Lake Nakuru National Park, established in 1961, is named after the alkaline lake that it encircles. Nakuru means ‘dry or dusty place’ in the Maasai language. Although it was initially established as a bird sanctuary, it is now home to a surprisingly large number of animal species, including the Big 4 – lion, leopard, rhino and buffalo, but sadly there are no elephants in the park. Lake Nakuru is famous for the vast flocks of flamingos that line its shores, attracted by the abundance of algae. It is also a sanctuary for black and white rhino, and has recently been extended to protect these endangered animals.

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Hell’s Gate National Park lies to the south of Lake Naivasha, and is mainly comprised of a savannah ecosystem which harbors a wide variety of wildlife. Some of the frequently observed animal species include lions, leopards, and cheetahs. There are over 100 species of birds in the park, including vultures, Verreaux’s Eagles, Augur Buzzards, and swifts. African buffalo, zebra, eland, hartebeest, Thomson’s gazelle, and baboons are also common. The park is also home to klipspringer antelope and Chanler’s mountain reedbuck.

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Lake Naivasha is a freshwater lake forming part of the Great Rift Valley, and lays North West of Nairobi. The name derives from the local Maasai name Nai’posha, meaning “rough water” because of the sudden storms which can arise. The lake has a surface area of 139 square km, and is surrounded by a swamp which covers an area of 64 square km, but this can vary depending on rainfall. The lake has an average depth of 6 m with the deepest area being at Crescent Island, at a maximum depth of 30 m. The lake is home to a variety of wildlife; over 400 different species of bird have been reported. There is also sizeable population of hippos in the lake.
Between 1937 and 1950 the lake was used as a landing place for water planes on the Imperial Airways passenger and mail route from Southampton in Britain to South Africa. It linked Kisimu and Nairobi. Joy Adamson, author of Born Free, lived on the shores of the lake in the mid-1960s. There is the option to visit her residence for high tea and have a taste of a colonial time gone by.

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The Masai Mara National Reserve covers some 1 530 square km and is bounded by the Serengeti Park to the south, the Siria escarpment to the west and Maasai pastoral ranches to the north, east and west.

The terrain of the reserve is primarily open savannah grassland with seasonal riverlets. Wildebeest, zebra and Thomson’s gazelle migrate into and occupy the Mara reserve from the Serengeti plains to the south and Loita plains in the pastoral ranches to the north-east, from July to October or later. The Great Migration is one of the most impressive natural events worldwide, involving some 1.5 million wildebeests, 360 000 Thomson’s gazelles, and 191 000 zebras. These numerous migrants are followed along their annual, circular route by a block of hungry predators, most notably lions and hyena.
All members of the ‘Big 5’ are found in the Masai Mara, although the population of black rhinoceros is severely threatened, with a population of only 37 recorded in 2000. Hippopotami are found in large groups in the Masai Mara and Talek rivers. Cheetah is also found, although their numbers are threatened. Additionally, over 450 species of birdlife have been identified in the park, including vultures, marabou storks, secretary birds, hornbills, crowned cranes, ostriches, long-crested eagles, and African pygmy-falcons.

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The lake, third largest in Africa and eighth largest in the world, is situated between Malawi, Mozambique, and Tanzania.

The lake’s tropical waters teem with more fish species than any other lake on earth, and offers wonderful snorkelling and diving experiences. The fish also support the local people, who depend on the lake for survival, using dug-out canoes to set out long nets. There are many different ethnic groups living in the vicinity, and many different dialects are spoken. Many are Christians, as a result of the numerous missionaries that passed through the area, while many have retained their traditional belief systems.
In 1859 David Livingstone reached Lake Malawi, when he was trying to put an end to the slave trade. He then returned in 1861 accompanied by seven missionaries. They opened a mission station in the south lake area, but suffered from malaria, illness and conflict with slavers. In 1864 the surviving missionaries withdrew to Zanzibar. Livingstone then returned to the region in 1866 as part of an expedition to find the source of the Nile. In 1869 he pushed north and was out of contact for two years. He was found by journalist Henry Stanley on the banks of Lake Tanganyika in 1871 and Stanley uttered the famous words “Dr Livingstone I presume”. Livingstone continued on his mission and died at a village called Chitombo in Zambia in 1873.

