Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Overlanding
Overlanding involves travelling in groups on a rough-and-ready truck. Vehicles come fully
equipped with a kitchen and tents - perfect for both seasoned backpackers and first-timers.
Companies such as Oasis Overland and Dragoman have vast experience in offering such
trips.
We asked Oasis Overland to help us explain more:
“Overlanding is, not surprisingly, all about journeying overland and taking the time to ex-
perience the places you are passing through. These are adventurous trips that often go off
the beaten track. It usually involves travelling in a truck that's been converted to carry pas-
sengers and along the way you camp or stay in hostels. Overland trucks are usually self-
sufficient carrying tents, cooking equipment and food and everyone in the group mucks in
with cooking, shopping at local markets, collecting firewood and setting up camp. There are
overlanding opportunities around the world.”
Why overlanding?
Some places can be difficult or expensive to get to under your own steam and an overland
trip can provide a cheaper, hassle-free way of getting there. Being on a self-sufficient truck
can mean that you get to stop and spend a night in the Sahara Desert or on the Altiplano,
instead of passing through to the next town. Overlanding is a good option if you don't want
to travel on your own or are apprehensive about being away from home for the first time as
you're travelling in a group.
Benefits of overlanding
As well as the usual benefits of travel (broadening your horizons and your mind, learning
self-sufficiency) by the time you finish your overland trip you will have gained great experi-
ence of team working as well as living with a group of people in close quarters and generally
learning consideration for others. Overland trips are not hand-held holidays - you may have
to organise your own flights and accommodation before joining the trip as well helping with
the day-to-day running of the trip which will prove your organisational skills. Great stuff for
your CV!
Practical skills you may pick up include camp craft (where not to pitch your tent, fire light-
ing
etc
, cooking for a large group of people) and languages in Spanish or French speaking
parts of the world.
There are plenty of opportunities to step outside your comfort zone on an overland trip. For
many, just travelling to a new country with a group of 20 strangers is an adventure in itself
but if that isn't enough, on a longer expedition you may spend the day digging the truck out
