Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
in-focus.com
)
and
Dragoman
(
www.dragoman.com
)
. Most of these expeditions are mul-
ticountry affairs with Namibia and Botswana featuring as part of a longer itinerary starting
in either Cape Town (South Africa) or Nairobi (Kenya) and covering a combination of
countries including Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi and Tanzania.
The subject of overlanding often raises passionate debate among travellers. For some
the massive trucks and concentrated numbers of travellers herded together are everything
that's wrong with travel. They take exception to the practice of rumbling into tiny villages
to 'gawk' at the locals and then roaring off to party hard in hostels and bush camps
throughout the host countries. Often the dynamic of travelling in such large groups (15 to
20 people at least) creates a surprising insularity, resulting in a rather reduced experience
of the countries you're travelling through.
For others, the overland truck presents an excellent way to get around on a budget and
see a variety of parks and reserves while meeting up with people from different walks of
life. Whatever your view, bear in mind that you're unlikely to get the best out of any par-
ticular African country by racing through on an inflexible itinerary.
The classic overland route through Namibia and Botswana takes in Fish River Canyon,
Sossusvlei, Etosha National Park, Swakopmund, the Skeleton Coast, the Caprivi Strip, the
Okavango Delta, Chobe National Park and goes on to Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe.
Self-Drive Safaris
It's possible to arrange an entire safari from scratch if you hire your own vehicle. This has
several advantages over an organised safari, primarily total independence and being able
to choose your travelling companions. However, as far as costs go, it's generally true to
say that organising your own safari will cost nearly as much as going on a cheap organ-
ised safari. Also bear in mind that it's wise to make all your campsite bookings (and pay
for them) in advance, which means that you'll need to stick to your itinerary.
Apart from the cost, vehicle breakdowns, accidents, security, weather conditions and
local knowledge are also major issues. It's not just about hiring a 4WD, but having the
confidence to travel through some pretty rough terrain and handle anything it throws at
you. However, if all this doesn't put you off then it can be a great adventure.
Your greatest priority will be finding a properly equipped 4WD, including all the neces-
sary tools you might need in case of a breakdown.
Note: if you're planning a self-drive safari in northeastern Namibia or northern Bot-
swana, you'll need to watch out for the wet season (December to March) when some
tracks become completely submerged and driving is particularly risky.
