Home. Overland Tour Operator in Africa

Tour Operator for Trips in Southern, Middle, Northern and Eastern Africa.

In the beginning, overland-ing safaris was simple for adventure tour operators companies:

A tour operator organise a secondhand truck, install some coach seats in the back, buy spares, tents and food… and off visitors go into the countries! A lot has changed since the early "Tour Operators" days of back-packing journeys, but these adventures are still an exciting and rather cheap-est way to explore popular countries.

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Generally, the term 'overland trip' can mean any journey that's bean combined and structured by tour operators fellow travelers or recommended itineraries designed by tour operators, with 5 to 25 adventurous backpackers to explore the country in a custom-built overlanders truck on fixed routes organize by tour operators like us.

Please remember that if you want to pick an overland tour that only stays in one African country, click on that specific country (in the left column) in the 'Overlanding' section. If however you want to visit a few countries like for example Cape Town to Victoria Falls pass through 4 different countries, click on Cross Country (in the left column).

Also remember that although 2 journeys that we as tour operators might run exactly the same route, might have a different price due to mainly 2 reasons:
1) The more expensive one might include more optional activities as part of the price and the other one you have to pay for each
2) The duration

View our Overlanding Guide OR Safari Guide

Trucks use by Adventure Tour Operators:

The companies that function as service providers for GetawayAfrica, all have trucks that comply with the latest South African safety regulations. Adventure trucks have been custom-built to make them almost self sufficient on expeditions. All adventure trucks feature (more or less) comfortable seats with ample legroom, large windows for unobstructed photography and carry a water tank and a fully equipped kitchen, with rations, cutlery, pots and pans as well as a gas stove. Some trucks even have a built-in freezer to keep food fresh a generator or other battery power so visitors can have electric light.

>South African Overland Adventures

Tour Operators use Trained Guides:

On all overlanding adventures there will be dedicated guides touring with visitors through the countries. Mostly, there will be 2 guides who have to be registered with FGASA (Field Guides Association of Southern Africa) and DEAT (Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism) and have valid First Aid Certificates. Drivers must also have their PDP's (Professional Drivers Permit). The guides will also do most of the cooking, though visitors will be asked to share the chores and give a helping hand. Some companies use only one driver-guide appointed by the tour operators who will therefore involve guest more in the daily camp duties.

>Namibian Tour Guide

Accommodation

A overland operator that function as our service provider use comfortable two-man dome tents with built-in insect nets. Most of the companies also supply a foam mattress so that you only have to bring your sleeping bag. But don't worry if you forgot your sleeping bag because you can hire one from most companies.

The group will stay in designated camp-sites during overlanding safari and, especially in S.Africa and Namibia, they all have good facilities with hot showers and acceptable ablution facilities.

When tour operators journeys venture further north, the more basic the camps can be. If there are no campsites available, you might stay in a chalet, cabin or hostel for a few nights. The facilities will be modest to basic. On some journeys you will even have the unforgettable experience of camping wild in the bush, without any facilities whatsoever.

> Botswana Guide

Overland & Conventional Safaris:

The main difference between overlanding and conventional safaris is participation. The passengers assist the guides with the making and breaking up of camp and they share the chores like washing up with a roster system. Your participation and involvement form an integral part of your successful safari. But don't worry, you will still have a relaxed holiday in an easy going atmosphere as all that is needed is a bit of team spirit and a little effort.

> Mozambique Options

Itineraries

Obviously, adventure journeys vary depending on the route you choose, journeys in our tour operators guide are run all over African countries, from Nairobi to SA, Tanzania to Mozambique. You can travel for one or two weeks, combine expeditions or, if you have time to spare, embark on a 52-day adventure or more.

No matter which trip you choose, itineraries will be designed to show you most of the highlights of the areas you touring in. A lot of our tours venture along the same routes, for example the all-time favourite Cape to Vic Falls, which makes it difficult to choose particular adventure journeys. It often helps to take a closer look at what is offered. You should especially look at the number of sites visited. Does the overlanding trip include the places, adventure activities and attractions you would like to see?

It is also important to look at the average number of days that you spend in one place. If a tour manages to take you to all major tourist highlights from Cape Town to Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe in just 7 days, then you can be pretty sure that you will see them all but you will definitely not be able to experience them. Often, less is more.

> Zambia Journeys

Adventure tour Operators Fares:

The prices for tours through the country vary according to itinerary, duration, included activities and the standard of accommodation.

The price you pay for the trip will at least include use of a tent, meals and transport. On some trips, especially for those that leave SA, an additional local payment is required. The local payment is payable in cash (mainly US$) to the guide on the day of departure and will be used to pay entrance fees or border taxes. No participants will be allowed to board the overlanding truck before settling the local payment.

It is important to know that the local payment is not a food kitty as meals are included in the trips price. Try to avoid journeys where you have to contribute to a food kitty. This is just a way to make the price for the tour look cheaper and to hide the actual costs involved.

> Kenya Guide

Service Providers

We are partners with several well-established "tour operators" to ensure that we can offer our clients a wide variety of different tours. All partners have been in the industry for a long time. Therefore, they know the countries, and especially the Southern and Eastern African countries like the back of their hands.

What all of the companies have in common is a passion for Africa, her people, wildlife and the wide open spaces. But every tour operator has its unique features. Small, owner-run tour operators can often offer a more personalised service but they can't beat a big adventure operator if it comes to departure dates, prices and back-up service.

There is a variety of different trucks and safari vehicles out there. Some of them might be a few years older than others, some might have a better design than the rest but all overland trucks were custom-built to manage the extreme conditions of our continent while at the same time offering their passengers a reasonable level of comfort. We also partners with some companies that conduct their trips with small vehicles like 10-seater Mercedes and Toyota minibuses because they specialise in affordable camping adventures that also require a certain level of participation. Their expeditions also aim at the adventurous young-at-heart traveler and they are therefore closer to adventure tours than to conventional, more exclusive safaris.

A operator can also offer more luxurious overlanding journeys on tailor-made quotes and make use of 4x4 vehicles which means that they can get to remote areas that a normal truck cannot reach due to road conditions.

But whatever visitors are looking for: big or small groups, culture or adventure, long or short backpackers trips, one country or several countries, trucks, 4x4 or minibuses, budget or more exclusive trips... we as adventure tour operators will be able to help guest find perfect adventure through the countries.

> Zimbabwe Expeditions

Experience

Do you sometimes feel the need to break free, seek adventure and explore the wilderness out there? But at the same time you are inexperienced, want to be safe and especially not alone?

Guides are knowledgeable and experienced and will take care of most of the hassles such as border crossings, though visitors have to make sure they have all the visas needed before go on the trip organized by tour operators.

All you need to bring is a sense of adventure, a positive attitude and a bit of flexibility and you will thoroughly enjoy journeys in the counties with a group of like-minded people.

Because, as one of our service providers puts it:

"The only way to truly appreciate the continent is to sleep on its earth, bake in its sun, touch its grass and be doused in its water.'

So, get out there and explore…

> Cross Country Journeys

Visas

Here is a general guideline for visas - but please remember that these can change constantly.

BORDER = VISAS OBTAINABLE AT BORDER
YES = VISAS MUST BE OBTAINED BEFORE DEPARTURE
NO = NO VISA REQUIRED