What are Africa Overland Tours & Adventures all about?

On Africa Overland Tours it's not just the destinations that matter, it's all about the journey!

You'll experience Africa in a group and usually travel by truck. Along the way, you'll stay at various scenic, convenient and tucked-away places. You get far more than a bed at night and a bus ride!

Advantages of Overlanding Africa Tours

• An affordable way to travel Africa - adventurous tours for budget travellers.
• Travel with like-minded people - meet new people and make friends.
• Safe travel in Africa - Overlanding companies know the ropes.
• Customized overland vehicles - trucks designed for African road trips.
• Go to top travel attractions, as well as off-the-beaten-track places.
• Cover a lot of ground in a set period of time - get the most out of your time and money.
• An easy way to travel in Africa - guided, organized tours without the hassles of planning.

Overland adventures in Africa do not just focus on the travel destinations visited. These African trips are very much about the experience of travelling through Africa.

Types of Budget Africa Overland Tours

1. Accommodated Overland Tours - medium group size / comfort of accommodation / medium participation / value for money.
2. Overland Camping Tours - big groups / generally aimed at younger travelers/best-priced tours / active participation.
3. Exclusive Overland Tours - smaller groups / more style and comfort / less participation/ more exclusive.
4. Senior Overland Tours - overland expeditions for older travelers / extra comfort / small groups / limited participation 

1. Accommodated Overland Tours

• Stay in basic 2-3 star chalets, bungalows, permanent tents and standard accommodation.
• Share two per room, except in East Africa where it's dormitory-style (upgrades available at extra cost).
• Step up from camping - well-selected accommodation in East, Central and Southern Africa.
• Some participation is required on tour (assisting with meal preparation on a roster basis).
• Enjoy the comfort of accommodation while experiencing the adventure of traveling overland.
• Group size of about 18 people of various ages usually from 18 to 45 years.
• Most East African tours do not charge a single supplement.

See our Accommodated Overland Tours.

2. Overland Camping Tours

• Camp under African skies as you experience the adventure of a lifetime.
• Camping at rest camps and bush camps in game parks or near places of interest.
• Excellent value-for-money African trips for budget travellers and the young at heart.
• Full participation - help with meal preparation on a roster basis, and making/ dismantling camp.
• The average age of travellers on camping tours is between 18 and 35 years old.
• Share your African experience with like-minded travellers and get to know new people.
• A group size of around 28 travellers (max), but the average is smaller.

See our Camping Overland Tours.

3. Exclusive Overland Tours

• Experience more style and comfort on your African Safari.
• A mix of lodge/chalet (fixed) accommodation and camping on tour.
• Smaller group size (at most 16), making for a more exclusive experience.
• Better-equipped safari vehicles for more off-the-beaten-track travel.
• Less participation is required, as two guides usually conduct your trip.
• At least one Registered Guide on the tour who is a qualified, full-time professional.
• Spacious canvas walk-in dome tents (two-man), plus canvas mattresses.
• More activities are included than on regular Overlanding tours.
• Generally, meals are of a higher standard as there is a dedicated cook.

See our Exclusive Overland Tours.​

4. Senior Overland Tours

• For mature and older travellers (over 40) looking for a guided adventure.
• Overlanding adventures with extra comfort and style.
• Little to no participation is required from clients (depending on the tour).
• Smaller groups, less strenuous activities, and shorter travelling distances.
• More comfortable accommodation, camping set-ups, and overland vehicles.
• A safe, easy, and affordable way for young-at-heart seniors to travel Africa.

Find out more about African Safaris for Seniors or see our Budget Senior Tours. 

What to Expect on Africa Overland Tours

• Participation and teamwork - not boot camp, just some help setting up camp and preparing meals, etc (less participation is required on Exclusive Overland Tours).
• A shared experience - meet new people travelling in the tour group and work as a team while you discover the magic of Africa.
• The unexpected - Overland Africa Safaris adapt to conditions on the road (weather, politics, etc). This sometimes requires a slight change of plan - this is Africa after all! 
• A variety of African experiences - from cultural interactions with indigenous tribes to game viewing in wilderness areas and enjoying adventure activities.
• Knowledgeable and helpful tour guides/leaders ready to answer questions and share their stories. They're there to ensure that you enjoy a safe and exciting trip through Africa.
• Free time to relax, unwind and have plenty of fun on your journey.

When Overlanding in Africa, do not expect... 

• To sit back and do nothing, while the guides and staff to do everything - participation is key to the Overlanding travel experience.
• All to run according to schedule and exact plans. Africa is full of surprises, so bring a hearty sense of adventure. 
• The lap of luxury in sanitized and completely Western-style establishments. Overland tours are for discovering authentic Africa.
• All activities and extras to be free - check the tour itinerary or ask your tour operator to clarify which activities are included.

Overlanding is ideal for fun-loving and free-spirited budget travellers. Be ready to experience the real adventure of travelling through Africa!

Overland Africa Destinations - where can you go on overland tours?

There are countless destination and route options to choose from when it comes to Overlanding in Africa. Many of our most popular African Safaris are Overland Tours.

Listed by country, Overlanding destinations include:

• Kenya Safaris - Masai Mara, Amboseli, Lake Nakuru, Samburu, Tsavo / browse upcoming tours departing from Nairobi
• Tanzania Safaris - Serengeti Park, Ngorongoro Crater, Kilimanjaro, Zanzibar, Selous / see upcoming tours departing from Dar es Salaam
• Botswana Safaris - Okavango Delta, Chobe Park, Kalahari Desert, Makgadikgadi Pans / browse upcoming tours departing from Maun
• Namibia Safaris - Etosha Park, Namib Desert, Swakopmund, Fish River Canyon / browse upcoming tours departing from Windhoek
• South Africa Safaris - Kruger Park, Cape Town, Garden Route, KwaZulu-Natal / see upcoming tours starting in Johannesburg or starting in Cape Town
• Zimbabwe Safaris - Victoria Falls, Hwange Park, Matobo Park, Great Zimbabwe Ruins / browse upcoming tours departing from Victoria Falls

Not sure where to go and how to start planning your African trip? Talk to one of our African travel experts or check our HUGE selection of Africa Overland Tours.