West Africa overland tour
An overland trip is all about sharing a great experience with like-minded people. On this tour you’ll travel in one of our purpose built expedition vehicles on an off the beaten track adventure along rugged roads, experiencing the sights, sounds and smells of the world up close. Because we're travelling overland, some long days spent driving are inevitable - but these will be interspersed with breaks of a day or two at a destination or activity.
Typically you will be sharing your experiences with a group of between 5-20 like minded travellers and you'll have 2 group leaders with you at all times. In some areas you'll also be joined by a campmaster, as well as expert local guides along the way.
On an overland adventure you're more than just a passenger, you're part of the crew. Depending on the trip itinerary, your accommodation will be a mix of hotels or local guesthouses and camping - and everyone is expected to get involved and help with setting up camp, pitching tents, shopping for food and even cooking. There are also a number of other jobs that need doing, for example collecting water and firewood, luggage loading, organising food stores etc. These tasks may be assigned to particular people or on a rota system according to group size and make-up.
How this holiday makes a difference
Environment
We are dedicated to minimising the effects our trips have on the environment, and are committed to trying to reduce, re-use and recycle as much as is possible, both out on the road and back in our offices in the UK. All our trips follow our strict environmental guidelines that encourage the respect of natural resources, waste minimisation and recycling wherever possible. For example, all our overland vehicles carry a 350 litre water tank, providing drinking water for the group and minimising the need to purchase bottled water. Rather than using plastic bags when shopping for food, we also provide reusable longer lasting bags.
On the road conservation: For cooking we generally use gas instead of wood, a cleaner fuel and leaves natural resources for local people. Local fuel sources are used but they must be from plentiful resources and not where it would encourage local people to squander resources or compete with local peoples need for precious supplies. All our overland trucks conform to UK emission controls when they leave the UK. All our overland trucks are regularly serviced and maintained ensuring that trucks run as efficiently as possible. Passengers and crew are encouraged to use rechargeable batteries for items such as cameras, personal music systems etc. These can be charged from mains supplies or on our trucks as we travel.
Community
Community visit: Brenu Akyinin is a small coastal community in the Central Region of Ghana where we camp. The community's inhabitants rely on fishing and the cultivation of coconuts, pineapples and groundnuts for their survival. The one small school serving the community's children is located just a few metres from Brenu Beach, a stunning location for tourists, but far from ideal for the school children. They are distracted from their studies by the vehicles that pass through the school to access the beach, and often cut class in order to sell goods to the tourists and assist their parents with the farming and fishing. The school itself is in a state of disrepair and extremely under-resourced, which has a direct and negative impact on the children's learning.
We will work with an organisation called the Sabre Charitable Trust in a variety of projects at the school. Depending on group wishes/skills and the school needs, our work will range from small building projects to educational workshops and even helping with teaching. This is time for you to see Ghanaian life at first hand, to see what resources are available to educate the next generation and to be able to help, albeit in a very small way.
