Africa overland tours.

[Wildsea]

I am thinking of doing an African overland tour by myself in the start of 2010. Just wondered if anyone had any experience of one or suggestions. I really want to do it on the cheap, so camping out and preparing my own food etc is no problem. I am hoping to do mainly East Africa, visting Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, Botswana, Mozambique. I was looking at this company. http://www.kumuka.com/African-Adventures.aspx.
Ideas and advice very much appreciated, as I do not know anyone who has done an overland tour in Africa.

[pugwash4x4]

have driven across the Sahara with another vehicle- Morocco- Mauritania- Mali- Tam- Tunisia

self contained with 2 other vehicles and 6 people in total.

what would you like to know?

[Wildsea]

pugwash4x4 said:

have driven across the Sahara with another vehicle- Morocco- Mauritania- Mali- Tam- Tunisia

self contained with 2 other vehicles and 6 people in total.

what would you like to know?

Wow, was that with a company, or a bunch of friends. What type of vehicle did you use? What time of year did you go, and what was the tempreture like?

I would love to go independantly, but I just havn't the confidence. I would do it on my own in Asia, Europe and Australi/New Zealand. I just think it would be more difficult in Africa to find places to stay and to meet other people along the way.

[joe20vt]

In my experiance of Namibian hostles there are often adverts on the walls offering spare seats in cars trucks etc going all over with short notice, good way to find like minded people. Hope it helps?!?

[pugwash4x4]

bunch of friends:





Self organised with no problems

will try and write a full report later this day when i'm not at work!

[Wildsea]

Thanks, much appreciated. Maybe I should realy consider going it alone and meeting people along the way.

[dcw@pr]

I did this

http://www.kumuka.com/The-East-Africa-Express.aspx

many years ago on my gap year. It was good fun. At the time I thought it was a bit too expensive, but in hindsight it's not bad value.

[soprano]

I would seriously consider doing it independently rather than with an overlander. Not sure how old you are but they tend to be used predominantly by younger people (18/19) which you might find a bit wearing after a while. It is very scheduled, there is no spontaneity to the whole thing, you are told when to get on/off, when to eat and you tend to get a limited time in each place.

Don't let Africa daunt you, it really is not that difficult to travel across (depending on where you go of course). At various times I have travelled independently through South Africa, Swaziland, Namibia, Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe (briefly), Malawi, Tanzania and Kenya by car/4x4. They are not set up for travelling in the same way as Australia for example but you will find plenty of other travellers and its a fairly well used route.

If Southern Africa is something which appeals and you want to do it independently consider starting in South Africa (probably either Cape Town or Jo'burg, the latter of which will be cheaper to fly to). Start out on the Baz Bus (similar in nature to Oz/Kiwi Experience but less about partying and more about actually getting to wherever you want to get to next!) you can buy hop on/hop off tickets and travel along the coast.

You will be bound to meet other like minded people who want to head north, and then you can think about buying a car together or grabbing a lift with someone already with a car etc. Southern and East Africa really is quite safe as long as you have your wits about you.

Do it. I have had some of the best times of my life in Africa. If you want any more info on countries, where to go, how to travel, carrying money etc, feel free to ask.

[Thunderace]

We're going with these chaps in November :-

Link

It's not aimed at gap year.

[Wildsea]

dcw@pr said:

I did this

http://www.kumuka.com/The-East-Africa-Express.aspx

many years ago on my gap year. It was good fun. At the time I thought it was a bit too expensive, but in hindsight it's not bad value.

That is exactly the tour I was looking at. What was the average age, I'm 24. Was it well planned, was it a major rush, or did you have enough time in each place?

[Wildsea]

soprano said:

I would seriously consider doing it independently rather than with an overlander. Not sure how old you are but they tend to be used predominantly by younger people (18/19) which you might find a bit wearing after a while. It is very scheduled, there is no spontaneity to the whole thing, you are told when to get on/off, when to eat and you tend to get a limited time in each place.

Don't let Africa daunt you, it really is not that difficult to travel across (depending on where you go of course). At various times I have travelled independently through South Africa, Swaziland, Namibia, Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe (briefly), Malawi, Tanzania and Kenya by car/4x4. They are not set up for travelling in the same way as Australia for example but you will find plenty of other travellers and its a fairly well used route.

If Southern Africa is something which appeals and you want to do it independently consider starting in South Africa (probably either Cape Town or Jo'burg, the latter of which will be cheaper to fly to). Start out on the Baz Bus (similar in nature to Oz/Kiwi Experience but less about partying and more about actually getting to wherever you want to get to next!) you can buy hop on/hop off tickets and travel along the coast.

You will be bound to meet other like minded people who want to head north, and then you can think about buying a car together or grabbing a lift with someone already with a car etc. Southern and East Africa really is quite safe as long as you have your wits about you.

Do it. I have had some of the best times of my life in Africa. If you want any more info on countries, where to go, how to travel, carrying money etc, feel free to ask.

Thanks, everyone is certainly providing me with scofidence to go independantly. I didn't realise they had a hop on hop off bus. Thats certainly something to look at, as you say it will be a great way of meeting people. So the best place to meet fellow travellers is South Africa, is this correct?

[soprano]

Wildsea said:

soprano said:

I would seriously consider doing it independently rather than with an overlander. Not sure how old you are but they tend to be used predominantly by younger people (18/19) which you might find a bit wearing after a while. It is very scheduled, there is no spontaneity to the whole thing, you are told when to get on/off, when to eat and you tend to get a limited time in each place.

