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What is an Africa Overland Trip?
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OVERLANDING - "to travel long distances across land"
Africa is a huge continent and so diverse in its scenery, culture, history, climate, wildlife - an overland trip is an affordable way to travel through the different countries, experiencing the highlights a country or region has to offer. Overland trips are aimed at the adventure traveller.
What is an Africa Overland Trip?
Overlanding is not just seeing for yourself the mountain gorilla, lion or elephant. It is not just the case of saying that you have photographed the Masai of Kenya or the Himba Tribe of Namibia. This is not just to say that you have climbed to Uhuru Peak on Mt Kilimanjaro or crossed the oldest desert in the world, the Namib. Overlanding is all of this and more, it is about feeling the rhythm of the people, the places and the wildlife. It is not a guided tour, but an experience.
The duration of an Overland trip can from 14 days travelling in two or three countries, up to 6 months - taking in the whole route from North to South.
Who travels on an Overland Trip?
The passengers come from all over the world and from all walks of life - the age range of majority of passengers is from early 20's and 30's. Although most companies to do not operate an age restriction, you need to be in good health, reasonably fit, adventurous and of like-minded spirit and attitude. Overland trips are generally not suitable for children and most companies do not take children on their trips.
It is a perfect way to meet new people and make life long friends.
What Type of vehicles are used?
Most companies have custom built robust vehicles specially designed to be able to travel through more remote areas. The type of vehicle used and lay out varies from company to company and itinerary to itinerary. The larger vehicles are usually not air-conditioned.
Most vehicles provide a locker for your backpack, accessible from inside the truck; a communal safe for your valuables; and a medical kit for emergency use. Interior lighting and Exterior lighting.
What type of Accommodation is included?
The majority of the time you will be camping, where established campsites are used most of the time, facilities can range from basic to luxury with good amenities. Sometimes free camping in a bush camp is carried out, when there is no permanent campsite nearby. A bush camp is something special to remember as you are truly out in the bush. Most companies provide 2 or 3 man tents with flysheets and mosquito netting, but you will need to take your own sleeping bag.
What meals are provided
It varies, some companies provide breakfast, lunch and dinner whilst other may provide only breakfast and dinner. Some companies will provide a cook with the passengers taking turns to help out. Whilst others the passengers organised all the cooking, shopping between themselves usually on a rota system. Bulk food stuffs are purchased prior to departure and topped up along the way, fresh foods are purchased from many markets and road stalls along the way.
How many people in a group?
Group sizes vary from company to company and depend of the route taken and type of vehicle used. Numbers can range from 7 to 22 on the larger long haul trips.
What is included in the price?
Generally included in the price is transport in a fully equipped expedition vehicle, road taxes and tolls, ferries, services of the driver-leader, use of camping and cooking equipment, campsite fees, entrance to gameparks as specified, meals as specified.
What's not included in the Price
The prices generally do not include flights, visas, personal insurance, side trips, meals out, items of a personal nature. Some companies are able to advise and provide help with booking your flights.
Kitty Payment
On most of the trips you will see a Kitty (Local) payment in addition to the price. This usually has to be paid upon arrival in US Dollars or Pounds Sterling. The payment is usually for fresh foods along the way - you should check with your operator what exactly is included in the price and what the kitty is for.
Is it safe?
Travelling overland on an organised tour is considered to be the safest way of seeing the African continent. Africa is unpredictable and things change daily - the overland companies are regularly updated on political situations and run their trips in accordance with the guidelines suggested by the relevant authorities of the countries visited. In the event of a political upheaval or other event that could compromise safety of passengers - planned routes would be changed.
Recommended Overland Trips
