This tour starts at Zimbabwe’s highlight, the incredible Victoria Falls, where you have the opportunity to explore the falls and take part in the adventure activities that abound including grade 5 rafting on the Zambezi River, abseiling, bungee jumping and gorge swinging.

Please note that we depart Victoria Falls 2 days after the tour starts so if you would like more time here you should arrive a few days prior to our departure.

Our first stop in this beautiful country is Chobe National Park where you have the opportunity to take a sunset cruise on the Chobe River with a front row seat to one of Africa’s finest wildlife settings. With herds of elephants crossing the river using their trunks as snorkels, pods of hippos wallowing in the pools and the rare puku munching on the wetland grass this is a memory that will stay with you forever.

We continue to the Makgadikgadi Pans, one of the world’s largest salt flats, where you have the opportunity to explore this fascinating landscape from the comfort of a 4x4 while looking for meerkats.

The Okavango Delta is a truly delightful wildlife rich area where you will have the option to take a trip on a mokoro (traditional dug-out canoe) through the vast waterways of the delta in search of the crocodiles, hippos and elephants that make this park so special.

We enter Namibia in the wildlife-rich Caprivi Strip, a wild area well off the tourist trail where we have a day to explore the region's abundant wildlife from our base at Ngepi Lodge.

We continue to one of Africa’s greatest wildlife viewing venues, Etosha National Park, where we spend a couple of days driving through the park's desert and bushveld landscapes in search of lion, buffalo, elephant and giraffe, plus many of Africa’s other great mammals.

After exiting the park we will then visit a traditional Himba village and get an insight into these indigenous nomads' way of life.

Near Kamanjab we will be visiting a Cheetah Park where we get to see these incredible animals up close and watch them feeding.

On our route to the coast you will have the option to visit a petrified forest with 45m long trunks and also take a guided tour around the bushman rock engravings at Twyfelfontein.

The Skeleton Coast is a desolate place and a drive through this wilderness will allow us to see an abandoned oil rig, numerous shipwrecks and a noisy seal colony.

Spitzkoppe is Namibia's ‘Matterhorn’ and the sight of these bold granite outcrops rising dramatically out of the flat surrounding plains make it an awesome spectacle.

The adventure sports capital Swakopmund is where you will have the opportunity to go deep-sea fishing, quad-biking, sand-boarding, camel riding and skydiving, or just relax on the deserted beaches and enjoy the German influenced resort towns hospitality.

We now head to the iconic towering red sand dunes of the Namib Desert at Sossusvlei where you will have the option to climb the famous Dune 45 for sunrise. The more spirited ones can attempt the climb up the much more arduous Big Daddy dune to get a view over one of the driest landscapes on earth.

Our last stop in Namibia is at the awesome Fish River Canyon National Park where you will be amazed by one of Africa’s most incredible natural rifts.

South Africa’s Western Cape coast is wine country and it is here at Highlanders Vineyard where we get a taste of SA’s famous wines and enjoy the beautiful views that make this area world-famous.

Cape Town is our last port of call on this tour. Before heading home we recommend you take time to relax and enjoy the area’s attractions such as the nearby penguin colonies, Robben Island, cage diving with sharks and the brilliant V&A Waterfront. Not to be missed is a day trip around the Stellenbosch wineries, a must-do for any wine lovers and a divine last taste of Africa!

This tour ends in Cape Town after breakfast on the last day of the trip so you can make your onward travel arrangements accordingly.

If you would like to extend your trip and join this tour prior to Victoria Falls our truck travels through Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia and more of Zimbabwe before reaching Victoria Falls so you can add on any of these destinations should you wish to.

If you would like to extend your trip after Cape Town our truck continues to visit more of South Africa, Lesotho, Eswatini and Mozambique before returning to Harare in Zimbabwe so you can add on any of these destinations should you wish to.

If you end in Cape Town in April we have a truck that starts a Western Trans Africa from Cape Town, South Africa to Fez, Morocco a week after this tour ends so you could add on Namibia, Angola, Democratic Republic of Congo, Congo, Gabon, Cameroon, Nigeria, Benin, Togo, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Gambia, Senegal, Mauritania and Morocco should you wish to.

We are happy to create a bespoke itinerary and price for you so please feel free to contact us to discuss all options.

If you can’t do the whole tour it may be possible to book a shorter section of your choice. Please get in touch and if this option is available we will be happy to work out a bespoke itinerary and reduced price for you.

HOW TO BOOK

To make a booking please fill in our online booking form and then pay a £300 deposit by Credit/Debit Card, Bank Transfer, Revolut, Wise or Paypal.

Once we receive your online booking form and deposit we will confirm your booking by email and send you all relevant information necessary for your tour preparations.

