African Overland Tours Reviews

Name: African Overland Tours
Rating: 4.80

4.8 Rating 270 Reviews

96 %

of reviewers recommend African Overland Tours

4.8

Based on 270 reviews

Customer Service
Communication Channels	Email, Telephone
Queries Resolved In	6 - 12 Hours

About African Overland Tours:

We believe travelling the road in Africa changes you, Forever!
We want others to experience this.

Our team of passionate planners (ex guides and travellers) help you find the perfect trip for your adventure. The tours will leave you with unforgettable experiences that will stay with you for a lifetime.

We offer over 300 Budget Safari types, from Accommodated Tours, Camping Safaris, Small Group Safaris , Budget Tented and Lodge Safaris and longer African Overland Tours at the most competitive pricing with unbiased, honest help all backed up with financial protection guarantee.

Our local knowledge and experience is invaluable as we have travelled and guided extensively on the routes in Africa (not many people can say that).

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+27214480997

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African Overland Tours 5 star review on 23rd December 2022

Mohammad

African Overland Tours 4 star review on 21st December 2022

Roger W

Anonymous

Anonymous // 01/01/2019

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“Every aspect of our 26 day tour was outstanding - and far exceeded our expectations. Ray and I, along with another couple, were the oldest - all 70ish, and the age range was from 26 - 70. A major positive was the range of. Every person had their own story and own reason for travelling - and all so interesting - and such variety was a feature of our experience. Namibia was sensational - for me the highlight of our trip - stark and oh so remote with magnificent scenery and supreme isolation. The desert colours were different from those we experience in Australia and the scope of the sand dunes hard to comprehend. Time at the Okavango Delta was a major highlight - the flight illustrated the delta system so clearly, the accommodation and meals and overall hospitality totally unexpected and enjoyed by all. In fact Botswana was a surprise - Etosha National Park so remote and yet so rewarding with its magnificent array of animals and the harshness of the environment and the range of ethnicities - and the obvious pride of its people. Victoria Falls - as expected a world natural wonder - and our chosen experience of Walking with the Lions - an enriching and never to be forgotten afternoon which I still consider the major highlight of my trip. Our Elephant Hills Resort was like an oasis after some demanding travel . Next the long haul to Johannesburg - by now only four people as most had returned to work after the Christmas break. On reflection this component would be the only change we would have made - we would have flown rather than take two days basically traveling in the truck - a better use of our time with an extra day to explore Johannesburg - although we did spend a full day on a Soweto tour which was revealing and made me reconsider my 1980s notions of Soweto. Kruger was excellent - of course with the focus on wildlife and game drives which did not disappoint. Our guides on the drives and walks in Kruger were interested in our questions and happy to provide ample knowledge. The weather in Namibia and Botswana was extremely hot - but all coped well - even without any air conditioning in the truck and often only fans in some lodges. The days were very long and at times demanding but were so full of activity and interesting information that again all of us managed well - although often a few sleepy heads on the truck. Meals were of a very acceptable standard - simple but with fresh food and always plenty for seconds. My only comment on my assessment form was that there were more beef meals than I would have preferred- but I may well have been the only one who felt this way. Our accommodation at times was quite basic but again very acceptable - always clean and often in wonderfully remote settings with no other groups. In fact this was a feature of our tour - we felt we were the only people at so many sights - and in fact we were. We always felt secure and safe and well supported. Our guide and driver Mandela was outstanding from every perspective - so full of energy, so perceptive, with so much knowledge and an ability to keep us all going- even when 40+ and energy was flagging. His constant stopping to show us an interesting cultural feature - vegetation, a land form, an animal, an ethnic group - accompanied by the inevitable WOW - will remain with us forever. He was a marvel and to be so highly commended. We certainly hope to return to Africa Andrew - we have barely scratched the surface.”

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Posted 9 years ago

“Hi Huntley. We had a fantastic trip! Never mind the border hassles, it's all just memories and travel stories by now. We really enjoyed every bit of the trip and I’d like to think that everybody else on the tour felt the same way.We are certainly not put off by going back to Africa (I'm back in Mali right now), and have already considered other trips. Although a bit premature right now, we were discussing the possibility of doing the "southern circle" at some point. We shall certainly let you know as things concretize. Thanks again, Huntley, for all your excellent support and time. Very best and stay in touch.”

