African Overland Tours

All tours sold by African Overland Tours include accommodation, but some require you to camp or glamp while others use permanent accommodations ranging from huts and hostels to hotels and lodges. Here's what to expect ... African Overland Tours offers three types of packages in terms of accommodation according to this terminology:

1. Camping tours, which are exactly as they sound: you stay in campsites and sleep in tents. They range from basic to classic to premier. On premier camping tours, you sleep in glamping tents.
2. Accommodated tours, which can use a mixture of permanent accommodations.
3. Mixed tours combine camping and permanent accommodations.

Please note that the campsites and accommodations used in Southern Africa tend to be a little smarter and come with more amenities than those booked in East Africa within the same price category. This is because accommodation in East Africa is generally more expensive, so your money doesn’t go so far there.

Camping tours

You can choose from three kinds of camping tours, working from most affordable to most comfortable:

1. Basic camping tours, where you stay in pop-up tents in the simplest of campsites. This is often chosen by those prioritising a longer tour over creature comforts.
2. Classic camping tours, where you're still in tents but the campsites are nicer and have more amenities.
3. Premier camping tours, where you in sleep glamping tents.

Basic and classic camping tours

[caption id="attachment_12081" align="alignnone" width="1024"] A standard two-person domed tent provided on a budget camping tour[/caption]

On budget (basic and classic) camping trips with African Overland Tours, you sleep in two-person domed canvas tents. Note that you help to pitch and dismantle these. But if you've never used one before, don't worry, you'll get the knack for it very quickly, as they're made to be uncomplicated. Importantly, all tents have mosquito nets over the windows and door. If you're travelling alone, you'll be put in a tent with someone else of the same gender. Some tours offer the option of paying an additional amount (a “single supplement”) to have a tent to yourself should you wish. On all camping tours, you must bring your own sleeping bag, pillow, and towel. You can purchase these items upon landing if you don't want to bring them on the plane with you. Note that some of the tour operators that partner with African Overland Tours provide you with sleeping mats, while others don’t. So please check on this beforehand. If you're looking for the most budget-friendly way to explore Africa, camping is the way to go. You can see all camping tours here.

Basic and classic campsites

[caption id="attachment_14157" align="alignnone" width="800"] A typical budget Namibian campsite[/caption] The nicest public campsites are usually found in South Africa. Many South Africans are avid campers, and so the campsites here are catering for budget travellers as well as a varied local clientele. Individual camping spots are often demarcated and have electrical outlets. The ablutions can be very nice, with hot water and flushing loos coming standard. There are also usually various communal amenities, like a swimming pool, tuckshop, and games room. Moreover, the campsites are usually fenced, such that wildlife cannot enter. This is one of the reasons why South African safaris are often the best safaris for families with children. In most other countries in Southern Africa as well as those in East Africa, public campsites aren't fenced. What's more, showers don’t always have hot water, and might actually be bucket showers. Some campsites have flush toilets, while others have pit latrines. And you certainly shouldn’t expect facilities like a swimming pool. So overall, expect a pretty back-to-basics camping experience outside of South Africa.

Premier camping tours

[caption id="attachment_56493" align="alignnone" width="2560"] A Botswanan glamping tent[/caption] Premier camping tours book you into glamping campsites. A glamping tent tends to be a spacious twin room with a concrete floor and canvas walls and roof. They usually have an ensuite bathroom, but there isn’t a full wall separating the two rooms. The ground facilities tend to be nice, and sometimes include a swimming pool and other amenities.

Accommodated tours

There are three types of accommodated tours offered by African Overland Tours:

1. Basic accommodated tours, where you stay in very simple accommodations that can include hostels and dormitories.
2. Classic accommodated tours, where you upgrade to hotels and lodges and enjoy ensuite bathrooms. You can often purchase a single supplement if you wish.
3. Premier accommodated tours, where you stay in mostly four-star accommodations in Southern Africa and three-star accommodations in East Africa.

You can see all accommodated tours here.

Basic accommodated tours

[caption id="attachment_56489" align="alignnone" width="2136"] Rondavel huts in Kruger National Park, South Africa[/caption] Basic accommodated tours can make use of various kinds of permanent accommodations, from hotels and cabins to hostels and dormitories. In hostels and dormitories there’s usually four to six of you per room. And bathrooms are communal. All accommodations in Southern Africa provide you with bedding, pillows, and towels. No so in in East Africa, so you must pack a towel, pillow, and sleeping bag or bedding for tours in this region. South Africa in particular has some of the nicest accommodations for budget travellers. In East Africa, some of the accommodations used should be viewed as a small upgrade from camping. But even within each region, please take careful note that a single tour can include a range of accommodation types and standards. This is because you’re often venturing into different countries and moving between bustling and highly remote locations. It’s all part of the overlanding smorgasbord! What’s more, the views you enjoy in the more remote destinations usually more than make up for any absent amenities!

Classic accommodated tours

[caption id="attachment_27697" align="alignnone" width="1449"] Dining room of a lodge in Swakopmund, Namibia[/caption] On classic accommodated tours, you mostly stay in hotels and lodges. You occupy twin bedrooms with ensuite bathrooms thay you share with another unless you to pay a single supplement. However, a single supplement isn't always possible, especially in East Africa. And in remote destinations in East Africa, you may not always have an ensuite bathroom. Again, it all varies a great deal by country and location. Similarly to camping, you can expect smarter accommodations in general in Southern Africa than in East Africa on classic accommodated tours. This usually means three-star accommodations in Southern Africa and two- or three-star accommodations in East Africa. A laundry service is often available.

Premier accommodated tours

[caption id="attachment_56495" align="alignnone" width="1324"] A Ugandan city hotel[/caption] Finally, premier accommodated tours are the most luxurious tours offered by African Overland Tours. In Southern Africa, this usually equates to four-star hotels with pervasive Wi-Fi and in-bedroom coffee-making facitilies. Safari lodges should have bedroom air-con units (unless it's an eco-lodge) and a swimming pool, among other facilities. In East Africa, the hotels and lodges are also very nice and tend to have lovely grounds with nice amenities. Note: This blog post was created in April 2013, then updated in June 2026.

https://www.facebook.com/AfricanOverlandTourscom/

https://www.instagram.com/african_overland_tours/

https://www.youtube.com/@africanoverlandtoursandsafaris