THE LAST GREAT OVERLANDING CHALLENGE

'Trans Africa'

5 - 10 months of adventure.

The Trans Africa presents the most challenging form of overland travel and as a result you will make life-long friends having shared unique experiences together over several months.

This is the trip for those of you searching for a deeper experience of Africa. It is undertaken in three sections Section II & Section III being optional extensions:

Section I -

5 months and is the more demanding. It passes through some of the most remote regions of the continent & road conditions are poor. So, of necessity, the truck has to be self-sufficient. Official campsites are available occasionally but most of the time it is a matter of bush camping. Although conditions vary according to where you are on the map, there is infrequent access to cold beers, hot & cold running water & other 'luxuries'. In fact, one of the interesting side-effects of such a trip is that you will never again take such things for granted. The emphasis is more on the people, culture & countryside.

Section II 8 weeks -

The trip is rather more holiday’ orientated. South and East Africa between Cape Town and Nairobi is well frequented by travellers so there are widespread facilities - campsites most nights, lots of bars and yes, cold beers. There are quite a few activities incorporated into the itinerary - trekking, rafting, and canoeing. snorkelling, scuba diving, bungee jumping, horse-riding, white water rafting, balloon flights, sand-boarding. In East Africa the activities come thicker and faster what with rafting on the Nile, world-renowned Game Parks and Gorillas.

We spend the last few weeks or so enjoying a circuit of Uganda, Kenya & Tanzania. A spectacular 3 day Landrover safari into the Serengeti National Park and Ngorongoro Crater in northern Tanzania. There is loads to do and see, the favourites tending to be trekking to see the mountain gorillas in western Uganda, white water rafting on the Nile, the Rift Valley lakes & wild life reserves, Lake Nakuru & Hell's Gate Parks. And there is the possibility of climbing the highest mountain in Africa the highest free-standing mountain in the world - Mt Kilimanjaro.

Section III - 12 weeks -

North Kenya and semi desert at Marsabit. Then the culture, with rock churches in The rock & water terrain characteristic of Ethiopia offer a stunning contrast. The spectacular Blue Nile Falls and Lake Tana refresh desert-weary spirits; a visit to the ancient Coptic churches at Lalibela - hewn form living rock is a reminder of Ethiopia's unique take on Christian culture. Thought the deserts of Sudan and into3,000 years of history in Egypt. Then the lesser known sights of the Middle East in Jordan, Syria and Turkey with its beaches ruins and ANZAC battle fields in Gallipoli before reaching the eastern city of Istanbul in Europe.

Section I

UK – South Africa 22weeks

The route in brief:

We start in UK, travelling through France and Spain before crossing to Morocco. Here we explore ancient royal cities including Marrakesch, before heading south through the territory of Western Sahara to Mauretania. Believe it or not, taking the main north/south 'highway' literally means a day of driving along the beach, one set of tyres on the sand and the other in the surf! But if the new road they are talking about is ever built we will take the safer option. We are touching on the western fringes of the Sahara Desert here - an enormous desert which, incredibly, is the size of the United States - and have to contend with sand dunes, salt pans and mud flats before crossing over to Mali. Here we have more of a cultural experience - Mali is justly-famed for the singular beauty of its mud mosques as in Mopti & Djenne, as well as its markets and the villages of the Dogon people set high up on the Bandiagara Escarpment - we take time out to do some trekking in this unique setting.

On to Burkina Faso where we cool off under the Cascades de Kalfiguela and stock up at Bobo-Diolasso market.

Then to English-speaking Ghana, is a particular favourite, the people being so warm and hospitable - lots of fantastic seafood too! The tree-top canopy walks of the Kakum Forest Reserve and widely available drumming lessons are now a firmly established tradition.

In the tiny countries of Togo and Benin we enjoy the huge bustling markets and visits to the stilted village-in-a-lake, Ganvie, and the fetish market in Lome (home of voodoo).

Nigeria has a bit of a dubious reputation with business travellers but as for us, we think its great. The people are dynamic, clever and fun. Highspots are a visit to the Sacred Grove at Oshogbo before crossing the country eastward (the exact route varies) to Cameroun.

We cross into the south of the country and spend time climbing or admiring Mount Cameroun, through the clouds We also visit the beach at Limbe. So we cross the Cameroun into Gabon. The landscape is rainforest, it is truly out-of-the-way and unvisited - occasional overlanders are the only 'tourists' that we know of hereabouts. The forest is been heavily logged, we hope it will last.