TOUR PAYMENT

The Tour Payment of £1479 is the main bulk payment for your tour and is payable in the UK in GBP (£ Sterling). In order to reserve a place on this tour you must pay a £300 deposit. Eight months prior to the tour start date a further payment of £450 must be paid to secure your booking. The final balance of your Tour Payment £729 must then be paid in full at least four months prior to the tour start date. If you book between 4 to 8 months prior to the tour start date a deposit of £750 should be paid upon booking. If you book within 4 months of the tour start date the full Tour Payment of £1479 should be paid upon booking.

The Tour Payment can be paid by Credit/Debit Card, Bank Transfer, Revolut, Wise or Paypal.

Credit and Debit Card Payments (please use your full name as a reference when paying)

You can use the following link to pay by credit or debit card:

Dragoman Tour Payment

Or feel free to call us on +44 7858 468 953 in order to make a credit or debit card payment over the phone.

Bank Details for Direct Transfers (please use your full name as a reference when paying)

Bank: HSBC

Account name: Madventure Ltd.

Sort code: 400810

Account number: 91618415

IBAN : GB14HBUK40081091618415

Swift/Bank BIC: HBUKGB4B

Branch BIC: HBUKGB4116A

Bank address: HSBC Bank, 6 High Street, Abingdon, Oxfordshire, OX14 5AZ, United Kingdom

Revolut (please use your full name as a reference when paying)

Revolut offers a cheap and fast international money transfer service where you can choose to make a payment using either your bank account or credit/debit card.

Don’t have a Revolut account? Create one now - www.revolut.com 

Wise (please use your full name as a reference when paying)

Wise offers a cheap and fast international money transfer service where you can choose to make a payment using either your bank account or credit/debit card.

Don’t have a Wise account? Create one now - www.wise.com

Paypal (please use your full name as a reference when paying)

Paypal account name: info@madventure.co.uk

Don’t have a Paypal account? Create one now - www.paypal.com

LOCAL PAYMENT

This is a cash payment of USD $900 that must be paid to your expedition leader at the beginning of your trip and will be used to pay for cash expenses while you are on the road such as food, accommodation, fuel and included activities.

Please bear in mind that this is not a kitty and is not refundable. The local payment is simply a way for us to get cash to the expedition leaders so they can run the trip.

Please bring your local payment in new unmarked $100 bills if possible.

Although all local payment amounts are advertised in USD you may be asked to bring the equivalent amount in either EUROS or GBP.

INCLUDED

Services of your Dragoman tour leader, driver and cook

Transportation in our custom built Dragoman overland truck

Use of all equipment on the truck

Diesel, mechanics, shipping and any other costs relating to the vehicle

Local transportation costs (if required)

Ferry tickets (when travelling together as a group)

27 breakfasts and 23 evening meals

All accommodation costs (85% camping, 15% hotels, guest houses and hostels)

National Park entry fees when we enter as a group with our vehicle

Ngepi Lodge safari

Etosha NP safari

Himba village

Skeleton Coast seal colony

Spitzkoppe

Sossusvlei dunes

Fish River Canyon

Highlanders vineyard

NOT INCLUDED

International and domestic flights (no domestic flights expected during tour)

Airport transfers

Personal travel insurance

Personal spending money (£120 – £150 per week recommended)

Visas (approximately £50 depending on nationality)

Lunch and evening meals when in hotels, guest houses and hostels

Lunch when camping

Accommodation upgrades

Entrance fees to optional sites and national parks

Any optional activities and excursions

Tent, roll mat, sleeping bag and pillow

Tips (USD $30 per crew member recommended)

Below is a list of the most popular optional excursions along with the most recent prices. Prices can of course change and are not controlled in any way by Dragoman so please use the list below as an approximate guide only. Prices are shown in EUROS.

ZIMBABWE

Victoria Falls entrance fee £25

Zambezi rafting at Vic Falls £110

Bungee, gorge swing & highwire day at Vic Falls £160

Bungee jump off Victoria Falls £130

Flight over Victoria Falls £120

Zambezi sunset cruise £50

BOTSWANA

Chobe NP morning game drive £40

Chobe NP sunset cruise £30

Makgadikgadi Pans 4x4 trip £150

Guided baobab tree hike £30

2 day Okavango Delta Mokoro trip £120

Okavango Delta scenic flight £80

NAMIBIA

Twyfelfontein £5

Cheetah Park £30

Skydiving £200

Sandboarding £40

Quad-biking £60

Game fishing £120

Dolphin Cruise £55

Hot air ballooning £360

Scenic flight, Sossusvlei £300

SOUTH AFRICA

Cable car to Table Mountain £20

Abseil Table Mountain £80

Cage diving with Great White sharks £200

Robben Island guided tour £30

Stellenbosch wine tour £50

You will spend 85% of the time on this expedition in your tent camping. The other 15% of the time you will be staying in locally owned hotels, guest houses and hostels.