His death rekindled a desire in missionaries to come to Malawi and eventually, after setting up missions in various bad malaria areas, they set up a mission called Livingstonia in the highlands of the eastern escarpment (with no malaria).It is still in operation today and visitors can hike to the mission. The walk is quite strenuous and you should be reasonably fit especially if it’s hot. It’s about a 6 to 8-hour round trip.

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South Luangwa National Park in eastern Zambia is a world-renowned wildlife haven, and famous for walking safaris. It supports large populations of Thorneycroft’s Giraffe, and herds of elephant and buffalo often several hundred strong, while the Luangwa River supports abundant crocodiles and hippopotamus. Founded as a game reserve in 1938, it became a national park in 1972 and now covers 9 050 square km.

Hippos thrive here due to the patches of flooded grassland habitats (floodplains) that are found close to the river, on which they graze at night. It is possible to see pods of up to 500 hippos in the dry season as the river shrinks and they are confined to areas of deep pools. On average there are probably 35 – 42 hippos per km! They are integral to the ecosystem here, their dung released into the river fertilises its waters and sustains the fish population which in turn sustains the crocodiles. The park is also reputed to have the highest concentration of leopard in Africa. It is estimated that there is one leopard for every km of river in the Luangwa Valley, so your chances of seeing this elusive nocturnal cat are very high.

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Sesriem Canyon is a stunning natural phenomenon, formed over 2 million years ago by an ancient river cutting through sedimentary rock. It is one of Namibias main attractions after the Sossouvlei and Namib-Naukluft National Park.

During the overland truck tours, you will visit the canyon and explore the interesting rock formations and surreal landscape. It is like stepping into another world!

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The Orange River originates in the Drakensberg mountains and after 2092km from source to mouth it meets the Atlantic at Alexander bay. It is the 39th longest river in the world. The Richtersveld has an annual rainfall of 5-150 mm along with temperatures of between 0-56 degrees.The vegetation and the rates of evaporation qualifies the Richtersveldt as the superior desert region of South Africa.

The river offers a source of life and existence to all life along its banks and bays.

Highlights:

• Rock formations, Volcanic Rocks, semi precious stones
• Bird life, primates,fishing,
• Indigenous succelants
• Spectacular star gazing
• Excellent Hiking and exploring.

The Orange River is most famous for canoeing and white water rafting on the world famous rapids of the region. Our overland truck tours don’t include full white water rafting adventures however on some of the African overland tours you will get to experience the  Orange River in other ways. Adventures you will have opportunity to enjoy include canoeing on the river during the time and an overnight stay on the river banks. Amazing for star gazing!

The Orange River forms part of the North West border of South Africa and therefore all of our tours that go to Namibia will cross the river, and most of them we’ll overnight at a camp on the banks to check out the million starts overhead.

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On the extreme gap Africa overland truck tours, you will visit some of the most amazing destinations in Africa. On many occasions (as with all adventurous destinations) these places are quite hard to get to. This is exactly why we have specialist African adventure vehicles which will transport you across multiple countries, through various different borders, over all types of terrain through deserts, deltas, rivers, cities all in search of adventure.

The trucks that actually modified cargo trucks, there have been beefed up to withstand everything the African environment can throw at them. This does not mean that everything runs 100% like clockwork all the time, the well-known expression this is Africa plays a big part in the adventure because you never know what can happen on these journey, but the important thing is you are safe, and in good hands and you have all the equipment needed to make it from start to end one epic African journey.

Let’s look at some of the trucks and their features.

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The Xtreme gap overland truck adventures, are open to everyone.

Whilst group sizes can vary, anywhere between four and 28 people, the Africa overland trucks are not exclusively for younger gap year travellers, although we do get many travellers signing up who would fit this demographic.

Because the different tours are modular, some people join the truck at later stages depending on which overland truck tour you sign up to. For example if you are wrong the ultimate Africa overland tour (which is the longest trip we offer over 56 days) then you start in Cape Town and you finish in Nairobi, you will find that many people join the trip along the way: Victoria Falls is a popular starting point, Dar es Salaam in Tanzania also so the group sizes vary and alter throughout the journey.

The average age for people on these adventures, to be 25 to 28, although as we said before people of all ages to join. The thing that connects most of the travellers on the overland trip is everyone has a thirst for adventure, as the overland truck tours, without a doubt the most adventurous way to explore Africa.

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