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Posted 9 years ago

“Hello Huntley. Just to say we had a fabulous trip and our thanks for answering all our queries so well. Our truck was a bit bumpy but no matter - the seats were comfortable and our drivers were so, so good. Trust you had a great Christmas. Kind regards”

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Posted 9 years ago

“Dear Andrew, After our return to Hungary, following an unforgettable journey in Africa, I would like to thank you for your service, the up to date information, and the early bird status of course. Our motivation is increasing to continue towards Nairobi perhaps 2 years after. We will see and hope to have enough money and courage. Thanks again and kind regards, Andras and Eva”

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Posted 9 years ago

“Hi Andrew, Thanks so much for all your help and all the extra tips. You are easily the most helpful travel consultant I have ever dealt with, and it really helps to take advice from someone who knows the destination well. I will be back in touch nearer the time about the pre-tour accommodation etc. Thanks again, and I hope you have an awesome time on your trip to the Okavango in the new year! Take care:) Best wishes, Sinéad”

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Posted 10 years ago

“Hi Andrew, Just to let you know that I am back and it was really a Great trip! I would like to thank again the crew members and yourself for all. I will come back in Africa. Thanks !!!! Kind regards Catherine”

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Posted 10 years ago

“Hi Andrew, Thank you for the follow up. We really enjoyed the trip, saw so many things it takes a bit of time to take it all in. The car break down was part of the experience !! Although it could probably have been prevented. Thanks for your support and maybe we book another trip with you in the future. Regards, Jan.”

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Posted 10 years ago

“Hi Huntley, how are you? We are now back in Tenerife. We had an amazing experience, we had enjoyed the trip a lot!!. You were right, nothing is like sleeping among the animals in the nature. We did not have special problems, the guide and the cook, were really effective. And we are keeping a lot of memories that we are not going to forget easily. Thank you very much indeed for all your help and advice. I will send you some picture when Juan finished. Best regards from Spain!! I hope we can book another trip with you soon!! Merche”

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Posted 10 years ago

“Hi Nicky, Thank you for your email enquiring after our trip. We had a wonderful time on both our tours. Sadly, our holiday has come to an end and we arrived home on Sunday! I would really like to thank you again personally, for all your support and assistance in helping me to organize the first part of our trip. You were wonderful to work with, extremely helpful and willing to assist. The information you provided on internal flights and airport transfers was spot on and you made it all so easy to manage and organize. So a huge thanks to you for everything!! The Botswana Wildside tour was awesome. Aside from an initial roadside breakdown within an hour and half of leaving Joburg (which caused a 3 hour delay the first day) the rest of our trip passed extremely smoothly. We had a small group of 9 people and everybody got along well. The wilderness camp sites under the stars were amazing and the food prepared by our cook was excellent, including lots for fresh fruits and vegetables. We saw so much incredible wildlife, including the 'Big 5', at very close range - the leopard walked across the open plain in broad daylight straight to our open 4WD vehicle, passed underneath the vehicle and then out the other side, where it then sat for a few minutes - an incredible moment for everyone in the group. We were also extremely fortunate to see a honey badger at close range one afternoon, a rare roan antelope, and more than 20 male and female lions at extremely close range in each of Moremi, Savuti and Chobe. We had visits by hyenas in camp, and 'survived' a buffalo stampede / lion chase in the middle of the night right past the edge of our campground in Chobe. A good reminder that we were in wild Africa! Our guide Lloyd, local guide / driver Brian and cook / supply vehicle driver James were extremely helpful and friendly. They were all very knowledgeable about the local culture, fauna and flora and always willing to share their knowledge and experiences with the group. One thing in particular we liked about this tour was travelling in an open sided 4WD vehicle between Maun and Livingstone - it made you feel extremely close to the animals and provided everyone with great views and photographic opportunities. We absolutely loved this trip and had a really amazing time. We have already recommended this company and trip to everyone who did our East Africa trip! Thanks again for recommending it to us. All the best, Debbie”