Quite often we will wild camp by ourselves out in the bush or in the desert and other times we will use designated campsites with amenities. The majority of our wild camp locations are usually very scenic and we always strive to find the perfect spot on the banks of a river, overlooking a canyon, behind a dune in the desert, on a remote beach, etc. but sometimes we just have to camp wherever we can find a spot.

From past experience on expeditions of this length and nature we have found that people prefer to supply their own tents as they are then not forced to share and they can pick a tent that suits their needs. As a general rule, try and choose a good quality lightweight and waterproof free-standing tent that is easy to erect, take down and carry.

At some of the campsites there are upgrade options available so should you prefer not to camp or you just want some time alone you can sometimes rent yourself a private room at your own expense.

When we are not camping we always try to use clean and comfortable locally owned hotels, guest houses and hostels, however, taking into consideration the sometimes unpredictable nature of this expedition and the remoteness of some of the areas we visit, please be aware that in some circumstances we just have to take what we can get, good or bad. When staying in hotels, guest houses and hostels you can expect to share your room with other expedition members of all genders.

There is usually an opportunity for anyone to upgrade to a single room or a superior room if they so wish. All accommodation upgrades are at your own expense.

We will be travelling in a custom-built Dragoman overland expedition vehicle 100% of the time on this tour. A standard bus simply wouldn’t be able to tackle many of the roads we travel on. Our vehicle can accommodate up to 23 travellers and 3 crew.

Comfort and safety is of course a big factor during expeditions of this length and nature so all our vehicles have high-backed coach seats with safety belts. The seating is on the upper level of the vehicle giving you an almost 360° view of the surrounding scenery.

Our vehicles are designed to allow sufficient luggage storage and are also equipped with lockers to keep all your gear safe.

Our long range diesel and water tanks ensure our self sufficiency in remote areas and the equipment we take with us is also of vital importance. In case of a breakdown we are equipped with a good selection of spare parts as well as a comprehensive tool kit to undertake any necessary repairs on our own as and when we need to.

There may also be times when we get stuck in the sand or mud when travelling off road so all necessary recovery equipment such as sand mats, cables, ropes, shovels and pickaxes are also on board.

We usually carry 400 litres of treated drinking water and we are equipped with a good kitchen which includes all cutlery, plates, cups, pots and pans, utensils, gas cooker, barbecue grate, tables, etc.

Our vehicle is also equipped with a small fridge which is used for the cook group’s breakfast and dinner food only. For personal food and drinks we have cooler boxes for everyone to use.

Comfortable fold up chairs are provided for outdoor seating and we also have a large tarpaulin to keep us dry on those rainy days.

We carry a portable shower and shower tent so you can take a shower every day on this tour if you like, even when we are wild camping in remote areas.

Our vehicles are equipped with USB charging points only so try and bring all of your important electronic devices such as telephone, tablet and head-torch to charge from a USB socket. We do not have a 120V or 240V power supply on the vehicle but you will have the opportunity to charge your 120/240V electronic equipment at the hotels and campsites we stay at.

We carry a comprehensive first aid kit for emergencies but we do recommend you bring your own for general use.

A cook is provided on this tour so you do not need to do any cooking. Eating well is a very important factor on our expeditions and good food is vital for everyone’s well-being so we always strive to provide healthy, wholesome and plentiful meals. When we are camping the cook will usually prepare breakfast and the evening meal using the kitchen on the vehicle. For lunch we usually stop at a cheap local restaurant giving you a chance to taste the local fare. Occasionally we may prepare lunch on the vehicle when we are in remote areas.

Your cook will do the shopping and cooking while we are camping but help with preparation of the meals and assistance with the cleaning up is always appreciated.

Fresh food is generally available daily so when we are camping we try to eat meat and vegetables for every main evening meal. We do cater to vegetarians but we do not cater to vegans or fussiness. In these group situations everybody must appreciate we cannot cater to restrictive diets or individual likes and dislikes.

Our vehicles are equipped with a small fridge which is used for the group's breakfast and dinner food only. For personal food and drinks we have cooler boxes for everyone to use.

Cleanliness plays an important role throughout this expedition and your crew will make sure an acceptable level of general hygiene is maintained throughout your journey to ensure the wellbeing of the group.

When staying in hotels we always strive to provide you with one healthy, wholesome and plentiful meal every day, usually breakfast at the hotel. Lunch and evening meals are at your own expense when we stay in hotels. Local food is generally very cheap so if you are on a budget then eat what the locals eat. Western restaurants tend to be more expensive.

27 breakfasts and 23 evening meals are provided during this expedition.

You will have a crew of 1 tour leader, 1 driver and 1 cook on this tour. On some tours we may also have a cameraman who is there to help market our tours and update our social media.

