Overlanding

Ages ago, a few intrepid travellers bought a truck, converted it into some sort of a safari vehicle, gave up their jobs, said goodbye to husbands/wives/friends and left the United Kingdom with only one direction in mind: South! These overlanders built bridges to get their vehicle across raging rivers, were attacked by lions at night whilst camping out under the African stars, spent weeks sitting at almost non-existing border posts, waiting for the customs official to sign the necessary paperwork, ate Mopani worms because they ran out of food weeks ago and finally reached Cape Point about a year later.

Overlanding has come a long way since then but Africa is still waiting to be explored, just like many years ago.
Overlanding is a safe way of traveling through Africa via road, with your family and friends. It is not a bus tour from A to B, it is a way of experiencing Africa, the expected as well as the unexpected.

Your overland vehicle is custom built and designed to deal with travel conditions in Africa.

Most overlanding is based on camping adventures. This does not only allow you to experience Africa to its fullest, including the typical night sounds, but also to enjoy the group feeling of sitting around a campfire at night, talking about the experiences of that day, whilst devouring a delicious meal cooked on the coals!

What type of people go on overlanding adventures?

You will need a sense of adventure and flexibility. Our itineraries are designed to show you most of the highlights for the area you will be travelling through, however, local conditions cannot always be predicted and your guide might have to alter the itinerary due to unforeseen circumstances such as a bridge that was washed away, a large herd of elephant on the road or a mechanical breakdown of the vehicle. As long as you keep your sense of humour, these changes often make up for the most memorable of stories.

You can either decide to go on a budget or a more luxurious overland tour but one thing is for sure, an African overland tour will give you an experience of a lifetime!

Camping

Most overland adventures are camping holidays. This means you will spend most, nights in ground tents or roof top tents (on top of the vehicle). All tents are waterproof, have sewn-in mosquito netting, built-in ground sheets and flysheets (the second layer that keeps the water out, and you dry). All tents have comfortable beds (single and double). Although some of you are used to “roughing it” we do not!

For those of you who are new to camping, don’t worry; we put up camp. Those willing and able are always more than welcome to help.

Choosing an African overland adventure

We suggest that before you choose an overland adventure, that you find out which season you would prefer to travel in. There are certain countries in Africa that suffer from extreme temperatures during summer, in which case you may prefer to travel during the winter. It is best to confirm information about local weather conditions before travelling.

When is the Best Time to go on Safari?

Southern Africa:

In most parts of Southern Africa the rainy season is generally from November through to March. This is true for the safari areas. The Western Cape area, including Cape Town experiences winter rainfall. The peak safari time is in the dry winter months as this is when the game concentrates around the water sources, although the summer months can be productive.

Weather Tips:

Although these are general guidelines regarding seasonal weather patterns, please be advised that the weather can vary dramatically throughout your trip. Also keep in mind that people travel year round to most safari destinations. Each season has its advantages, so if you have set dates for travel, chances are you will be able to have a great trip no matter where you are going.

It is important to understand the seasonal trends and how they will affect your trip; but remember that weather is variable and so it is quite possible to go for days without rain during the peak of the rainy season, or have thundershowers in the middle of the dry season!

Wet Season:

The grass can be long in some areas after the rains; therefore game viewing at these times can be difficult. In some areas the wildlife will disperse during the rains due to the ample water supply, as they are not dependent on water holes.

During the period of November to April of each year, Southern Africa experiences a transformation; the first rains bring on the antelope lambing season, flora comes into flower and the bird life is prolific throughout this period. This season delivers exciting new sights and experiences.

Dry Season:

The best game-viewing period in Africa is during the dry season. Permanent water supplies attract animals and the vegetation becomes thinned out and trees don't have so many leaves to obstruct the view. This optimum safari season usually includes winter (May - August) and the hot spring months of September and October. The climate is comfortable in the dry winter months of May, June, July and August. Daytime temperatures are mild and the nights get a little cool.

Given that it hardly ever rains in winter, the animals must come to the waterholes to drink in the mornings and afternoons and can easily be observed from a vehicle or hide. So as a rule, game viewing is best at the end of the dry season when temperatures are high. Unless game are on the move, as you'll find with migrations in the north-eastern Botswana, western Zambia and Kalahari.

Remember: There are no bad months, just different experiences. Africa is so diverse that there is always something to see and do. Certainly, climate should not be seen as the sole deciding factor in making the choice of when to travel.