What is accommodation like on an African Overland Tour?

All tours sold by African Overland Tours include accommodation, but some require you to camp or glamp while others use permanent accommodations ranging from huts and hostels to hotels and lodges. Here’s what to expect …

African Overland Tours offers three types of packages in terms of accommodation according to this terminology:

1. Camping tours, which are exactly as they sound: you stay in campsites and sleep in tents.
2. Accommodated tours, which can use a mixture of permanent accommodations.
3. Mixed tours combine camping and permanent accommodations.

Please note that the campsites and accommodations used in Southern Africa tend to be a little smarter and come with more amenities than those booked in East Africa within the same price category. This is because accommodation in East Africa is generally more expensive, so your money doesn’t go as far there.

Camping tours

You can choose from three kinds of camping tours, working from most affordable to most comfortable:

1. Basic camping tours, where you stay in pop-up domed tents in the simplest of campsites. This is often chosen by those prioritising a longer tour over creature comforts.
2. Classic camping tours, where the campsites are nicer and have more amenities. Sometimes the tents are larger, permanent ones that include space to stand up.
3. Premier camping tours are an upgrade on classic tours in that they’re fully serviced, meaning a crew pitches and strikes camp for you when required and also takes care of all meal prep and washing up.

Basic and classic camping tours

On budget (basic and classic) camping trips with African Overland Tours, you mostly sleep in two-person domed canvas tents. Note that you help to pitch and dismantle these. But if you’ve never used one before, don’t worry, you’ll get the knack for it very quickly, as they’re made to be uncomplicated. Importantly, all tents have mosquito nets over the windows and door. Also note that sometimes you’re required to help with making and clearing up after meals.

If you’re travelling alone, you’ll be put in a tent with someone else of the same gender. Some tours offer the option of paying an additional amount (a “single supplement”) to have a tent to yourself should you wish.

On all camping tours, you must bring your own sleeping bag, pillow, and towel. You can purchase these items upon landing if you don’t want to bring them on the plane with you.

If you’re looking for the most budget-friendly way to explore Africa, camping is the way to go. You can see all camping tours here.

Premier camping tours

Premier camping tours are usually fully serviced affairs. This means you’re not required to help with setting up and striking camp, or bigger, permanent tents are offered in places. You also don’t need to help with meals and washing up. So there’s less responsibility and a little more leisure time.

Campsites

The nicest public campsites are usually found in South Africa. Many South Africans are avid campers, and so the campsites here are catering for budget travellers as well as a varied local clientele. Individual camping spots are often demarcated and have electrical outlets. The ablutions can be very nice, with hot water and flushing loos coming standard. There are also usually various communal amenities, like a swimming pool, tuckshop, and games room. Moreover, the campsites are usually fenced, such that wildlife cannot enter. This is one of the reasons why South African safaris are often the best safaris for families with children.

In most other countries in Southern Africa as well as those in East Africa, public campsites aren’t fenced. What’s more, showers don’t always have hot water, and might actually be bucket showers. Some campsites have flush toilets, while others have pit latrines. And you certainly shouldn’t expect facilities like a swimming pool. So overall, expect a pretty back-to-basics camping experience outside of South Africa.

Accommodated tours

There are three types of accommodated tours offered by African Overland Tours:

1. Basic accommodated tours, where you stay in very simple or spare accommodations.
2. Classic accommodated tours, where you upgrade to hotels and lodges and enjoy ensuite bathrooms. You can often purchase a single supplement if you wish.
3. Premier accommodated tours, where you stay in mostly four-star accommodations in Southern Africa and three-star accommodations in East Africa.

You can see all accommodated tours here.

Basic accommodated tours

Basic accommodated tours can make use of various kinds of permanent accommodations, from hotels, glamping tents, and cabins to hostels and dormitories. In most accommodations, there are two of you per room, and bathrooms are a mix of ensuite and communal. In hostels and dormitories, there’s usually four to six of you per room, and bathrooms are communal.

All accommodations in Southern Africa provide you with bedding, pillows, and towels. Not so in East Africa, so you must pack a towel, pillow, and sleeping bag or bedding for tours in this region.

South Africa in particular has some of the nicest accommodations for budget travellers. In East Africa, expect some of the accommodations to be a small upgrade from camping. But even within each region, please take careful note that a single tour can include a range of accommodation types and standards. This is because you’re often venturing into different countries and moving between bustling and highly remote locations. It’s all part of the overlanding smorgasbord! What’s more, the views you enjoy in the more remote destinations usually more than make up for any absent amenities!

Classic accommodated tours

On classic accommodated tours, you stay in hotels, lodges, and glamping tents. You occupy twin bedrooms with ensuite bathrooms, and you share with another unless you pay a single supplement. However, a single supplement isn’t always possible, especially in East Africa. And in remote destinations in East Africa, you may not always have an ensuite bathroom. Again, it all varies greatly by country and location.

Similarly to camping, you can expect smarter accommodations in general in Southern Africa than in East Africa on classic accommodated tours. This usually means three-star accommodations in Southern Africa and two- or three-star accommodations in East Africa.

Premier accommodated tours

Finally, premier accommodated tours are the most luxurious trips offered by African Overland Tours. In Southern Africa, this usually equates to four-star hotels with pervasive Wi-Fi and in-bedroom coffee-making facilities. Safari lodges should have bedroom air-con units (unless it’s an eco-lodge) and a nice swimming pool area, among other facilities. In East Africa, the hotels and lodges are also very nice, but are more three-star affairs.

If you’re in the early stages of planning your African overland adventure, browse all tours here for inspiration.

Note: This blog post was created in April 2013, then updated in June 2026.