Helpful Report

Posted 10 years ago

“Wow! I don't even know where to begin. Everything about our trip was flawless, and exactly as described. We saw dozens of lions, countless hyenas, zebras, warthogs, and hippos. We saw two cheetahs, two black rhinos, and finally, one leopard (thought we weren't going to!). Enjoyed a beautiful and challenging hike to a waterfall near Mtowombu, Tanzania. Saw stunning landscapes, and was up at sunrise most days to watch the sun come up over the Serengeti, the Masai Mara, the Ngorogoro Crater. (One of the reasons we were exhausted!). The setting up and taking down of tents, the cooking, campsite cleaning etc are all a great part of the experience -- though they certainly would not be 'for every traveler'. The group was wonderful and we created many friendships and laughed more than I can remember doing in years. I will send some photos when I get home from work. But I cannot thank you enough for facilitating this trip for us, and for answering our endless questions. I am going to recommend this trip and others to many friends (I already have one who will probably contact you about an East Africa/Kilimanjaro trip). Thanks again, and hope you're well and that you had a great trip to the farm!!”

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Posted 10 years ago

“Thanks for your follow up. Yes I am now back in Nairobi, suffering travel withdrawal! The trip was amazing, even more brilliant than I expected. Everything went very smoothly, our two guides/drivers were great, my travel companions were lovely, the travel experiences were incredible, and I have only good things to say about the whole experience. Now researching for my next trip! Thanks for all your help and advice too, you were spot on.”

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Posted 10 years ago

“Just to tell you I had a wonderful experience on the Cape Town to Vic falls which was a success, I will definately travel with them to Kenya, Uganda, Zambia and Malawi in the future, I flew from Johannesburg to Ethiopia, I am currently in Ethiopia which is a harder country to digest. Thanks for all your information and always answering so quickly! The tour was absolutely fantastic, and I can still camp at 56 years old.”

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Posted 10 years ago

“Yes, was beautiful and much fun. The Bazaruto island trip was like pure paradise, but also all the other stops were a great experience and it was a very balanced trip: game drive, beaches, Maputo.”

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Posted 10 years ago

“Dear Andrew, I want to thank you very much for organising our trip to Namibia. It was a great success and we had a tremendous time. The guide was very good. He knew his stuff and ensured that we got the best out of trip. We must recommend the farm we stayed at, it was a bit off the beaten track but it was in most beautiful countryside, like an oasis in the middle of nowhere. We were extremely lucky in that we were upgraded to the luxury rooms as we were the only guests there. We were treated to gourmet four course meals and an off road drive where we saw a large number of animals: zebras, springbucks and orynxes etc. We would also recommend the b&b we stayed in Swakopmund: Meikies. Our accommodation was very spacious and clean and very well furnished. The breakfast (German style) was excellent and the owners were very helpful and hospitable. Once again, thanks you very much for your excellent support and service. We will definitely recommend your company to friends.”

Helpful Report

Posted 10 years ago

“Huntley, 56 days overland in Africa, nine countries visited, over 13,000 kilometers of bone jarring "African Massage," many untold (as yet) adventures and interesting locals and fellow travellers - a grand adventure that lived up to our expectations and more. I think it's fair to say we have renewed high hopes for Africa even though it'll be a bumpy road along the way! Off to Cape Town for about a week of R & R, thence the Garden Route and home. Phew! A quite exhilarating trip. We had good guides and generally good fellow travellers. All in all, a very special journey. If we had to do it again, we'd drop the Vic Falls to Arusha section. East Africa is hard, but fascinating nonetheless. The accommodations varied from quite wonderful to barely marginal, but you knew that. I suspect that this too will change over time. A great deal of road construction in Tanzania and Uganda, but oh those speed bumps. There's something about the suspension and wheelbase on the Nomad (and, I suspect others) that accentuate the impact - flying comes to mind. Our driver was very good though about slowing to a crawl. We got an interesting insight into the younger traveller when we shared a booze cruise with a truck from Above Africa in Jinja - mostly 20 something Brits and Aussies. I asked if they were going to Namibia and got a blank stare - hadn't a clue where they were going other than it ended in Cape Town and there was a beach in Zanzibar - makes my study of the whole thing seem excessive. Ah the joys of youth! Thanks again for all the help and patience along the way - it paid off.”

