Frequently Asked Questions about Africa Overland Tours

Below you will find answers to frequently asked questions about adventure or overland tours to Africa. Our information booklet at the bottom will also answer questions from "When is the best time to travel to Africa?" to "Is Africa safe?" and many more.

How do the prices work?

Most rates are shown in South African Rand (ZAR). The currency converter provided on our website can be used as a guideline to show the currency you prefer. Once you book a tour, the South African Rand amount will be converted to EURO (or another major currency such as USA Dollar or British Pound if you prefer). We will use the average exchange rate of the last 7 days. For more information about this, have a look at the "Payment and Invoice" section in our Terms and Conditions.

What is the single supplement?

If you prefer not to share a tent or room with someone on tour, you can request to pay the single supplement and we will do our best to arrange a private tent or room for you during your tour. Almost everyone on tour shares a tent with someone from the same gender.

Please note: when you travel alone on one of our accommodated group tours (hotel/ lodge tour), the single supplement will be compulsory. During your tour you will then have your own private room every night.

What is an Overland truck?

• An overland truck is big and strong- designed to take on whatever Africa can throw at them. The overland trucks are high off the ground with big windows that can slide open all the way- which makes them perfect for a Safari and enjoying Africa’s most spectacular landscapes.
• Group sizes: Some overland trucks can carry up to 24 clients even though most of our tours are actually limited to a maximum of 20 clients. On selected departure dates the maximum number of clients is only 12… which gives you even more space to move around.
• They carry all the tents, sleeping mats, pots and pans and all the luggage and lots of fresh water… one of the best ways to travel around Africa!
• Luggage: Please keep in mind that our tours are of an adventurous nature and you will be travelling in an overland truck/ adventure vehicle and luggage should NOT include any hard cover “Samsonite” style suitcases. Most of the trucks have lockers for the luggage. Locker sizes: 70cm deep x 40cm wide x 38cm high. Only a soft bag will fit in these lockers.
• A suitcase is far more difficult to store and to make secure in our vehicles and this is part of the reason we ask for a soft cover bag/ sports bag/ backpack or tote bag to be used as your luggage. The other reason is that you need to walk from the truck to the accommodation and this is often over sand or uneven terrain. If you can’t carry your own bag, it is too heavy!
• Please note: If you bring a suitcase it might be left behind or you may be charged a fee to carry it if it does not fit into your locker.

What do the tents look like?

• We provide two man dome tents and camping mattresses on our Camping tours… you just have to bring your own sleeping bag. Two clients of the same gender will share a tent, even though the tents are big enough for 3 clients. Most clients share a tent, but if you prefer to have you own tent, there is a single supplement option on most tours.
• These Safari Tents come with built in mosquito nets and will keep any bugs out. They are water resistant and they are super easy to put up and break down. On day one of the tour the guides will show you how it’s done… it takes only 5 minutes to pitch a tent… even if you have never done it before.
• Tent size: The average tent is 2.4 m long x 2.4 m wide x 1.9 m high (7.8 ft x 7.8 ft x 6.2 ft).

Hotel/ Lodge examples

• First things first: Our Hotel and Lodges tours should be seen as an upgrade from the camping tours. The style of accommodation varies from budget hotels, lodges, chalets, bungalows, traditional huts and sometimes permanent safari tents.
• In Southern Africa all the accommodation used has bedding and towels provided. All accommodation is 2 per room, and most of them offer en-suite facilities. Clients travelling alone have to pay the extra single supplement, but this will assure a private room throughout the tour.
• In East Africa the accommodation options can be less reliable and are generally a little more basic than in Southern Africa. As bedding is not always provided you need to bring a towel and sleeping bag on these tours.
• Please note: Most of our tours are run as a combination of the Camping and the Hotel and  Lodge tour. This means that there will be camping clients and accommodated clients on the same tour, with the only big difference being that the campers camp at night and those who booked the hotel and lodge tour will have a bed inside the lodge/ hotel etc. for the night.
• Everyone stays in the same general area, with the rooms only a short walk from the campsite.

Do I need a visa?

• Probably. Most nationalities need a visa for each country you travel to in Africa. The best advice would be to contact the embassy or consulate of each country you plan on travelling to and ask them for their latest visa information.
• For most nationalities a visa for South Africa, Namibia, Swaziland and Lesotho will be free of charge and you will receive a stamp in your passport once you arrive there or when you cross the border. This information is subject to change at any time, so please contact the embassy or consulate of each country for the latest visa information.
• Most nationalities will have to apply for a visa to travel to Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, Uganda and Mozambique BEFORE they travel to Africa.
• Kenya: At the moment, you HAVE TO apply for a visa ONLINE before you travel to Kenya.
• Botswana and Zimbabwe: A visa can be bought AT THE BORDER. This costs U$ 30 - U$ 50 per person.
• This information should be seen as a rough guideline only.
• For up to date visa information, you have to contact the embassy or consulate of each country.

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