Overlanding and adventure tours
Overlanding and adventure tours
- Overlanding explained
- Kingdoms and Carnivals expedition diary
- Andi and Grant's Trans-Africa diary
- The Festival of the Desert
- 11th July 2006: Arriving in Cape Town
- 15th May: Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania
- 19th April: From Congo to Nairobi
- 23rd February 2006: Getting to Gabon
- 13th February 2006: Crossing into Cameroon
- 30th January 2006: Timbuktu to Ghana
- 23rd December 2005: Mali
- 15th December 2005: Mauritania
- 2nd December 2005: Morocco and Mauritania
- 6th November 2005: Morocco
- Trans Africa Expedition
- Pre-departure interview with Oasis Overland
- Pre-departure interview with overlanding gapper
- Overlanding the Silk Road
Following an overland truck across AfricaMingling in Malawi "Sun, sand and clear blue ocean water; the next four nights in Zanzibar were fun and games with Vespas, jeeps, scuba diving, swimming and sundowners. A few tears were shed as we said goodbye to Scott, Maree, Little Christ (showing more emotion than he has all trip), and Kippy as it was time for them to head home.Making our way to Lake Malawi, we head off into the bush again and spend our nights camping under the stars. Lake Malawi greets us and it is huge. Everyone went crazy buying Tokeloshes (which is a wooden carving of a creature that I cannot describe, but it is considered good luck), we have about 10 of them on the truck now in all shapes and sizes, not to mention quite a few Malawi chairs. Pong and Canadia were kept out of trouble for a while as we gave them the task of designing a floating craft with objects that can only be found on the truck. A plank of wood, a few jerry cans, rope and our spare diesel drum, and they were ready. Surprisingly it worked.  Mozambique, Zimbabwe and BotswanaAfter the lake our next port of call was through Mozambique, and into Zimbabwe. Sivvy and Pete showed us a true Zimbabwe welcome and the Club next door introduced us to a favourite pastime of the Zimbabweans - drinking! Thoby said that if you took 370 000 Zim dollars (which is equivalent to £1) to the club, you would not be walking straight when you leave. That's how cheap it is! Next it was onto Antelope Park where we spent three nights at the most luxurious campsite we have been to all trip. It even had washing machines and dryers. We have not seen these for close to seven months! To top it off we got to walk with lions, with most of us going for one or two walks. We also went on carriage rides, game drives, as well as elephant rides and horse back riding. Jamie showed us his skills, and he now has his wrist in plaster after coming off.  Onto Botswana next where we all went for a sunset cruise on Chobe river. We saw plenty of elephants up close and personal - we even saw two that were mating! Then a number of us took a flight over the Okavango Delta. It really makes you visualize how enormous the water ways are seeing it from the air. It was also an amazing experience to see the wildlife from the skies.Animal encounters... After a few days back in the bush, we made our way to Namibia. Everyone was up for a KFC in Windhoek, as we have not seen this fried junk food since the UK. It is surprising how much you miss it, it tasted great! Northbound, we head for Etosha National Park where we camp by floodlit water holes at night, and game drive in the truck by the day. More elephants than you can count were at a particular waterhole in the park, as well as giraffe, black backed jackels, zebras, springboks and waterbucks. When we saw a leopard walk through the bushes to lay right in front of the truck we thought we had seen it all, but then we spied lions eating a dead rhino. Then the following day Grant had to hit the accelerator as we were chased by a bull elephant!  Next stop, Otjitotongwe Cheetah Park where Mario kept us entertained with their hopes of saving the dying cheetah population of Namibia. We actually got to touch and pat cheetahs. Then into the desert for a couple of nights, we see the rock carvings at Twyfelfontein and the burnt mountains, as well as the Cape Cross Seal Colony (which is a bit much on the nose for some!) Swakopmund is a great place right on the coast, and is right next to some awesome sand dunes! It's great for adrenaline activities too, with quad biking, skydiving, deep sea fishing and sandboarding where the top speed of the day was 78 kms per hour down Lizzy (the largest and fastest sand dune.) Then Paul decided to show us a huge airborne jump and a head dive which earnt him a couple of stitches and concussion. He is fine and well now, luckily, as Paul is the type of guy who needs his brain, although he did get the fastest time of the day! The end of the road  Fish River Canyon was our final bush camp en-route to South Africa. As we get closer to Cape Town, we get sadder as we realised that the trip is nearly over. Although no trip would be complete unless we stopped at Stellenbosch for a wine tour, the town is a beautiful clean little university town situated amongst the mountains.36,232 kms later and three and a half weeks late, we arrive in Cape Town. The shenanigans have still been going on a week after the trip, but one by one everyone is leaving and either flying home or heading off for their new adventures. We have made friends of a life time after spending eight months together, so it is not saying goodbye to everyone, more like see you soon..."   Name: Oasis Overland Address: The Marsh, Henstridge, Somerset, BA8 0TF, UK Click here >> for more on the Trans Africa Expedition Click here >> for more trips offered by Oasis Overland  Tel: 0845 344 7546
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