Your tour leader will be in charge of routes, itineraries, food and accommodation and will ensure the smooth running of the tour. Your tour leader is not a tour guide and will not be giving you the history and facts of every place we visit, you can look up that information yourself or hire a local guide when you want to. Apart from the excursions that need to be organised by the tour leader in advance, we leave most of that for you to arrange yourselves, this way ensuring you get to do what you want at the price you are happy to pay.

Your driver will drive and maintain the vehicle to a high standard but he/she is not a tour guide and may not know all the facts about the countries we travel through.

Your cook will be in charge of shopping for and preparing breakfast and the evening meals while camping so you are not expected to cook during this tour. Help with preparation of the meals and assistance with the cleaning up is always appreciated. 

Your crew will be hand-picked and trained by Dragoman but they may or may not have done this tour before. They will, however, have detailed notes from previous tours and backup from the office in the UK.

Tipping the crew at the end of your expedition is always appreciated if you feel they have done a good job. People often ask us what amount they should leave as a tip so we recommend you tip your crew a minimum of $30 each at the end of the tour if you feel they have given you good service, thank you.

PERSONAL BUDGET

We recommend a budget of £120 – £150 per person per week to live comfortably during this expedition. This budget should cover day to day things like lunch, snacks, soft drinks, meals when not camping, the odd few beers, etc.

Budget approximately £50 for your visas.

Souvenirs are something that can be very cheap or very expensive so if you are going to be buying souvenirs you should budget for it.

Please also have a look at our Optional Excursions list as you may want to budget for a few of those activities too.

TRAVEL MONEY

We recommend you bring 1/3 of your money in cash US Dollars and the rest of your money on your Visa or Master credit/debit card. 

They generally accept all major currencies for exchange but US Dollars are accepted everywhere.

ATM’s are often available for you to draw local currency using your Visa or Master credit/debit card except in a few areas where it is recommended you have cash available for exchange.

To keep your money/credit cards/ipad/camera/laptop safe we recommend you purchase a ‘Pacsafe Travelsafe’ product. They offer various size portable anti-theft bags that can be attached to a fixed feature of the vehicle when travelling and also attached to a fixed feature in your hotel room when off the vehicle.

Below is general information and recommendations regarding visas and passports according to the most recent information we have from previous tours. Visas are ultimately your own responsibility to obtain and visa requirements may vary according to your nationality and place of application, so use the information below as a guide only and if you are unsure please check with your local consulate. Dragoman is in no way responsible for obtaining your visas or passports.

Please ensure you have 2 blank pages in your passport in order to accommodate all the visas and stamps, and ensure your passport is valid for at least 6 months after your tour end date.

You will need approximately 4 passport photos for the duration of this expedition.

You will need a digital colour copy of your passport and a digital colour passport photograph (both 5 - 100 Kb in size) downloaded onto your phone/tablet/laptop in order to apply for some visas and to cross some borders.

Budget approximately £50 for all your visas and letters of invitation.

Zimbabwe visa - for most nationalities including citizens of the UK, EU, USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand a visa is required to enter Zimbabwe and is usually obtained at the airport when you arrive. Other nationalities should check with their local consulate.

Botswana visa - for most nationalities including citizens of the UK, EU, USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand a visa is not required to enter Botswana. Other nationalities should check with their local consulate.

Namibia visa - for most nationalities including citizens of the UK, EU, USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand a visa is required to enter Namibia and is usually obtained on arrival at the land border where we enter.

South Africa visa - for most nationalities including citizens of the UK, EU, USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand a visa is not required to enter South Africa. Other nationalities should check with their local consulate.

VACCINATIONS

Vaccination requirements are constantly changing so we recommend you seek the latest professional medical advice at least 8 weeks before departure to ensure you allow yourself enough time to obtain all necessary vaccinations. Nomad Travel’s website has up-to-date information on vaccinations, malaria and other general medical advice for all the countries we will be visiting and they also administer vaccinations at their travel clinics in various locations in the UK.

www.nomadtravel.co.uk

Alternatively speak with your local health professionals for current accurate information. You will need to make an appointment with your doctor or travel clinic and take a list of the countries you are visiting with the approximate dates when you will be there.

It is not necessary to be vaccinated against covid to join this tour.

An up to date Yellow Fever Vaccination Certificate should be brought with you as it is required to enter certain countries on this tour.

MEDICALLY FIT & ABLE

This is a full participation expedition so you need to be in good general health for this tour and be reasonably fit and able. The main concern is that everyone is able to pitch in equally and do their fair share when it comes to group activities like the communal cooking and cleaning up, packing gear in and out of the vehicle, erecting your own tent, etc. You do not need to be super-fit by any means and all ages are welcome. We always attract a very broad age range on these expeditions, from people in their 20’s through to people in their 70’s.

