Is Overlanding for Me?

An overland tour is all about embracing the grit and wonder of safari.

It strips away the polished veneer of modern tourism and invites you to embrace the raw, unpredictable heart of the wilderness. Here, the reward for every dusty mile is a front-row seat to the world’s most magnificent landscapes. If you are unsure on whether an overland tour is for you, here are some things you need to know to decide.

Life on the road

Overlanding is about the journey as much as the destination—which is lucky, because you’ll be spending a lot of time in the vehicle. Life on the open road is where most of your memories are made; the dusty, bumpy, slow-going tracks force you to slow down, look out the window, and truly witness the soul of the African landscape. Those same bumpy roads are affectionately called the “African Massage”. On average, you journey in the vehicle anywhere from 3 hours to 10 hours. It may seem long, but time flies when you’re laughing with fellow travelers, playing board games, or escaping into an audiobook, looking out the window as the landscape passes you by. 

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Resilience on the road

Overlanding is all about stamina and the right mindset. You need a different kind of toughness; sitting in a vehicle for hours as it bounces over potholes can be a workout in itself. Your body is constantly making tiny adjustments to stay upright. The African heat can also be intense and draining, and you may find yourself tired by the end of the day. Having a positive, go-with-the-flow attitude and mindset will help you feel grounded and calm when things don’t go to plan. Simple stretches now and then will help you body feel at ease, giving you the energy to hop out of the vehicle and help set up the tent or prep dinner. Overlanding also presents you with unusual – but exciting – experiences, like a bucket shower. After a long hot drive, the coolness of a bucket shower is the most refreshing. If you can handle a long day of travel and still be excited for a campfire at the end of it, you’re fit enough for this trip!

Rest Time

Accommodation is designed to keep you close to nature, which means “basic” is the keyword. Forget air conditioning; you’re trading it for the sound of lions roaring in the distance.

Accommodation on an overland tour means going basic and enjoying the simple pleasures. It’s about trading the comforts of a ceiling fan for the evening breeze and starry night sky, waking up to the sunrise instead of your phone. There are two options to choose from: Camping and Accommodation (or a mix of both).

Camping

The camping experience is one that humbles and grounds you – it is one of the most authentic ways to experience an African safari. Don’t worry if you’ve never pitched a tent before. These are heavy-duty, canvas “dome” tents designed for simplicity. They use a basic two-pole system that crosses over the top. After a day or two of practice, you and your tent-mate will have your shelter up and your gear inside in under five minutes. It becomes a satisfying ritual at the end of the road.

The tents are made of thick, weather-resistant canvas built to withstand the African elements—whether that’s a sudden afternoon thunderstorm or a windy night on the plains. They also feature built-in mosquito netting on the doors and windows, so you can keep the breeze flowing while keeping the bugs out. Each tent provides a thick, high-density foam mattress. These are much more reliable than air mattresses because they can’t puncture or deflate in the middle of the night. You will need to bring your own sleeping bag and pillow. Some travelers find that a lightweight silk liner is perfect for the hot evenings, while the sleeping bag keeps you cozy during the chilly desert or high-altitude evenings. 

Accommodation 

Choosing an accommodated tour means you trade the tent for a solid structure, but it’s important to manage your expectations. In the heart of the African bush, “luxury” is defined by your surroundings, the view of a watering hole or the proximity to wildlife, rather than fancy amenities.

Most of the camps and lodges you will visit are completely off the grid relying on massive diesel generators or solar power arrays to keep the lights on. These systems have limited capacity and switch off their generators at a set time in the evening to preserve fuel. This means being strategic and charging your devices as soon as you arrive at the lodge. 

The buildings are designed with thatched roofs, high ceilings and large screened windows to catch the natural breeze from outside. Because electricity is precious, it is rare to find air conditioners and/or electric fans. The most refreshing time are the evenings; the sun sets, temperatures drop and everything around you cools down. It is a sensory way to travel, hearing the night calls of the wild.  Just like the power, hot water might be limited to certain times of the day. To be more sustainable and eco-friendly in a fragile environment, water is often heated by wood-fired heaters or solar panels. 

Immersing Yourself

An overland tour is about community. It is about being a part of the team, feeling a sense of accomplishment at the end of the day with those around you. On an overland truck, the crew (usually a driver and a guide) works incredibly hard, but they can’t do it all alone. The “crew spirit” is what keeps the wheels turning. This means pitching in and immersing yourself in the daily chores, which include:

• Meal Prep & Cleanup: You might find yourself chopping veggies for a stir-fry under a baobab tree or drying dishes by firelight.
• Camp Life: Helping others with a stubborn tent pole or gathering wood for the nightly fire.
• The Reward: There is a unique bond that forms when you work together. Some of the best laughs and deepest conversations happen while washing dishes or peeling potatoes with people who started the week as strangers.
• Truck Organization: Helping load the heavy gear, packing the “kitchen” back into its lockers, and keeping the communal areas tidy.

In Africa, there is a famous saying: TIA (This Is Africa). It is a reminder that the continent doesn’t run on a Swiss train schedule. It has its own rhythm, and it is beautifully unpredictable.

There is a famous saying in Africa: TIA (This Is Africa). It is a reminder that Africa has its own rhythm, and it is beautifully unpredictable. When overlanding you need to expect the unexpected; a tropical downpour might turn the road into a river, or a herd of elephants may block the road for an hour or two. These are out of anyone’s control, but add to the essence of what overlanding is all about. The best approach is being flexible and not letting it ruin your day. The people who enjoy overlanding the most are those who can shrug their shoulders, laugh, and say, “Well, that’s an adventure!”

Essentially, you are an active participant in your own adventure. If you approach the trip with a helping hand and a sense of humor when things get sideways, you’ll find that the challenges end up being your favorite memories.

Get Your Visas Right

If there is one thing that can completely ruin an amazing trip, it’s paperwork. When you are overlanding, you will often cross multiple borders in a single journey. Each country has its own set of rules, and those rules can be strict.

We can’t stress this enough: Getting the right visa is 100% your responsibility.

Why It’s So Important

Border crossings in Africa are remote, formal, and sometimes very slow, unlike walking through a train station in Europe. If you arrive at a border and don’t have the correct stamp, letter, or sticker in your passport, the border officials will not let you through.

The overlanding truck cannot wait for days while you try to fix a mistake. The biggest nightmare is being left behind at the border, seeing your group drive away into the next country without you. Finding your way back to a major city on your own is stressful and expensive – an experience worth avoiding. 

How to Go About It

• Check “Visa on Arrival”: Some countries let you buy a visa at the border; others require you to apply weeks in advance in your home country. You need to know which is which before you leave home.
• Don’t Trust the Internet Alone: Websites (including government ones) are often out of date. A blog post from six months ago might be completely wrong today.
• Double-Check Your Passport: Make sure your passport is valid for at least six months after your trip ends and that you have plenty of empty pages for all those new stamps!
• Pick Up the Phone: The only way to be 100% sure is to call the embassy or consulate of the country you are visiting. Speak to a real person. Ask them exactly what you need based on your specific nationality.
  

Take the time to do the “boring” admin work now. It’s a small price to pay for the peace of mind of knowing that when the truck reaches the border, you’ll be the first one through and ready for the next adventure.

If you are feeling ready for an overlanding tour, view some of our favorites below and let us help you begin your journey!

N.B: This blog was first written by Andrew Walton September 25, 2013.  It was rewritten and republished by Faatima Suliman on March 27, 2026.