Finding affordable overland tours may seem like a challenge in today’s overpriced world. With a bit of know-how anyone can find reasonably priced overland adventures that offer a thrilling African trip, at a fraction of the price that a full-blown safari would cost.

One of the things that so many travellers often don’t realise is that overlanding is one of the most affordable ways to experience an African travel holiday. These tours are designed to be cost-effective and accessible, making it possible for just about anyone to enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime trip to some of Africa’s finest destinations. The secret is in knowing how to find these tours, and knowing which ones would be best to suit your budget and travel needs.

To help you find the best African budget tours, travel experts advise the following tips:
1.    Choose your destination
Before you do anything else you need to have a good idea of where you would like to go. Generally speaking, it is often cheaper to choose one destination or a few destinations that are situated near to one another rather than a massive tour from one side of the continent to the other.

For instance, you could choose an East Africa overland tour that includes Malawi, Tanzania, Mozambique and Uganda, or a Southern Africa tour that focuses on Zimbabwe, Zambia and Botswana. Each destination offers its own highlights and experiences with a host of attractions found within every single destination across Africa. So regardless of the destination you choose, you can be sure of a highly rewarding and memorable trip.

2.    Do your research carefully
Finding affordable overland tours is often as simple as a quick Google search. If you search for ‘affordable Namibia overland tours’ for example, this will bring up a wide range of results that meet these criteria, giving you plenty of tour options. You can then go through each result, finding the ones that best suit your requirements and budget.

Alternatively, you could visit a travel agency and enquire about overland adventures on offer within your budget and preferred destination. Make a list of all the tours that seem to have what you are looking for, and then choose the one that seems like the best fit. Pay attention to the listed ‘Included’ and ‘Optional’ Highlights as a trip that looks more expensive at face value may actually include more in the price than some cheaper looking ones.

3.    Choose the right travel season
‘Overlanding’ travel seasons work the opposite to many traditional ‘high seasons’ in Africa – a great advantage when it comes to your budget. Overland high season falls in the winter months, between May and August, and continues through mid season (spring and autumn months in the southern hemisphere, March to May and September to November).

Overland low season (December to February – summer in the southern hemisphere) is when most of local Africa has its summer holidays, and also when the most independent visitors from the northern hemisphere come to escape their cold winters for an African summer holiday. For those who are immune to the high temperatures you will find that although your trip price may not vary much, you will save money on any optional activities you choose to take part in.

African budget tours are therefore at their most affordable during the overland high and mid seasons, when there are fewer independent travellers flocking to one particular area. Don’t think that this means you will not be able to enjoy all the benefits of a safari in Africa however – even during winter Africa has a huge wealth of attractions and highlights. The weather is often much more tolerable than the scorching summer months, with plenty to see and do – ensuring memorable tours all year around at the best prices.

Once you have chosen the place and season you wish to travel, and you have found the perfect tour, you will be able to enjoy all the advantages of affordable overland tours that give you the best value for money – leaving you free to focus on your adventure.

For expert advice, trip information and general Africa facts contact the team at OverlandingAfrica.com!