up all their savings just a few years after departing Argentina and briefly returned there, they only stayed for two weeks before deciding to set off again, relying on the help of strangers to continue their unfinished global journey. Herman’s grandfather also gifted the young couple a 1928 vintage “Graham-Paige” classic car, making it easier for them to drive around the world—even though the old car's top speed was only about 40 mph. Over the past 13 years, the Zapp couple has driven this “classic car” to many places across South America, North America, Oceania, and Asia.
Stayed with 2,500 host families
Received help from 12,000 strangers
Throughout their global journey, the Zapps’ “classic car” has been their mobile home. On some nights, the Zapps sleep in tents pitched next to their vehicle, but more often, when traveling to a new place, friendly locals invite them to stay overnight. To date, the Zapp couple has stayed with or visited 2,500 unfamiliar families.
Herman said: “We have stayed with 2,500 unfamiliar families, including Amish, Muslims, Jews, wealthy and poor families. We have been guests in families of different ethnicities. Though their appearances differ and the languages of their prayers vary, we all share one common dream—that is, to have a happy home and loved ones.”
Herman said that throughout their long global journey, they have received help from many strangers. He said: “In the past 11 years, we have received help from 12,000 people during our travels. For nearly 90% of the days, we stayed overnight in the homes of strangers. Once, while staying with a local family in the Philippines, the household had only one room, but the hosts gave us the only piece of meat from their dinner plate and let us sleep in their only bed. When we left the next day, they even apologized for not being able to offer us more.”
Four children born in four different countries
So far, the Zapp couple has driven through at least 40 countries around the world, covering a total distance of 200,000 miles—almost reaching the average Earth-Moon distance. During their global journey, the Zapp couple has also given birth to four children: 10-year-old Pampa, 7-year-old Teho, 4-year-old Paloma, and 3-year-old Wallaby.
The four children were born in four different countries: 10-year-old Pampa was born in Greensboro, North Carolina, USA; 7-year-old Teho was born in Argentina; 4-year-old Paloma was born on Vancouver Island, Canada; and 3-year-old Wallaby was born in Australia. Since both the U.S. and Canada follow the principle of jus soli (birthright citizenship), at least three of the Zapp couple’s four children hold different nationalities, making their family a true “United Nations family.”
Homeschooling their children
Their published travelogue becomes a bestseller
Now, the Zapp couple is traveling in the Southeast Asian country of the Philippines with their four children. During the trip, the children are homeschooled by the parents, who access the latest online courses and teach different content to their children of varying ages. Herman said: “What better way to educate than to take your children to see the whole world? They’ve seen kangaroos hopping and grizzly bears roaring in nature, witnessed space shuttle launches, learned different languages, and personally experienced many diverse cultures.”
When the Zapp couple first traveled to Alaska, USA, they published their first travelogue, Dream Chasers, which became a bestseller at the International Book Fair in Costa Rica and has sold 12,000 copies to date. Their second book, Activate Your Dreams, also became a bestseller in the Argentine book market.
The Zapp couple currently has no plans to end their global journey. After leaving Asia, they will continue on to European countries via Africa. Herman said: “We’ve driven almost the distance from the Earth to the Moon, and our goal is to keep traveling!”