Overlanding in Southern and East Africa is a life changing journey that brings together adventure, cultural immersion, and the raw beauty of the African wilderness and it’s wildlife.
Unlike traditional safaris or experiences in Africa, overlanding involves travelling in a specially equipped vehicle with a group of like-minded explorers, crossing diverse landscapes from the plains of the Serengeti to the sublime dunes of Namibia. This form of travel allows you to venture off into remote areas of Africa, providing a unique and authentic way of discovering new countries.
These group scheduled tours offer an incredible opportunity to experience Africa’s “must see” highlights and it’s hidden gems. Camp under starry skies, and connect with local communities, all while making lifelong friendships with fellow adventurers. Whether you’re looking for breathtaking wildlife encounters, mind-blowing scenery, or a chance to step out of your life as you know it, overlanding in Africa is the perfect way to create memories that will last a lifetime.
There are also a few options when choosing your comfort level for an overland tour, if you’re keen on camping in the wild then a tour like our 20 Day Cape Town to Victoria Falls adventure would be perfect for you. However, if you would like to trade in the sleeping bag, for a comfy bed, there are also a number of accommodated tours.
Travelling through Africa in a purpose built overland truck
All overland trucks are custom-built, high clearance comfortable vehicles, that are built to endure the tough African roads and are self-sufficient to carry everything you need for your African overland tour; food, camping gear, tents, chairs, cutlery and even the kitchen sink!
Most overland tours are semi participation tours where travellers pitch and break down their own tents and help out at mealtimes on a rotational basis. There are a few tours that require full participation or no participation at all but our trusted team of consultants are always there to guide you on what works best for you. Feel free to book a free 20-minute chat with one of amazing team members for more information.
For selected camping tours, sleeping mats and / or stretcher beds are included however, please be sure to ask based on your chosen tour. All you need to bring is your own sleeping bag (only on camping tours), pillow, towel, clothing, cash and your passport.
What is an Overland Tour in Africa like?
Overlanding in Africa is a popular way to explore the continent, and it typically involves travelling in a specially designed truck or vehicle with a group of fellow travellers and a tour guide. The distances covered are a mixture of long and short driving days. While this may be exhausting, the rewards are endless. Our consultant Minette describes it as; “Some roads are dustier and bumpier than others, but worth every grain of sand at the end when you look at the incredible memories made.”
Here’s what you can expect from overlanding in Africa:
Adventure and exploration: Overlanding in Africa is all about adventure and exploration. You’ll be travelling to remote destinations, camping in the wilderness, and experiencing the beauty and wildlife of the continent up close.
Flexibility: Overlanding tours in Africa are designed to be flexible, so you can expect to have some input into the itinerary and activities. You’ll also have the chance to take part in optional activities like hiking, cultural experiences, and wildlife encounters.
Camping or Accommodated options: Camping is a popular accommodation option on overland tours, and you’ll typically stay in tents at designated campsites. Campsites may have basic facilities like showers and toilets, but may not have electricity or other amenities. The accommodated tours allow for you to sleep in a bed at night (sometimes in a permanent tent or hut or lodge).
Group travel: Overlanding tours typically involve travelling in a group, which can be a great way to meet new people and make friends from all over the world. However, keep in mind that you’ll be spending a lot of time with your fellow travellers, so it’s important to be prepared for a communal living experience.
Local experiences: Overlanding tours often focus on local experiences, like visiting local villages, trying traditional foods, and learning about local cultures and customs. This can be a great way to get a deeper understanding of the places you’re visiting and the people who live there.
Overall, overlanding in Africa is an exciting and adventurous way to explore the continent. It’s ideal for travellers who are looking for an off-the-beaten-path experience and who are willing to rough it a bit to have unforgettable experiences.
Due to the distances covered to see the highlights, there are a mixture of long and short driving days. It can be exhausting and thus an element of fitness is required. The upside is that you get to explore remote regions that are difficult to travel to. It isn’t for everyone so please speak to your consultant to make sure you are up for the adventure.
What is the difference between overlanding and camping?
Overlanding and camping are sometimes presumed to be the same; however, Overland trips can use accommodation at campsites or any other area that they arrive at. Overlanding focuses on the Journey rather than the campsite that you are staying at. The overland/journey is THE adventure.
Is Overlanding for me?
Travel writer Annette Noratli captured the magic perfectly in her article, ‘Life on the Road is Africa.’ Now, it’s your turn to experience it firsthand!
Are you ready? Africa is waiting!
Here, our Founder, Andrew Walton shares his incredible experience about how his overland tour to Africa changed his life. He also shares his perspective on how an overland tour can be a soul-restoring experience. Essentially, Andrew describes it as an “investment in yourself’” which is something we rarely do. As human’s we are taught to invest in bonds, forex and retirement annuities, but how often do you do something that changes your life… for the better?