Don't let Africa daunt you, it really is not that difficult to travel across (depending on where you go of course). At various times I have travelled independently through South Africa, Swaziland, Namibia, Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe (briefly), Malawi, Tanzania and Kenya by car/4x4. They are not set up for travelling in the same way as Australia for example but you will find plenty of other travellers and its a fairly well used route.

If Southern Africa is something which appeals and you want to do it independently consider starting in South Africa (probably either Cape Town or Jo'burg, the latter of which will be cheaper to fly to). Start out on the Baz Bus (similar in nature to Oz/Kiwi Experience but less about partying and more about actually getting to wherever you want to get to next!) you can buy hop on/hop off tickets and travel along the coast.

You will be bound to meet other like minded people who want to head north, and then you can think about buying a car together or grabbing a lift with someone already with a car etc. Southern and East Africa really is quite safe as long as you have your wits about you.

Do it. I have had some of the best times of my life in Africa. If you want any more info on countries, where to go, how to travel, carrying money etc, feel free to ask.

Thanks, everyone is certainly providing me with scofidence to go independantly. I didn't realise they had a hop on hop off bus. Thats certainly something to look at, as you say it will be a great way of meeting people. So the best place to meet fellow travellers is South Africa, is this correct?

Yep its the only country i've been to in Africa that is really set up for backpacking, loads of hostels, well used routes and good transport links. The other countries I mentioned above are easy to travel in that they are safe, lots of cheap accomodation (though not always the best in terms of quality you will be fine so long as you are not a princess!), good (and cheap) food but dont have the same transport links, so if you go straight into say Botswana or Malawi, the people you will meet will tend to already be in groups, often with a car/4x4.

If you started in Cape Town and headed up the coast towards Swaziland and/or Drakensburg and finally on to Jo'Burg you would almost certainly meet people that wanted to head north up to Vic Falls and could keep on going north if you wished. Plus GT (basically Jo'burg and Pretoria area) are good for buying a car if you wanted in that there is a plentiful supply, and unlike Cape Town the climate is warm and dry meaning even older cars should have no rust whatsoever (check out the Landy Series IIa in my profile, 1967 and no rust at all - this is PH after all).

Also check out www.bazbus.com for info on routes and prices. There is a book called Coast to Coast which is, or at least was given out free in South Africa which compliments the baz bus route. Its basically a mini Lonely Planet with accomodation guides etc.

ETA do you not know anyone that would like to do something similar? Would remove alot of fear of the unknown. Its amazing what a bit of company can do for you.

Edited by soprano on Friday 16th October 10:31

[Bill]

I'd agree wih everyone who's advising you to travel independently. East and Southern Africa is great for independent travel, although it is easier with your own transport.

I'd be tempted to head for Cape Town and either buy a car there or try to hook up with other travellers.

[Wildsea]

soprano said:

comodation guides etc.

ETA do you not know anyone that would like to do something similar? Would remove alot of fear of the unknown. Its amazing what a bit of company can do for you.

Nah, unfortunatly none so far. a couple of people wanted to go to Australia and New Zealand. Which is what I was going to do, with a couple of them and then go to Africa afterwards. I have decided that I would prefer to do them seperatly, and Africa is the one I want to do most. The hop on hop off looks like a fab start to get me started. I have never travelled on my own before, and i'm quite a shy person. But I think doing something like this will really help me build my confidence.

[v15ben]

I'd also look at the independent route. The overland truck idea seems to me a little over sanitised and structured. We stayed in a campsite used by most overland companies who traverse Tanzania when we did a building project there (Meserani Snake Park if anyone knows it!) and every night seemed to run on the same pattern with everyone leaving hungover after organised drinking fun and watching Africa go by hungover! No bad thing sometimes but not cooped up in a truck with the same people for weeks IMO!

The overland options don't work out cheap either and while independent travel is never going to be rock bottom in price either, I'd much rather do that

[soprano]

Wildsea said:

soprano said:

comodation guides etc.

ETA do you not know anyone that would like to do something similar? Would remove alot of fear of the unknown. Its amazing what a bit of company can do for you.

Nah, unfortunatly none so far. a couple of people wanted to go to Australia and New Zealand. Which is what I was going to do, with a couple of them and then go to Africa afterwards. I have decided that I would prefer to do them seperatly, and Africa is the one I want to do most. The hop on hop off looks like a fab start to get me started. I have never travelled on my own before, and i'm quite a shy person. But I think doing something like this will really help me build my confidence.

You won't regret it. If you want any tips on where to visit in Southern and East Africa, or along the SA coast I'm happy to give some pointers. SA is a fab country and a good place to start travelling I think.

[Wildsea]

Thanks to all the replies so far. With regards to Maleria, what is recommended. A collegue suggested doxycycline. But as this is so cheap, is there any unplesent side affects?

[Bill]

Wildsea said:

Thanks to all the replies so far. With regards to Maleria, what is recommended. A collegue suggested doxycycline. But as this is so cheap, is there any unplesent side affects?

It depends where you're going as some areas have drug-resistant malaria. Your best bet is to plan the trip first so you know what you need.

[Wildsea]

Bill said:

Wildsea said:

Thanks to all the replies so far. With regards to Maleria, what is recommended. A collegue suggested doxycycline. But as this is so cheap, is there any unplesent side affects?

It depends where you're going as some areas have drug-resistant malaria. Your best bet is to plan the trip first so you know what you need.

I realy have no plan at the moment, just see how it goes when I get there basically. I want to start in S. Africa and go to Tanzania, Zanzibar. Other than this, I'm just going to see how it goes.

[Bill]

Here's what we did: http://www.hereandthereinafrica.co.uk/medical.htm