Overlanding

Now a little bit about the companies and history. We actively seeking clarification on whether a company operates and runs their own trucks and what financial protection the company offers.

Africa Expedition Support
A company registered in the UK run by experienced overland drivers offering short tailored tours in Africa.

Africa Overland Addiction
They have been running for 2 years and describe themselves as “The luxury truck overland company” Their trucks have air corn , toilet and hot shower onboard. They specialize in group bookings and do any tours from South-Africa to Kenya. Trucks can also be hired on daily rates. “All our tours are done with our vehicles but we also hire the vehicles out to other overland companies or private clients.”

African Trails
African Trails runs all of its own trips with all there own trucks serviced in Africa and on the road by the driver. “We offer a wide variety of trips across the whole continent of Africa and the Middle East from 6 days to 43 weeks. Our difference is that with only one crew member we expect the passengers to help out with the running of the trip in every way. It’s an expedition, and you’ll get more out of the experience by shopping in local markets, helping to maintain the truck along the way, lighting fires, drawing water and meeting many people.” They have been running trips in Africa and the Middle East for over 25 years.

Africa-In-Focus
They offer overland travel & photographic opportunities throughout East & Southern Africa. Their tour leaders are qualified photographers and they provide computer facilities with several laptops available for downloading digital images and burning them to CD/DVD.

Africa Travel CoStarted in 1990 and is a African based company operating throughout Southern and East Africa. In early 2008 it bought Wildlife Adventures

Bukima Adventures
Started in the mid 80’s and runs 18-55’s tours worldwide. They specialize in overland and adventure tours to Africa, South America, Central Asia, Middle East, Morocco, New Zealand and Antarctica. In addition run a focused over 40’s adventure tours.

Dragoman & Encounter
Dragoman was established 24 years ago and purchased Encounter over 5 years ago which is now part of their 18 to 35 year old offering. Encounter had start back in the 60’s making Dragoman one of the oldest overland companies in existence running trips worldwide. AITO Protected

Exploratory Overland Expeditions
Privately owned company offering a limited number of trips primarily London to Australia.

Escape Expeditions
Offers trips in Africa

Exodus
Began operations in 1974 and is a well established company offering trips worldwide, although traditional overlanding trips appear to be limited to Africa. Exodus is part of TUI Travel PLC group.

Explore
Founded in 1981 from three companies they now run trips worldwide.

G.A.P Adventures
Established in 1990 has now grown to be one of the largest companies around offering trips worldwide which include a limited number of overlanding tours.

Mountain KingdomsIn 2008 Mountain Kingdoms became the new name for Himalayan Kingdoms which has been operating since 1987. They provide overlanding tours in custom Toyota land cruisers around the West Coast of Africa. They now run a UK to central Asia trip. AITO Protected

Intrepid & Guerba
Intrepid have been going since 1989 and in 2006 bought Guerba. They offer a wide selection of trips worldwide.

Kumuka
Established in 1983 they now run a variety of trips worldwide

Lets Trek Australia + NZ, TrekAmerica
Lets Trek brand are all part of TUI Group (formed with the merger of TUI and First Choice). They run private adventure vehicles between destinations.

Nomad Tours
Orginally started in 90’s it merged with Whichway in 2003 running tours only in Africa.

Oasis Overland
Based in the UK, they run overland trips in Africa, the Middle East, South America and Asia. They own and operate all their purpose-built expedition vehicles. Their trips run with two crew, most of them being ex-travellers. “Travellers have an active involvement during the trip, cooking over the camp fire, shopping for food etc. and we encourage our clients to travel responsibly, to find out about the countries they are travelling through and to meet local communities.” They offer financial protection through an AITO bonding.

Odyssey Overland
A small overlanding company that operates trips from London to Australia and from Cape Town to Cairo.

On the Go
Have been running since 1998 with tours worldwide excluding South America

Overland Club
Established 1992 it runs tours throughout the world.

Overlanding Africa
Overlanding Africa.com is based in Cape Town. They provide help with the planning and booking of “the best quality overlanding and budget travel in Africa”. Its staff have over 20 years experience in overland travel. “You can be sure they have the best advice, information and ‘on-the-ground’ knowledge, as well as being known for giving you the ‘no frills’ explanation of exactly what life on the road entails.” They have over 700 trips on their books with over 3500 departure dates every year.

OZBUS
Started to run trips 2007?between London to Australia. They also operate Ozbus Africa and Ozbus Downunder.

Rotel
A Germany based company offering tours around the world.

TravelPak
Relatively new company offering trips from Pakistan to china

Truck Africa
Taken over by AfricanTrails in 2004.

Tucan Travel
Tucan Travel has been overlanding since 1987. The company offers more than 450 adventures to 72 countries worldwide, including the regions of Europe, the Middle East & North Africa, Asia & Russia, East & Southern Africa and Latin America & Antarctica. Tucan Travel offers 6 travel styles: Discovery Tours – Private vehicles, comfort hotels; Adventure Tours – Varied local transport, pleasant hotels; Overland Expeditions – Custom built vehicles, hotels & camping; Budget Expeditions – Great value private vehicle tours for 18 to 35s; Independent Travel – Personalised itineraries, choice of hotels; Expedition Cruises – Polar, glacier, river & wildlife voyages. Tucan Travel owns and operates a fleet of 20 overlanding trucks which run in South America and East & Southern Africa.
ATOL Protected

Wagon Trails Africa Tours
Offers small group adventure tours and overland sand safaris in Africa from 3 days to 301 days.

World Expeditions
Established 1975 offer a variety of trips worldwide.

If we haven’t mentioned your company and you would like to be included in this list please drop an email to editor [at] overlandingcommunity.com