What do I get for my money?
What about the climate?
Are there health risks?
What To Bring?
Travelling With Truck Africa or going it alone?
Who travels with Truck Africa?
Security Issues?
What's new at Truck Africa?
What happens at Bedtime?
Can you suggest any reading?

The FARE paid to Truck Africa covers the provision and running of the Tour Vehicle inc. road tolls, ferries, guides and local taxes, services of two crew, camping equipment and all cooking and eating equipment and utensils.
Our literature and Information Dossiers provide greater detail but this is the general set-up :-

- A unique and ever evolving truck design which our passengers, (and come to that, passengers from other operators!), consistently report to be a favourite. [Truck designs vary in detail and as each truck is built in our own workshop and responds to evolving imperatives they are a bit different each time so do not expect anything that is an exact replica of any in the photographs published here. But they do give you a pretty good basic idea!]
Spacious (two person) tents with mosquito proofing. Traditional ridge or dome type.
- Good back-up. A spare engine, gear box , radiator and many other spare parts are carried. As we see it, this is a kind of insurance so that any hold-up due to a breakdown is kept to the minimum. Not that serious breakdowns are that common but this is Africa and one must be prepared for all eventualities!
- Comprehensive cooking equipment including gas rings in case of heavy rain or where wood is a rare resource.
- Eating utensils - plates, mugs and cutlery
- A professionally compiled medical kit
- Last, but by no means least, we have some of the most dedicated crew that any overland company could hope for. At the end of the day, they are the people that will make or break your trip - we monitor reports to ensure that the high standards expected of our crew are upheld and we are pleased to say that our word of mouth reputation gives us the highest source of bookings as a result of the combination of great crew, great trucks and a great continent! And much more.

The Local Payment covers all meals prepared by the group (based on 3 a day for Section I, and 2 a day for Section II), Campsites and various Game Park costs - see detailed Information Packs available on request

Climate

Trans-Africa - we leave at the most suitable times of the year i.e. between the months of September and March. The most popular months for departure are October & November. Whilst it is possible to undertake a Trans Africa journey in the summer months, it is generally much more unpleasant climatically. After March, the Sahara desert rapidly heats up - summer in the Sahara is not recommended! Then there is the problem of heavy rains later in Central Africa. This is not to say that you won't experience heat and/or rain on a Trans-Africa, after all over 5 - 7 months you will inevitably see a fair variation of weather.

Rains tend to be unpredictable as a result of what appears to be a global shift in weather systems. This means that where rains were relied upon in the past, they may no longer come at all - or at entirely unexpected times. Bear in mind too that local topography plays a huge part in determining weather - for example, Nairobi in Kenya is over 1500 metres altitude (over 5,000 feet) so can be cold at night in 'winter' months, whereas the Kenyan coast is consistently hot & sticky.
The Trans Dossier gives guidance as to the variety of clothing needed to cope with climate changes but as a general guide, you will need a fleece, or equivalent, for evenings and early mornings, plus a blanket to supplement your sleeping bag if its low on the warmth factor as well as rain protection and a quantity of light-weight clothing (preferably cotton).

Note that rafting on the Zambezi River is closed when the water is too high, rendering the river too dangerous to raft - this tends to be for a month - usually May. Alternatives are, canoeing, either yourself or to 'be canoed', as well as the many other activities at Vic Falls. However, rafting on the Nile in Uganda can be done at any time of the year.

What to bring?

But a bit more than the guy in the picture! The mistake so many travellers make is to carry far more than they really need and in the end their baggage becomes a burden. Remember you will be travelling on a truck which is fully equipped. You will not be needing cooking equipment, a big medical kit and so on! Our Information Pack gives full details of what you need to/could bring but here is a sample:
• Sleeping bag with cotton lining
• Sleeping mat
• Mosquito net (if you want to sleep under the stars - the tents have mosquito proofing)
• Camera and film
• Sunglasses
• Wash bag with usual items
• Sunscreen and moisturiser
• Paper back books, including guide books relevant to the region you are visiting
• Walkman, I pod and CD’s (optional)
• Insect repellent
• Clothing - again, a more comprehensive list is given in our Dossier, but essentially, your clothes need to be light, tough and casual. White is not practical for obvious reasons! Bear in mind your clothes will get heavy wear, as will anything else you bring, so leave what is valuable and treasured at home!
• Good sturdy sandals (e.g. tivas)/thongs/jandals are good for daily wear, but you will need something more substantial for evenings, trekking etc.
• You will also need a small personal medical kit.
If you need information on specialist equipment, any reputable suppliers should be able to give you details on items such as walking boots if required, sleeping bags and so on.

WHAT'S NEW AT TRUCK AFRICA?
TRUCK AFRICA is now concentrating on its long-haul Trans-Africa operations. See Trans Africa
Next departure 11th November 2008. Hurry, as there is a lot of interest being shown in Africa this year and places are filling more quickly than usual.