Stories from African Overland Tours

Have you ever felt that deep yearning in your soul? A yearning that takes you away from the mundane buzz of everyday routine, and into a tranquil, fresh, and freeing adventure?

Often, that adventure leads to the sun-kissed air of Africa, on an African Overland Tour that fills your lungs with freedom, rediscovery and the letting go of all expectations. An African safari is a not only about exploring the magnificent wildlife and taking in the breathtaking landscapes. An African safari is a heartfelt journey to oneself. 

An Overland is an odyssey; an immersive journey through nature, exploring different cultures, and finding the unexpected. While you get the opportunity to tick off your bucket-list, you are also embracing a soulful change within yourself, overcoming challenges and feeling deeply inspired. It’s about the dust on your boots, the shared laughter around the campfire, the goosebumps when hearing a lion’s roar, and the serenity of the outdoors that will reshape your understanding of life – and most importantly, of yourself.

At AOT, we celebrate the unfiltered experiences of those who set out on their epic African safari experience. Every story shared brings us the most excitement and delight, as we not only help you throughout your journey, but become a part of it too. We have curated a collection of the most inspiring stories of ordinary people embarking on an extraordinary adventure. Whether it was to Victoria Falls, to witness The Great Migration, or soak in the culture of Morocco, journey with us as we share a glimpse of what they experienced on their life-changing African Overland adventure:

Unexpected Connections

The true essence of an African safari lies in its people. Travelers often speak about the resilience, generosity and warmth they were met with in every village and interact they had on their safari experience. Here are our favorite moments from travelers who highlight the moments that transcend cultural and language barriers. This interaction fosters a deep sense of connection unlike any other.

Thanks for the welcome and also a big thank you for proposing to join this tour.

In fact we had incredible lots of amazing and particular moments and fell in love with South Africa. I do not know what highlight to emphasize …as the tour was absolutely gorgeous – even far beyond my expectations. Great guides ( Moses and Tawanda), wonderful people in the group, breath taking landscapes, perfect locations (each of them with unique character) and of course a singular flora and fauna. With a lot of good luck on our game drives we saw not only the big 5 but also wild dogs and an Aardfark. Enjoying good weather and wonderful accomodations and food we have had a fantastic time. An accomodation highlight was surely the Mawuka lodge with their friendly hosts, first class cooking, romantic ambiente and a cosy fireplace.

I can only fully recommend this tour as it was simply perfect. The guides have been very committed taking care of the group and each single participant – arranging everything to meet the individual needs of each participant (medical assistance, vegetarian food, individual hikes, separate beds and much more.). We learned so much interesting about animals and plants, African culture and history, gained new experiences, exchanged thoughts and enjoyed the time as a group. In the end we have left with a lot of beautiful memories, inspiring ideas and impressions, photos, videos and the strong feeling that we will return to this fascinating rainbow nation whenever possible.

Thanks,
– Anja

Hey Minette,
Words cannot describe how amazing the trip was. We could not have asked for a better experience!
A moment that was unforgettable for us was; getting to spend time with the gorilla family. We were very lucky to get up close to a two month old baby gorilla, and the silverback put on quite the show for us as well!
On the game drives we were fortunate to see every animal we wished to see. Lions, leopards, hyenas and plenty of elephants and hippos. Another big take away for us was how amazing the local people were. I was blown away by their hospitality and kindness. Emma was a highlight of the trip as well. We couldn’t have asked for a better driver. He has so much knowledge of the animals and different tribes of people. Thank you so much for setting all of this up for us, we loved every second of the trip! I attached some of the photos we took! I’m trying to recruit some of our friends to go now, and I’m sure we will visit again!
Thank you.

– Jeffery Anderson

Overcoming the Challenges.

An African Overland Tour comes with its challenges – and this is part of what makes the journey unforgettable. Whether it is unexpected vehicle trouble, problem solving as a team with your guide and fellow travelers, or attempting to navigate the terrain in the best way, hiccups are expected. We have found that it is in these moments where the most laugher is found, where candid photos are taken, and the most memorable moments are shared and created. It is moments like these that forge character, spark resourcefulness and lead to the most satisfying feeling of triumph – one of many “I DID IT” moments! Read some of our travelers’ exhilarating moments of conquering the wild.

