5 Best Africa Overland Tours to Consider According to an Ex-Tour Leader

Wondering which Africa overland tour to choose?

It’s a tough decision and everyone has the same problem – they are all amazing! However, after many years working as a tour leader, I know exactly which sections receive the best feedback. This feedback also aligns with my own personal opinion. And in this blog post, I would like to share my five best Africa Overland Tours that I think you should consider…

My 5 Best Africa Overland Tours to Consider

1.Nairobi to Cape Town (Approx 75 days)

Trust me, you will not regret taking this entire journey. Every section is much different than the other and the value for money on an Africa overland tour is unrivaled. You will also avoid the FOMO (fear of missing out) that people always feel when they leave a trip early and you will never forget the bonds/friendships you form.

Thank you for reading and don’t forget to come back to my blog to make sure you know what to pack and where to get the best travel insurance for Africa.

2. Nairobi to Zanzibar including Uganda/Rwanda (Approx 35 days)

If you can afford this amount of time, I believe this to be the best overland tour in Africa. Starting in Nairobi (Kenya), the trip travels west up through Uganda and then into Rwanda before turning around and heading back toward the coast of Tanzania. 

It just has everything that you could want to experience on an Africa overland tour, from wildlife safaris and encounters with tribes to extreme activities and pristine beaches toward the end. In my opinion, this part of the continent also offers a primitive taste of Africa and the price of activities is less than down south.

3. Nairobi to Vic Falls (Approx 40 days)

You begin this overland tour in the same place as the one above – Nairobi. You also get to experience some of the same highlights including Serengeti National Park and Zanzibar but it does not visit Uganda or Rwanda. Instead, the tour moves directly south through Tanzania and then into Malawi which is one of my favourite places/experiences in Africa. Depending on which tour operator you choose, you will then travel through either Zambia or Zimbabwe and finish the trip at one of the natural wonders of the world – Victoria Falls National Park.

This is the core section of an Africa overland tour in my opinion. This is because many of the group will have known each other for a few weeks and it should make for a more enjoyable/comfortable/relaxed experience. This section is also very different to the first part which is why many people book the entire trip rather than a section.

4. Nairobi to Zanzibar (Approx 20 days)

For anyone short on time, this overland tour packs a lot into 20 days. Many tours begin this section with a few days in Kenya which usually includes the Masai Mara and Lake Naivasha – one of my favourite places in the world. It then travels south to Serengeti National Park for more game drives before ending with some beach time. 

But why don’t you just visit these places on your own?

You definitely can but the price is often much less with overland tours in Africa. This is largely because of the group discount. It’s also nice to travel with a few others because it’s rather tricky to meet and spend time with other tourists in these places.

5. Victoria Falls to Cape Town (Approx 25 days)

Botswana offers some interesting wildlife encounters and the Okavango Delta mokoro trip is definitely worth checking out. Namibia is also a stunning place to see from the truck and to camp out under the stars. Cape Town also feels like the best place to celebrate the end of an overland tour in Africa and overall, the itinerary has enough to help create a memorable trip. 

My only issue with joining this section is that many of the people on board will be coming to the end of their trip. I often find the group is less enthusiastic than at the beginning and it sometimes happens that new people feel like outsiders in a way. But don’t let this put you off because I also notice the new people get lots of attention as many of the group are excited for new faces and fresh conversation on the trip.

Thank you for reading and don’t forget to come back to my blog to make sure you know what to pack for an overland tour in Africa and where to get the best travel insurance for Africa.