What is an Africa Overland Tour?

Customised Overland Truck Africa Overland tours are a safe way of travelling through Africa via road, with a group of like-minded travellers. It is not a bus tour from A to B, it is a way of experiencing Africa, the expected as well as the unexpected. You will be able to say that you climbed the tallest mountain in Africa, did the highest bungee in the world, rafted down the wildest river, but also that you spoke in sign-language with a Masai warrior, that you helped build part of a school for Ugandan children, that you joined the locals in eating “ugali” with your hands!
Your overland vehicle is custom built and designed to deal with travel conditions in Africa. Most overlanding is based on camping adventures. This does not only allow you to experience Africa to its fullest, including the typical night sounds, but also to enjoy the group feeling of sitting around a campfire at night, talking about the experiences of that day, whilst devouring a delicious meal cooked on the coals!

History of Africa Group Travel

2 man dome tent at campsite at Lake Malawi People have been travelling overland since the days of Marco Polo, and it’s the best way to feel the rhythm and soul of the country you are visiting. In Africa Overlanding started in the colonial days when the great white settlers travelled from Europe in vehicles laden with their worldly possessions hoping to start a new life on the African plains. Then, it was an arduous task to drive from the top of Africa to the bottom, with few roads, facilities, even maps. These were followed in the 1960s by hardy young adventurers in 4x4s that wanted to achieve the Cairo to Cape Town route and painstakingly eased their vehicles across deserts, through steamy jungles, and along barely-there roads.

Africa Overlanding Tours - A trucking good time

Commercial Overlanding was born in the late 1960s when these first overlanders recognized that there were other people out there who wanted to travel overland but didn’t have the unlimited time or money to go in their own vehicles. In the early days, the concept was simple and cheap: bolt some coach seats into a second hand army truck, stock it with spares, tents and food, sign up some punters and hit the road. Six months later, despite mechanical breakdowns, broken bridges and bureaucratic disasters, 20 weary but enlightened overlanders would gaze upon Table Mountain. From the outset, the difference between Overlanding and conventional package safaris was participation, as it still is today. The passengers pitched in, taking responsibility for food shopping, cooking, putting up their tents, lighting fires, and keeping the truck clean. Early itineraries were loose, if they existed at all, and expeditions developed according to the interests and input of their participants. Many of today’s overland companies are still owner-managed by these first overlanders that a few decades ago pioneered the popular overland routes in their own vehicles.

Creature comforts on your Africa Backpacking Adventure

Over the years vehicles and routes have constantly improved. Largely down to better vehicle design with the passengers comfort in mind, and improved infrastructure in Africa. Where once overland groups would camp in the bush each night, today there is a wide range of excellent campsites catering for overlanders and the vehicles, with activities, bars, restaurants, and facilities. There’ll be few nights where you won’t be able to have a shower or a beer; whether they will be hot or cold respectively is another matter however! Many of the barely-there tracks are now tarred super highways, and where it once took weeks to drive a few hundred kilometres, it now only takes a couple of days.

Two weeks or two months?

Overland clients and crew Overland trips have become much quicker and it’s now feasible for people to explore considerable parts of Africa in just a few weeks. A few years ago you would have had to jack your job in, say farewell to the family, pack up your home, and commit to several months of hard slog through Africa. Today thanks to a comprehensive range of trips and excellent flight links with Africa and the rest of the world, you can discover the wonders of Africa on an overland tour that can last from just a week to two months. There is a far greater choice out there to suit your budget and time frame, and still keep that job (and possibly the boyfriend) back home…speak to our consultants about what tour suits your requirements. Overlanding has come a long way since then but Africa is still waiting to be explored, just like many years ago.

pedro iturbide24 Aug 2010: Ok I have 2 weeks on february 2011. This will be the 1st year of marriage for my wife and me. She really wants to go to africa, wht do you think?
Tania - OverlandingAfrica.com10 Aug 2010: Hi John, Check out our Western Trans Africa Expedition itinerary. Trucks are running this route twice a year with no problems. Hope it helps! Have fun!
John Collier10 Aug 2010: Travelling through Africa to Portugal. I need information on what safe route to use.
Dayne - OverlandingAfrica.com13 Jul 2010: Hi Florencia, We have selected Spanish departures during the year. The tour is conducted in English but there is a Spanish translator with you for the duration of the tour.I have emailed you some options.Cheers
FLORENCIA GAGLIARDINI13 Jul 2010: As you see I can read and spoke English, but we are 2 vet couples planning this overland experience and the rest don´t speak it. Do you have Spanish guides?
ADE RICHARD12 Jun 2010: how much does it cost
Dayne- OverlandingAfrica.com14 May 2010: Hi Morris, We have many overland tours that will suit you. If you are young at heart and can get on and off the truck without any assistance than this is for you. Tents are normally provided for you and you are only required to bring your own sleeping bag when you take part in a camping tour.We also have many accommodated tour on offer if you would like to sleep in hotels and lodges.
morris sinor13 May 2010: We are 70 years of age but are frequent backpackers and are in good health. Is this means of travel appropriate for us. What are sleeping accommodations in the cities and is a hotel an option? Do you provide tents or do we bring out own?
Tania - OverlandingAfrica.com29 Apr 2010: Hi Tessa, It is feasible but not something we deal with. I would contact your local 4 x 4 club as they may be able to put you in touch with others who are considering the same trip. Have fun!
TESSA SCOTT28 Apr 2010: I am trying to find out how feasible it to drive down africa from london to south africa in my landrover. I would not like to go alone but would rather join a group of people who are doing the same thing. I wonder if you are or know a tour operator of this sort? any help and ideas would be much appreciated! Thanks
Dayne - Overlanding Africa.com23 Mar 2010: Hi Crystal, We have a great variety of tours that cover those areas. I have sent you an email with more details regarding these option. Cheers Dayne
CRYSTAL LAMIRANDE22 Mar 2010: WOULD LIKE INFO WANT TO DO A TOUR KRUGER,VICTORIA FALLS AND CAPE TONW 3 WEEKS TIME DO U HAVE ANYTHING LIKE THAT?
Jimena Gil15 Nov 2009: Hi there, I read about the overlanding tours and they sound amazing. Im from Mexico I love camping and all the traveling that involves getting close to the culture and the experience that a new place brings you. My boyfriend and I would like to travel to Africa and the overlanding experience seems to suit us. We would like to know what are the prices for the trip and also if you have a package or an offer for the flight to Africa. If you could also tell us the details of everything that is included it would be great. Many thanks and looking forward to your response. Jimena
Tania - OverlandingAfrica.com11 Sep 2009: Hi Margaret, 'Fairly fit' seniors would have no problem at all! We even have trips to suit 'fairly un-fit' seniors (also fairly un-fit travelers regardless of age and even travelers with disabilities)! ,) Traveling on a overland trip is less about having to be super-fit and more about being up for anything that Africa can throw your way. Obviously there are some trips (such as Trans trips) that are pretty tough and can be quite strenuous - if you were considering one of these we would make sure you understood exactly what you were getting yourself into before you decided to book. Email us any time with questions - the more questions answered, the better prepared you are, the more fun you will have! Happy travels!
MARGARET WILSON11 Sep 2009: How would fairly fit seniors do....have you adjusted for non-athletes. Sounds so amazing.

So what is life like on the road?

Read the pages below for the ins and outs of overlanding.

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