Please inform us of any medical conditions that you have before departure so that your crew know how to deal with a medical situation if it should arise. All information will be kept confidential unless you request us to inform your fellow travellers. For example, it may be wise to inform fellow travellers if you are allergic to something like bee-stings so they know what to do if you get stung.

FIRST AID KIT

We carry a comprehensive first aid kit aboard the vehicle but it is recommended that you bring your own basic first aid kit for general use.

It is compulsory that every person who travels with Dragoman obtain travel insurance for the complete duration of the tour. Proof of travel insurance must be shown before joining a tour.

You may be covered under your credit card’s travel insurance so it might be worth checking with your credit card provider first.

There are various travel insurance companies to choose from and a Google search will bring up a vast selection but for people based in the UK seeking a comprehensive and reliable policy that includes Medical Repatriation we recommend a London based company named Campbell Irvine, +44 20 7938 1734, http://www.campbellirvine.com/Madventure

Campbell Irvine are familiar with what we do so if you mention Dragoman and the tour you are travelling on they should be able to provide excellent cover for you.

For people based in North America a company named Allianz offers good cover, +1 866 884 3556, www.allianztravelinsurance.com

If you choose to obtain your travel insurance through another company please ensure you read the small-print and if possible make sure your policy includes Medical Repatriation.

Tent: A good quality lightweight and compact waterproof free standing tent is recommended for this expedition. A removable fly-sheet will help you stay cool on warm dry nights. If you are travelling on your own you are restricted to a 1-2 man sized tent. If you are sharing a tent, you are restricted to a 2-3 man sized tent.

Sleeping bag:  It is generally warm during this tour so we recommend a good quality 3 season sleeping bag to be comfortable. Please make sure that your sleeping bag has a crush bag so it can be compacted down.

Sleeping bag liner: A Thermal Fleece or Silk Liner will bring your sleeping bag up a season when it's cold and they are good to use on their own when it's too hot for your sleeping bag.

Roll Mat: A compact inflatable Thermarest roll mat is recommended. A non-compact mat will not be permitted as they take up too much room.

Pillow: If you do wish to take a pillow (although most just bring a pillow case and stuff their fleece in it at night) then Thermarest makes a good stuff pillow that compacts down small.

Backpack/sports bag/suitcase: We recommend you carry your luggage in a backpack but irrespective if you prefer a sports bag or a suitcase you are restricted to a maximum 100 litre volume. Your tent, roll mat and sleeping bag can be attached to the outside of your bag if necessary and your sleeping gear will go into a separate locker when travelling on the expedition vehicle.

Day bag: You are also permitted to bring a day bag with a maximum 40 litre volume that you can carry in the overhead luggage rack or under your seat on the expedition vehicle with you.

Pacsafe: In order to keep your valuables safe we recommend a Pacsafe product. They make a range of anti-theft bags which vary in sizes and can accommodate your money, credit cards, passport, camera, laptop, etc. They can be attached to a fixed part on the back of the expedition vehicle when travelling and/or to a fixed feature in your hotel room. 

Headtorch: An invaluable investment! Check out the Petzl range of USB rechargeable headlamps. 

Water purifier: Quite a handy thing to have to purify contaminated water and avoid stomach bugs. Check out the range of Lifestraw products.

Kindle: Optional but great to keep all your travel guides and books in one place.

Ipad/Tablet: not a necessity but most places have WiFi available these days so having your own Ipad or Tablet will enable you to stay connected.

Smartphone:  It is highly recommended that you bring a smartphone with you as the majority of the tour communications are sent via WhatsApp. It is also very convenient for storing all your digital documents, emailing, taking and sharing photos, mapping and calling home.

E-sim: Airalo has an affordable digital E-sim that you can use while travelling abroad which means you can stay connected and be online without having to constantly buy local physical sim cards to connect to the internet. Just make sure your phone is E-sim compatible before buying any E-sim.

Camera: Completely up to you but most people use their phone.

Toiletries: Available everywhere but start with some toilet paper, toothpaste, toothbrush, dental floss, deodorant, soap and shampoo.

Sunblock: Minimum SPF 15 recommended.

Towel: A microfibre travel towel is a good option as it dries quickly and packs down small.

Sunglasses: Polarised lenses offer great protection.

First aid kit: Only a basic one is recommended but should include plasters, antiseptic cream, bandage, pain relief tablets, scissors and safety pins.

Passport: Please ensure you have 2 blank pages in your passport to accommodate all the visas and stamps required on this tour, and ensure your passport is valid for at least 6 months after your expedition end date.

Digital passport copy: Please have a digital colour copy of your passport (5 - 100 Kb in size) downloaded to your phone/tablet/laptop as it may be required at some borders or when applying for certain visas.

Passport photos: You will need approximately 4 passport photos for the duration of the expedition.

Digital passport photo: Please have a digital colour passport photograph (5 - 100 Kb in size) downloaded to your phone/tablet/laptop as it may be required at some borders or when applying for certain visas.

Yellow Fever vaccination certificate: An up to date Yellow Fever vaccination certificate is required to enter certain countries on this tour.

Clothes & shoes: 

1 x flip flops

1 x walking shoes, trainers or boots

7 x socks

7 x underwear

4 x t-shirts

1 x lightweight long sleeve top

1 x fleece top or fleece jacket

1 x waterproof jacket

2 x zip-off  trousers which can be worn long or short

1 x swimwear

1 x baseball cap

OVERVIEW

Overlanding with Dragoman in Africa is all about taking the road less travelled in a custom-built overland expedition vehicle with a group of up to 23 travellers of all ages and nationalities. This overland tour moves at a relaxed pace and visits remote areas as well as the highlights of all the countries we travel through, with many of the main activities and a camp cook included in the price!

Overland travel affords you the time to really immerse yourself in the culture of the local communities we visit and gives you the opportunity to truly explore off the beaten track destinations. This overland tour may sometimes take you out of your comfort zone as it involves hot climates and a lot of camping but to truly discover Africa’s beauty we feel that you need to get back to nature and camp amongst its spectacular scenery. We believe it is these experiences that make overlanding in Africa so rewarding. So if you are looking for a unique adventure shared with a group of like-minded travellers on a journey of a lifetime then an African overland tour may be the trip for you because with overlanding it's all about the journey, not just the destination!

At Dragoman we like to go through every aspect of the tour with you to ensure that you are as informed and prepared as possible. We believe in not only telling you about the highlights of the tour but also providing you with all the small details of what to expect as we know these are just as important. We want to explain the tour in as much detail as possible so that you are sure you are suited to one of our overland group adventures. If after reading the information below you decide that this tour is not for you then, as long as it is within 14 days of your initial booking, you can cancel your booking and receive a full refund of all monies paid.

YOUR FELLOW TRAVELLERS

We have no age restrictions on our overland tours and if there is one thing we have come to realise, it’s the mental attitude that counts the most. On this trip our group size is a maximum of 23 travellers and 3 crew of all ages and nationalities so you can expect to share this experience with a wide variety of characters from all walks of life.

WEATHER

You can expect it to be warm for the duration of this expedition with minimal rainfall. Be prepared for the warm weather and you will enjoy this trip.

ALTITUDE

We remain at a relatively low altitude throughout this tour so you should be comfortable. 

HYGIENE

As wonderful as Africa is, some places do not have a western infrastructure and their acceptable level of hygiene standards may be very different to ours, so be prepared to use squat toilets and accept that things may not be as clean as they are back home.

You must maintain your own personal hygiene and ensure that you and your clothes are washed regularly. If anyone smells bad or is noticeably unclean the tour leader will have a word with that person to ensure a decent level of personal hygiene is maintained by everyone aboard the vehicle.

SIGHTSEEING & ACTIVITIES

On this expedition we include a lot of the main activities in the tour price but we do however understand that you won’t want to visit every site or take part in every activity along the way so we have left some of the activities as optional and therefore kept the tour price to a minimum. 

With regards to all the activities that require forward planning and/or a guide your tour leader will arrange this and let you know all the options before arriving at a destination. Your tour leader however is not a tour guide and will not be giving you the history and facts of every place we visit, you can look up that information yourself or hire a local guide when you want to. Apart from the excursions that need to be organised by the tour leader in advance, we leave most of that for you to arrange yourselves, this way ensuring you get to do what you want at the price you are happy to pay.

On this tour you are completely free to do as you choose and you can be as active or inactive as you like.

YOUR ATTITUDE

A friendly, easy-going attitude will help you enjoy this trip and ensure you are liked by your fellow travellers as well as the locals. The one thing that is extremely detrimental to any tour are people that constantly moan. It has nothing to do with age, gender or nationality, some people just like to find fault in everything and it’s always got to be someone’s fault. This type of constant negativity can be extremely detrimental within a group so it may sound a bit harsh but by weeding out any moaners early on we can have a chat with them to try and ensure your tour is as good as it can be. We don’t hide anything so people who travel with us usually know exactly what to expect on this tour which makes for an enjoyable group experience.

Please be aware that if any particular person is constantly causing the rest of the group (or the crew) grief due to their behaviour they will be warned and then asked to leave the tour if nothing improves and no refund will be given. This is obviously the most extreme case but we will not let one or two rude individuals spoil it for everybody else. This is a once in a lifetime experience so let’s all enjoy it!

WHEN THINGS GO WRONG

The one thing we can guarantee is that at some point things will not go according to plan! We have to follow the legislation of each individual country and they all have different regulations which can sometimes slow us down. It is however usually obstacles such as bad roads, border closures, breakdowns and natural disasters that have a bearing on the expedition. Expect the unexpected and accept that things will go wrong from time to time.

These instances are usually the stories that remain with everyone so enjoy the experience. An easy-going approach will help the situation immensely. Moaning about every little thing that doesn’t go our way will not! When situations arise where we can’t please everybody we always aim to please the majority of the group, not the individual. 

TRAVEL TIMES & ITINERARIES

This trip is designed to allow plenty of free time in all the places of interest but we are driving a fair distance across Africa so yes, there are going to be a lot of drive days and some of them will be long. This is where you have to be able to take pleasure in the scenery or a good book from time to time.

Generally on a drive day we leave in the morning after breakfast, around 7 - 8 AM, and arrive at our destination before dusk in daylight, but this really depends on the distance between destinations and the road conditions.

Sometimes it will be a full day’s drive between destinations and you'll have the following day or two free. On rare occasions it may be 2 or 3 drive days in a row where you'll leave early, stop overnight at a wild camp or hotel and then continue early again the next morning. Some areas can be remote and the pleasure is in the scenery. Sometimes however it's only a few hours drive between destinations.

Our proposed itinerary is the ideal route we would like to take providing all political and natural situations are acceptable during the time of our travels. Situations sometimes change during an expedition so please be prepared to take an alternative route in the event we encounter any problems. If a border closes unexpectedly then we have to try and find a safe alternative route which may not be to everyone’s liking. In the worst case scenario we may get stuck with no way forward and at that point we would have to decide whether to fly over the obstacle and continue on local transport or abandon the trip. We have never had to abandon any trip before but we want you to be aware of the worst case scenario.

We always strive to arrive at our destinations on time but our itinerary can change if an area of our route becomes off-limits for any reason, so when we do experience delays we will adjust our itinerary accordingly.

DRUGS & ALCOHOL

Please be aware that drugs such as marijuana and cocaine are illegal in most countries in Africa and they could enforce severe punishment for being caught in possession. NEVER carry illegal drugs on your person or on the vehicle during this tour as you would not only jeopardise your own freedom but also the well-being of the entire group if you are caught in possession.

If you are caught in possession of illegal drugs on this tour you will be asked to leave the tour immediately and no refund will be given. Any such inconsideration can lead to the tour being cancelled and innocent people arrested. We will not hesitate to remove someone if we have to.

Aggressive or abusive drunk behaviour will not be tolerated during this tour and if anyone is constantly abusing alcohol and causing trouble we will not hesitate to remove them from the tour and no refund will be given.

MEDICALLY FIT & ABLE

This is a full participation expedition so you need to be in good general health for this tour and be reasonably fit and able. The main concern is that everyone is able to pitch in equally and do their fair share when it comes to group activities like the communal cooking and cleaning up, packing gear in and out of the vehicle, erecting your own tent, etc. You do not need to be super-fit by any means and all ages are welcome. We always attract a very broad age range on these expeditions, from people in their 20’s through to people in their 70’s.

Please inform us of any medical conditions that you have before departure so that your crew know how to deal with a medical situation if it should arise. All information will be kept confidential unless you request us to inform your fellow travellers. For example, it may be wise to inform fellow travellers if you are allergic to something like bee-stings so they know what to do if you get stung.

ACCOMMODATION

You will spend 85% of the time on this expedition in your tent camping. The other 15% of the time you will be staying in locally owned hotels, guest houses and hostels.

Quite often we will wild camp by ourselves out in the bush or in the desert and other times we will use designated campsites with amenities. The majority of our wild camp locations are usually very scenic and we always strive to find the perfect spot on the banks of a river, overlooking a canyon, behind a dune in the desert, on a remote beach, etc. but sometimes we just have to camp wherever we can find a spot.

From past experience on expeditions of this length and nature we have found that people prefer to supply their own tents as they are then not forced to share and they can pick a tent that suits their needs. As a general rule, try and choose a good quality lightweight and waterproof free-standing tent that is easy to erect, take down and carry.

At some of the campsites there are upgrade options available so should you prefer not to camp or you just want some time alone you can sometimes rent yourself a private room at your own expense.

When we are not camping we always try to use clean and comfortable locally owned hotels, guest houses and hostels, however, taking into consideration the sometimes unpredictable nature of this expedition and the remoteness of some of the areas we visit, please be aware that in some circumstances we just have to take what we can get, good or bad. When staying in hotels, guest houses and hostels you can expect to share your room with other expedition members of all genders.

There is usually an opportunity for anyone to upgrade to a single room or a superior room if they so wish. All accommodation upgrades are at your own expense.

TRANSPORT & EQUIPMENT

We will be travelling in a custom-built Dragoman overland expedition vehicle 100% of the time on this tour. A standard bus simply wouldn’t be able to tackle many of the roads we travel on. Our vehicle can accommodate up to 23 travellers and 3 crew.

Comfort and safety is of course a big factor during expeditions of this length and nature so all our vehicles have high-backed coach seats with safety belts. The seating is on the upper level of the vehicle giving you an almost 360° view of the surrounding scenery.

Our vehicles are designed to allow sufficient luggage storage and are also equipped with lockers to keep all your gear safe.

Our long range diesel and water tanks ensure our self sufficiency in remote areas and the equipment we take with us is also of vital importance. In case of a breakdown we are equipped with a good selection of spare parts as well as a comprehensive tool kit to undertake any necessary repairs on our own as and when we need to.

There may also be times when we get stuck in the sand or mud when travelling off road so all necessary recovery equipment such as sand mats, cables, ropes, shovels and pickaxes are also on board.

We usually carry 400 litres of treated drinking water and we are equipped with a good kitchen which includes all cutlery, plates, cups, pots and pans, utensils, gas cooker, barbecue grate, tables, etc.

Our vehicle is also equipped with a small fridge which is used for the cook group’s breakfast and dinner food only. For personal food and drinks we have cooler boxes for everyone to use.

Comfortable fold up chairs are provided for outdoor seating and we also have a large tarpaulin to keep us dry on those rainy days.

We carry a portable shower and shower tent so you can take a shower every day on this tour if you like, even when we are wild camping in remote areas.

Our vehicles are equipped with USB charging points only so try and bring all of your important electronic devices such as telephone, tablet and head-torch to charge from a USB socket. We do not have a 120V or 240V power supply on the vehicle but you will have the opportunity to charge your 120/240V electronic equipment at the hotels and campsites we stay at.

We carry a comprehensive first aid kit for emergencies but we do recommend you bring your own for general use.

FOOD & COOKING

A cook is provided on this tour so you do not need to do any cooking. Eating well is a very important factor on our expeditions and good food is vital for everyone’s well-being so we always strive to provide healthy, wholesome and plentiful meals. When we are camping the cook will usually prepare breakfast and the evening meal using the kitchen on the vehicle. For lunch we usually stop at a cheap local restaurant giving you a chance to taste the local fare. Occasionally we may prepare lunch on the vehicle when we are in remote areas.

Your cook will do the shopping and cooking while we are camping but help with preparation of the meals and assistance with the cleaning up is always appreciated.

Fresh food is generally available daily so when we are camping we try to eat meat and vegetables for every main evening meal. We do cater to vegetarians but we do not cater to vegans or fussiness. In these group situations everybody must appreciate we cannot cater to restrictive diets or individual likes and dislikes.

Our vehicles are equipped with a small fridge which is used for the group's breakfast and dinner food only. For personal food and drinks we have cooler boxes for everyone to use.

Cleanliness plays an important role throughout this expedition and your crew will make sure an acceptable level of general hygiene is maintained throughout your journey to ensure the wellbeing of the group.

When staying in hotels we always strive to provide you with one healthy, wholesome and plentiful meal every day, usually breakfast at the hotel. Lunch and evening meals are at your own expense when we stay in hotels. Local food is generally very cheap so if you are on a budget then eat what the locals eat. Western restaurants tend to be more expensive.

27 breakfasts and 23 evening meals are provided during this expedition.

CREW

You will have a crew of 1 tour leader, 1 driver and 1 cook on this tour. On some tours we may also have a cameraman who is there to help market our tours and update our social media.

Your tour leader will be in charge of routes, itineraries, food and accommodation and will ensure the smooth running of the tour. Your tour leader is not a tour guide and will not be giving you the history and facts of every place we visit, you can look up that information yourself or hire a local guide when you want to. Apart from the excursions that need to be organised by the tour leader in advance, we leave most of that for you to arrange yourselves, this way ensuring you get to do what you want at the price you are happy to pay.

Your driver will drive and maintain the vehicle to a high standard but he/she is not a tour guide and may not know all the facts about the countries we travel through.

Your cook will be in charge of shopping for and preparing breakfast and the evening meals while camping so you are not expected to cook during this tour. Help with preparation of the meals and assistance with the cleaning up is always appreciated. 

Your crew will be hand-picked and trained by Dragoman but they may or may not have done this tour before. They will, however, have detailed notes from previous tours and backup from the office in the UK.

Tipping the crew at the end of your expedition is always appreciated if you feel they have done a good job. People often ask us what amount they should leave as a tip so we recommend you tip your crew a minimum of $30 each at the end of the tour if you feel they have given you good service, thank you.