Drivers & Crew - Africa Overland Drivers

Happy tour leader		Overland crew		Chef at work

Africa Overland Truck Crew

Overland crew, whether having the job of driver, tour leader, guide, camp manager or cook, all have one thing in common: a passion for the African countries they will be taking you through and a desire to instil that passion upon you.

Different companies work with different crew, some use a mixture of African and Western crew, and others use only African or only Western crew. No matter where they are from, your overland crew are all highly motivated, enthusiastic, conscientious. They are passionate about Africa, its array of cultures and its diverse wildlife.

What do the Overland Africa Crew do?

Overland crew are not personal servants. They are there to show you the ropes of overlanding, travelling off-the-beaten track and camping out in the wilderness. Crew will ensure that your overland tour turns into an experience never to be forgotten, whilst working very long days, seven days a week.

The crew have the added responsibility of looking after the vehicle. In-between repairing that flat tyre, getting your lunch organized, navigating through a treacherous bog hole and identifying that bird making that particular noise, they are also your companions on your overland tour.

Who is responsible for the safety of overlanders?

Your crew are solely responsible for your safety too, and this may result in them being forced to make unpopular decisions in the best interest of the groups’ health, safety and security. All crew have an intimate knowledge of Africa, but it is important for you to realize that they work in many different countries for short periods of time and they will not be able to have an answer to every single question. However, they will be able to steer you in the right direction and will do their very best to help you find the name of that colourful flower you saw during your lunch stop.

Which Africa tour and truck should i choose?

Certain companies employ 2 drivers and a cook, others employ a driver and a tour leader/cook and yet others just a driver. Generally speaking the more crew there are on your tour, the less participation will be required from the group. However, all overland tours require a certain level of participation, for example, you will need to put up your own tent. Please check the symbols next to the tours for the amount of crew best suited to you and the level of participation you would like.

You don’t have to be a second Jamie Oliver to be able to cook for an overland group but if cooking is not your thing, we recommend choosing a trip that includes the cooking symbol. Please note though that there is still a level of participation required, for example your cook might ask you to help him/her peel the potatoes.

Your crew are waiting to show you Africa and whatever it takes; they will make sure your Africa adventure trips and tours will become the journey of a lifetime!