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Posted 10 years ago

“Hi Huntley, We are now back in Australia after 8 terrific weeks in Africa. We had a truly marvellous time on the 3 tours you expertly arranged for us. We would like to thank you very sincerely for all your helpful advice, and the considerable work you put into arranging our itinerary. We are mindful that bookings and specific dates were at a premium but you negotiated these problems to provide us with an excellent itinerary that gave us a broad range of experiences, sights and of course lots of animals. You always answered our many queries quickly and with all the needed information. We were impressed by your expertise and helpfulness. There is one regret. It would have been nice to have caught up with you in Cape Town and perhaps bought you a coffee but unfortunately this did not work out. We arrived on Friday 2nd September rather jet lagged and after settling into our hotel made our way to the waterfront then pursued other things over the week end and on Monday we met up with our daughter Julie and spent time with her (Your company also arranged her itinerary) and then it was onto the overland truck. Your home city of Cape Town is very scenic though at the time of our visit it was rather cold. Highlights included the hop on hop off bus, botanical gardens, local townships, Hout Bay, Camps Bay and the coastline, Robben Island, Table Mountain, a trip to Cape of Good Hope and penguins, city sights and museums. Our accommodation at Holiday Inn Express was nice and comfortable and centrally located. We wished we had more time in CT but that was true also of most places. The Cape to Vic Falls accommodated tour was fantastic - the accommodation was above our expectations - sometimes 5 star and every day was a new and exciting adventure. Our tour leader Charles and cook Louise (and also trainee Anthony) were excellent and made the trip enjoyable. Highlights were Namibia sandhills, Etosha and Chobe NP and of course Victoria Falls where we stayed in luxury at Elephant Hills Resort. Anyhow, we just wanted to thank you for making our time in Africa such a memorable, adventurous and enjoyable holiday. We came away with a love of your land and its people. We felt it was a great privilege to see and do and experience it all.”

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Posted 10 years ago

“Hi Huntley. Sorry it took me so long to reply. Thank you so much for all you did to help us during the booking process - our trip went off without a hitch and was absolutely amazing. We were blown away by how good the tour was, even better than we expected and we really felt like we got the best value for money. Everything was well organised, the food was delicious and our tour leaders/cook/driver were great too. You made everything very easy and stress-free. I think our favourites were the overnight stay in Chobe and also in the Serengeti, as well as the friendliness of people in Malawi. I hadn't thought much about Zanzibar before we went but it was also a surprise highlight of the trip! I have included some photos of our tour, but Scott also made an awesome video of some of the things we did on the tour – it’s at http://vimeo.com/80768455 so feel free to watch it if you're interested! Thanks again, hope everything is well.”

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Posted 10 years ago

“Hi Nicky, Happy NY! How are you? I just wanted to say that the trip was amazing and thanks again for your brilliant help prior to my travels. I don’t know what I would do without you once my original tour got cancelled. I made good friends with Gemma (and others on the tour) and we will both be coming back to Africa for sure. It’s an amazing place with even more amazing people and I already miss it very much!! I gave our guides Martin and Gertie a very good feedback too so happy for you to share the love! I have many pictures as you can imagine so I have to go through them then I’ll send you few. They are such lovely people and so glad they were our guides. I will be in touch once I have planned my year long trip around the world, until then all the best to you and all the happiness in your new married life! Love x”

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Posted 10 years ago

“Hey, I'm at the end of my 56 African adventure and just wanted to say a *huge* thank you! I was really impressed with the knowledge and enthusiasm of all the guides I had (Mat Dry, Christy and Nelius) but especially Mat. He is possibly the most knowledgeable, passionate people I have ever had the pleasure of meeting. He added so much value to my trip, he was awesome! I have had a crazy, ridiculously brilliant time with so many highlights it's pretty much impossible to even do a top 10! Sharks, gorillas, the Serengeti, Zanzibar, Lake Malawi... all such amazing places and experiences. I'm really going to miss Africa! The trip was just amazing, I really can't thank you enough..”

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Posted 10 years ago

“Hi Huntley, I just wanted to say thanks again! I had the most incredible time in Africa and I cannot wait to go back. It was truly amazing. Thanks for your patience and persistence to help me find a tour that suited me and wasn't sold out! I'm refusing to call it a once in a lifetime experience just because I know I'll be back many more times. Thanks, D”

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Posted 11 years ago

African Overland Tours is rated 4.8 based on 270 reviews