We are just home from our African adventure and it was amazing! The tour you recommended was great. We had a good bunch of fellow travellers and despite the sometimes long and bumpy days we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. We were all a little underprepared for the level of cold we experienced some nights but I found that sleeping in five layers of clothing helped . Trying to dry the breakfast dishes in the Kalahari with a tea towel frozen stiff was a particular challenge! Our Sunway guides were excellent and always put health and safety first. I will always smile at the memory of them saying “Welcome to here” and “Today is another day in Africa”. The Namibian desert was incredible. The colours and the variety of rock formations was a big surprise. The moment that brought tears to my eyes was on our lunch cruise on the Chobe river watching a group of elephants swim across the river to feed on the grass on an island. Very special moment.

– Lisa OMullane

I have to be mindful due to the back surgery I had a few years ago. Sitting for too long can be really uncomfortable for me. Can’t lie, the transit days were pretty long. I’d say 4.5hrs was average but a couple days ended up being closer to 8hrs because of road conditions in certain spots. We were all definitely pretty antsy in the last couple hours on those days, but it was always worth it once we got to the accommodation. I’ll also say I didn’t have any issues with my back. The overland truck is big and our tour wasn’t full so we were able to spread out in the seats and could stand up straight in the aisle if we needed. There’s no air conditioning in the truck either, which was definitely a slight concern for me knowing how hot it would be in Namibia. But that also wasn’t an issue. When the truck was moving there was enough breeze coming in from windows that it was quite comfortable.

– Gina Harlow

Journeying to Yourself.

A journey to Africa often reflects back to us our vulnerabilities, strengths and true desires. Being away from the distractions of everyday life and being in the raw beauty of ancient landscapes has many travelers feeling a deep sense of personal growth. In many ways, a journey to Africa is a journey to one’s self. Read about the moments that brought about new perspectives, and the lasting change an African safari can leave on your soul.

I absolutely enjoyed my Africa experience. Totally lovely. Made a good choice in going to Botswana, thank you for finding that trip for me. Okavango Delta touched me to the core. In fact, I wrote a poem about it and shared it with my small group which became my family during the 7 days I was with them. I read it to them during our last dinner in Maun.
In addition, we had a truly wonderful driver/guide…
Would return but not in the near future… . Would like to see the great migration next time, maybe Kenya Tanzania.
Gratitude,
-Maria

I love Botswana very much especially the two days we didn’t in the delta. It was the time I felt most relaxed and could reconnect with myself again. The people on the tour made it more special as the crowd could really make or break the fun of the trip. Luckily we had really nice people on the tour which is a bonus…. definitely will come back to Africa and would like to go with Nomad Tour again.

– Pichaya

Your Turn to Share Your Story

There are only some of the many African Overland Tour stories we love so dearly. This is a glimpse into the many ways an African safari can capture your heart and take you on a journey of discovery and freedom. When you step outside your comfort zone and embrace the unknown, there is so much for you to let go of, to embrace and lean into the magic that the continent provides. Every experience and story, while it shares some similarities, are unique to that individual. These stories may have inspired you, and your story will inspire others.

Share your African Overland Tour experience with us down below. If you are yet to experience an African Overland Tour, tell us your expectations. Connecting with you brings us the greatest joy!

Where can I start… the trip was beyond my expectations. We were very lucky with our guides, Solly and Steven, and we clicked immediately. The group was also nice and respectful. My highlights…
Etosha NP. What an amazing place, full of wildlife, specially around the waterholes. It really felt like watching a documentary. We even got to see cheetahs ❤️ Unfortunately, we did not get to see leopards, so it’s the perfect excuse to come back

Scenic flight over the Okavango Delta. That was a major highlight. So happy to see the hippos under water from above and the winding river. The Elephant Sands lodge in Botswana. That was outstanding. All the elephants reunited just a few meters away from you.. we even upgraded into a room and could watch them during sunrise… The cruise boat over Chobe river surprised me a lot. It was different from the other game drives and we got to see new animals closely (hippos, buffalos, herd of elephants crossing the river..) And lastly, the rhino tracking on foot at Matobo NP was a major highlight from the included activities. We had the most dedicated and inspiring guide, Ian Harmer. It was within the two top highlights for all the group.

On another note, wanted to thank Africa Overland and yourself, for the amazing job you have done. I talked about you guys during the trip and encouraged people to book through you next time. I was the only one to have booked through Africa Overland and the difference was huge. I had many information (pre departure, preparation, tour info…) that the others lacked.

– Rosario Torres Moyo