Hello good to hear from you Tammy. We had a wonderful trip with fullness of lifetime memories. Personally I like this itinerary because it’s a good mix of nature, animal world and cultural highlights. The two guides were professional and enthusiastic all the time. We had returned home safe and happy. Thank you again for your support throughout the process.
Best wishes.
Ke
Hi Tammy
So nice of you to think about us.
We had a fantastic time, saw so much wildlife and we loved the camping. Kwai was our favourite spot although loved Guma lagoon too and Botswana in general. I can’t imagine seeing animals in the wild would ever get old. The guides were great, and travelling was comfortable and easy. Hippos grazing outside our room in Vic falls. Crazy!
We had 5 days in Capetown in seapoint and hired a car for 2 so went down to Hermanus and the cape. Did a wine tour, table mountain, and enjoyed hanging out along the waterfront.
We both came back determined to go back to Africa and I would go with drifters on another tour
Thanks again for helping us out and if we know of anyone looking to head that way, okay if I pass on your details?
All the best
Arlene
Hi Minette
I had an amazing time!!! Our Drifters guides, Francis and Wycliffe, we're absolutely INCREDIBLE. They welcomed us like family!
My highlights were Ngorongoro and visiting the Masai village. Something I never thought I would ever experience!
I would like to return to the Mara in a few years during peak migration, as I didn't feel that I scratched the "mass migration" itch, but still saw incredibly animals, including my first ever leopards, cheetahs, marabou storks, and mongooses (mongeese?!).
I think it would be useful to update the info packet to make it really clear that plastic water bottles are not allowed in Longonot NP. Guests should be advised to bring adequate reusable bottles to last the hike up the mountain. We were woefully ill-prepared, with plastic bottles which weren't allowed, and it could have been quite dangerous as it was very hot.
Also, I have fed back to Drifters to ask Elsamere not to ask guests to sit through a 45 minute documentary after our guided tour. It made for a very long afternoon and left little to no time for afternoon high tea and exploring the grounds (I left very frustrated, as I was really looking forward to seeing Elsamere!).
One more thing - one hotel upgrade in Tanzania didn't accept my year 2013 USD notes. Might want to warn travellers about this as I know it was an earlier year listed in the info guide.
I made friends with a couple of German girls on the tour, and were all planning on visiting Namibia and Botswana in 2028. I'll let you know when the time comes to book! We're hoping we can specially request Francis and Wycliffe again!
Cheers
Bec
Good morning Bernelle
When I first contacted African Overland Tours to enquire about a guided tour of South Africa I was lucky enough to have you as my adviser Your Happy To Help Vibe was hugely appreciated in helping with the booking process and any follow up queries I had. Thank you so much.
Cullinan Guided Journeys were your partner company and they were the providers of what has turned out to be an amazing experience for Richard and me. Any concerns that I had prior to the trip concerning our physical abilities to undertake the journey (we are 80 and 77 years old respectively) were allayed from the beginning by the quality of the guides, Transport vehicles, the luxury hotels, the wardens and the highly professional management of all the component parts of the long trip
On our game drive in Kruger, arriving in the cold and pre dawn darkness, our game warden cautioned us to remember the animals are wild and do not always turn up for tourists!
Imagine our delight. - and the warden’s excitement - when within the first 90 minutes after sunrise we saw a pair of mating leopards and a group of four male cheetahs all less than 6ft from our viewing car. Add in elephants, wild dogs, giraffes, jackals, various antelopes, mongoose. Hyenas. baboons, monkeys etc etc
Word had spread among the rangers that we had seen the leopards and when we arrived at our breakfast stop at 9 am. a crowd of rangers and guides were waiting And cheering our man! He had to produce the leopard photos as proof Some of the days involved very long distances to drive and they were a bit wearisome for us both. However our guide Walter was a great companion and we learned so much from him about his beautiful but troubled country The Swaziland section was interesting but the hotel was a misfit. A huge villa for just us two on. Sprawling private estate - not too comfortable despite the size- and the only hotel we stayed at with dreadful food and very bad service. We enjoyed our group size of three for the first half of the trip but a few others would have been more interesting. When our second half (starting in Port Elizabeth) added six more travellers we felt it was better and more relaxing The President hotel in Cape Town is where journey with Cullinan ended. A big comfortable hotel with great restaurants and service. However, we would have preferred our finish hotel to have been in Cape Town Waterfront area and not several kilometres out on the coast.
Thank you for your service and support in helping me to make the most of our trip
Kind regards
Maggi
Hi Tammy,
Thanks for the welcome back note. I really do love overland travel in Africa and the contrast in the two trips was dramatic. I especially enjoyed our meeting in Cape Town where you shared your own extraordinary experiences.
Tsitsikamma on the coast with wild windy weather is probably the spot that will remain in my memory as outstanding.
I'll add some pics on the link you sent. I will recommend you and your organization to others planning trips to Africa.
All the best,
Charles Hubert