Through forests Congo and the Democratic Republic of Congo we cross the Zaire River into Africa’s newest open country; Angola.

Namibia. Etosha Pan and the wild and inaccessible shoreline of the Skeleton Coast, gigantic rock canyons and huge sand dunes - bigger and more perfectly formed than any seen on our route through the Sahara. . A variety of activities is available in Swakopmund including skydiving, sand-boarding and big-game fishing.

Moreover Cape Town itself is a delightful city and just the place to chill out and see what comes next.

Altogether an upbeat way to round off a fantastic exploration of Africa north to south - something which very few people have achieved.

and lots lots more....as well as the shopping - curios & carvings, tribal jewellery & textiles/drumming lessons/great markets everywhere/tribal dancing/swimming under waterfalls/amazing flowers, birds & wildlife/unique landscapes & architecture/superb photographic opportunities etc. etc.

Section II

Cape Town to Nairobi - 8 weeks
Add to this the opportunity to see Big Game in as diverse places as Chobe in Botswana, Victoria Falls, Serengeti and the Mountain Gorillas

You can elect to extend your travels all the way from the southern tip of Africa on an eight week connecting trip from Cape Town via Botswana, Zimbabwe & Zambia Malawi Tanzania - inc. Zanzibar, to Kenya and Uganda.
This part of the trip includes far more camp sites and an amazing variety of activities which have emerged in response to tourism. And thoroughly enjoyable too - you deserve a little R 'n R after Section I ! Of course, it all costs money so the kitty has to be higher than Section I - pro rata and a higher personal spending allowance is recommended. NB - Having completed Section I you will probably be regarded with some awe by short-stay tourists!

The expanses of the Kalahari desert & unique inland delta of the Okavanga River in Botswana We visit Victoria Falls in either Zambian or Zimbabwe - reputedly the sports capital of Africa. The spectacular Falls and the miniature rainforest created by its spray, offers plenty of interest in itself if you're not into flinging your body into mid-air on the end of an elasticated cord!

The route includes the exotic spice island of Zanzibar and the crystal waters of Lake Malawi, with its shoals of brightly coloured tropical fish. Superb diving opportunities at both.




Section II Highlights:

Chobe Nat. Park (Botswana)
Okavanga Delta (Botswana)
Canoe safari (Botswana)
Zambezi white water rafting (Zimbabwe)
Victoria Falls + adrenaline activities (Zimbabwe/Zambia)
Zambezi sunset cruise (Zimbabwe)
Livingstonia (Malawi)
Manchewe Falls
Lake Malawi
Monkey Bay & Kande Beach
Zomba Plateau
Zanzibar Island (Tanzania)
Mikumi National Park (Tanzania)
Masaii Villages (Tanzania)
Olduvai Gorge (Tanzania)
Serengeti National Park (Tanzania)
Ngorongoro Crater Reserve (Tanzania)
Mt. Kilimanjaro climb * (Tanzania)

• optional

Lake Nakuru Nat. Park (Kenya)
Hell's Gate (Kenya)
Rift Valley Lakes (Kenya)
Thompson's Falls (Kenya)
Mountain Gorillas (Uganda)
Lake Bunia (Uganda)
Source of the Nile (Uganda)
Bujagali Falls (Uganda)
White Water Rafting *(Uganda)
Kabale Forest (Uganda)
Equator Crossing (Uganda)

Section III Highlights:

Lalibela (Ethiopia)
Blue Nile Falls (Ethiopia)
Lake Tana (Ethiopia)
Omdurman (Sudan)
River Nile(Sudan)
Meroe Pyramids(Sudan)
Abu Simbel (Egypt)
Luxor (Egypt)
Cairo (Egypt)
Sinai Desert (Egypt)
Wadi Rum (Jordan)
Dead Sea (Jordan)
Damascus (Syria)
Aleppo (Syria)
Cappadoccia (Turkey)
Pamukale (Turkey)
Troy (Turkey)
Gallipoli (Turkey)
Istanbul (Turkey)

At the end of the journey (be it the end of Section I or Section II), you can either fly home or carry on travelling under your own steam. There is nothing like completing a trans-continental crossing like this to provide you with the confidence to travel independently and cope with virtually anything

To retain maximum flexibility book your flights on completion not in UK.

Trans Africa Extended Itinerary