How to Pick Your Overland Tour in Africa

Congratulations – You are thinking about joining an overland tour in Africa!! Overland tours offer incredible value in terms of the money you pay compared the amount you get to see. Life on an overland vehicle is also exciting and very different every day. You travel through villages, towns and cities and venture into some of the most incredible wildlife parks in Africa. The best thing about overland tours in Africa is that you get to travel with a group of like-minded people and form bonds that will last a lifetime. I say all of this because I ended up working as a tour leader as a result of my first overland tour from Nairobi to Cape Town. This means I have a lot of first hand experience with the various routes, activities and tour operators on the road. In this post, I will try to help you choose the right overland tour in Africa and then give you some examples of trip itineraries that you may want to consider.

How Much Time Do You Have For Your Overland Tour in Africa?

The average length of an overland tour is 3 weeks, but it is possible to take an overland tour in Africa for more than 10 weeks. The most popular routes begin in Cape Town, Victoria Falls and Nairobi. This means you can take Africa overland tour in either direction (north or south) and you get to decide for how long you will stay on the adventure.

What Do You Want to See and Experience?

Wildlife and rolling landscapes are common throughout Africa. You can experience the desert in Namibia or go on safari in Botswana, but the most popular National Parks are in East Africa. If you want to include a bit of relaxation, you might want to consider Africa overland tours which include the beaches of Zanzibar. I often suggest first-time visitors to take an overland tour in Africa that takes you to both Serengeti National Park and Zanzibar. Here’s a quick link to an itinerary for this tour: 10 Day Tour – Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater & Zanzibar. On the other hand, maybe you want to see the mountain gorillas in Uganda or the Namib desert in Southern Africa? There are overland tours in Africa that go to all of these places and I will list some of them at the bottom of this post.

Do You Want More Adventure or More Comfort?

Some tour operators offer more comfort and luxury than others and some countries are a little ‘easier’ to travel. For instance, South Africa, Botswana and Namibia are more developed and modern than elsewhere. They are also more expensive but can sometimes mean better roads and a slightly higher standard of accommodation etc. That said, such places are less primitive than countries in East Africa where the experience can feel more raw and authentic. This is why a lot of travelers pick overland tours in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and Malawi – they might be more challenging to travel but these destinations offer a glimpse into ‘real Africa’. A good way to strike a balance is to travel with an overland tour operator in East Africa that provides a higher standard of transport, accommodation and food. More on this in a moment.

Are You Ready for Camping? You Should Be!

Africa overland tours are synonymous with camping and this is a big factor when it comes to keeping the trips more affordable. However, I find most people that join these tours are ready for a bit of rough n’ tumble and relish the idea of camping. I absolutely love camping and actually think this is perhaps the best way to properly appreciate the nature of Africa. But you will not be in a tent the entire time and there is usually an option to sleep in a real bed from time to time. You can sometimes upgrade to a room on Africa overland tours depending on whether or not you are staying at a campsite which has rooms available.

By the way, tour operators insist you show proof of personal travel insurance to join an overland tour in Africa. I always use World Nomads and suggest you should at least get a quote to factor in the cost. It takes just a few seconds to get a quote on the link below.

Get Quote from World Nomads

Do You Want a Budget Experience or Can You Afford More Quality?

I worked for a budget overland tour operator for some years. There is definitely a difference and this relates to the standard of transport, equipment and often the competence level of staff. If you are willing to spend a bit more, I recommend choosing a reliable operators for your overland tour in Africa as some companies really do have better vehicles, equipment, staff etc. But which operators offer the best Africa overland tours that you should consider?

Which Operators Should You Consider for Your Africa Overland Tour?

I worked for two overland companies in Africa and during this time, I also personally witnessed every other company in action. There are just a handful of companies which I would recommend you consider for an overland tour in Africa. You will notice on my website that I often suggest G Adventures because they do spend a lot more time/money on things like staff training and upgrading their vehicles. The ‘Lando’ is also a very practical alternative to the older trucks which other companies are still using. Here’s a list of the operators to keep in mind: