Africa Overlanding
Ten Tips For African Travel
Africa is a huge part of the modern world. It is also one of the most exciting outfield destinations for the contemporary traveler left on the planet. There is an aura in Africa that it is travel on the front line, and in many ways it is. However the reputation the continent suffers for gratuitous violence, corruption and unrest is largely exaggerated, and with a few simple precautions travel in Africa is as reliable, reasonable and enjoyable as anywhere else in the world.
General Safety
Africa has a shocking reputation for violence and civil unrest, and there are certain places where the life expectancy for a westerner on the streets is measured in hours, if not minutes. However in general, for example in Sierra Leone, a nation with arguably the worst legacy of violence in the world, is also one of the friendliest tourist destinations in Africa.
A fact worth remembering is that African political violence usually has an internecine flavor that rarely includes random or misdirected acts of violence against outsiders. You can get caught in the crossfire, so make a point of avoiding war zones, but don’t assume that because a country has experienced violence in the past that violence is endemic in the national psyche. In fact Africans continent wide have a reputation for openness and friendliness that is unparalleled anywhere in the world.
Date: August 25th, 2008 |
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Big Brother’s African Brother
Given up the security of their jobs, Penny and Tom Raylott’s decided to overland travel through 9 countries in Africa and disappear into the bush for 11 weeks. Not only will they discover if they can cope with the twists, turns and problems that Africa presents, but also see if they have the mental stamina to survive being on a truck with 24 people that they cannot escape from. Can Penny cope with camping in an ‘A’ frame tent for 11 weeks? Can Tom handle living with other people for 77 days? In this Big Brother environment there will be …
Date: May 26th, 2004 |
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15 Myths of Bicycling and Travel In Africa
by David Mozer
International Bicycle Fund
Introduction
It is interesting to watch the reaction of people when they pickup literature on bicycling in Africa. Many react like it is an oxymoron and ridicule it to their friends. A few react like it is the greatest idea they have heard in years and you see the urge to sprint and buy an airplane ticket sweep across them. Hundreds of Westerners have bicycled in Africa: some were so emotional moved by the experience they cried when they had to leave. Many have returned in subsequent years to take additional bicycle tours in Africa. It …
Date: July 6th, 2004 |
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Introduction to Overlanding
Overlanding through the bumpy roads of Africa has been a form of tourism for many years. The overall concept is simple although it has evolved commercially over the years. Basically, a group of people with a common travel goal, find a tough old vehicle, usually a custom built large diesel truck, and then load it with people who split the cost of fuel and divide the tasks between cooking, cleaning and setting up camp. The group usually heads out into the bush with a knowledgeable guide, in search of animals, villages, tribes, amazing landscapes, or just to search for adventure.
Much …
Date: May 26th, 2004 |
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