Overlanding FAQs

Why choose Dragoman?
Experience, quality, range, award winners, sustainable tourism, independently owned, responsible tourism... read more at the why choose Dragoman page.

I've never camped before, is this for me?
It doesn't matter if you've never been camping before, what's more important is your attitude. On some of our overland tours you'll be camping pretty much every night, on others there are just a few nights camping out, with the rest of the time spent staying in local guest houses, hostels and hotels. Check out the detailed accommodation information for the trip you're interested in to see how many nights you'll spend under canvas. Each trip also has a comfort rating, you can use this to pick the trip that best suits what you are looking for. Our overland trucks come fully equipped with sturdy tents that are easy to erect, and your crew will help you out and show you how to put them up. The only thing you'll need to bring along is a sleeping bag and ground mat*.

What is the “kitty”?
The Kitty is a group fund paid separately from the trip price at the start of your trip. It is an amount that each passenger puts into a central fund and is monitored by you and the Dragoman crew. The kitty pays for all your accommodation, meals whilst camping and all activities listed as included. The kitty system is very unique to over landing as it allows us to have flexibility on the road. You can see exactly how your money is being spent and ensure that you are getting the best value by buying locally.

The kitty advertised in the brochure is an estimate at the time of printing. Local inflation and costs vary throughout the year and so we review kitties on a monthly basis. Once you book your trip it is very important that you check our website on a regular basis and just before departure for any changes to the kitty amount.

Your kitty payment will be collected by the leader in cash when you arrive for your trip, usually on the 1st day at the joining meeting.

Please pay your kitty in a mixutre of US Dollar cash and the rest in local currency (amount and type of currency to be agreed by the leader at the start of the trip). Most of our travellers chose to bring a cash passport with them for withdrawing local currency (you can visit www.cashpassport.com for further information on these). This is a very secure way of carrying your money whilst travelling. You treat them exactly like an ATM card and draw out local currency from an ATM to give to your leader within each country.

If you do choose to pay part in local currency your trip leader will confirm the current exchange rates with you so you will know exactly how much to hand over.

Travellers cheques have become increasingly difficult to change around the world with passengers and our leaders experiencing huge frustration and numerous hours spent trying to find a bank which will change travellers cheques. For this reason we no longer accept them on our trips.

Please note: that if you are on a long combination trip made up of more than one single trip your kitty will be collected in stages and not in its entirety at the start of the first section.

Kitty changes: We constantly monitor local price changes and exchange rate fluctuations that could affect kitty expenses. Final kitty contributions are likely to be different from those quoted in the brochure or at the time of booking so you must check the final amount just before departure.

Are flights included?
No, you will need to allow for flights. If you are based in the UK or Europe our sales team can also help you with booking your flights. For a quote you can phone or email our reservation team.

Who else will be on my trip?
At Dragoman you can find fellow passengers from all backgrounds, nationalities, and of all ages too. A good way to see who else is on your trip is to join our community at our website 'Dragoland'. If you call our sales team we can tell you the mix of sexes and ages on any tours your are interested in.

Some trips have the Guaranteed symbol but others don't. Why aren't all trips trips Guaranteed?
We offer guarantees on a number of our most popular trips so that as a passenger you can be sure that if you book a seat on the truck we can guarantee you that your trip will run (so long as there are 4 people booked on the trip).
At Dragoman we're a caring responsible bunch and that counts for the environment as a whole just as much as the places we travel through. Due to our commitment to responsible tourism we won't run trips with less than 4 people booked on, even guaranteed trips. We try to run trips with full trucks rather than ones with empty seats this helps us be kind to the environment.
If you are booked on a trip that needs to be cancelled our reservations team will get in touch with you and try to find an alternative date/trip that suits you.

Can I talk to other travellers before I book or before I travel?
Yes. We have a community area called Dragoland where you can You can ask questions about trips and talk with potential passengers of your next Drago trip or just share travel stories and information with loads of like minded travellers just like yourself. You can always use our Facebook group to see what others are saying or post your own questions.

Do I need to get vaccinations and what about malaria?
Recommended vaccinations and other health protection measures vary according to region and recent bulletins issued by health authorities. It’s essential to get the latest advice on the region(s) you’re planning to travel in, and that you check with either your doctor or a travel clinic in good time before you leave. As a tour operator we’re unable to give medical advice so refer you instead to either the World Health Organisation www.who.int or National Travel Health Network & Centre www.nathnac.org for further details or to contact a professional medical travel clinic.

We’ve been working with Nomad Travel in the UK for years, and Dragoman customers are entitled to 10% off all Nomad vaccinations at any Nomad Travel Clinic as well as 10% off kit and equipment purchased at Nomad online or instore. Their website also has comprehensive, up to date vaccination and health information.

What first aid equipment and help is there?
All of our trucks are equipped with a first aid kit which is stocked with everything you are likely to need on the road. Our crew have all completed a first aid course and are able to help when necessary. We recommend that you bring your own first aid kit and use the group kit if you are short of something. If you do need to use something from the group kit we do ask for it to be replaced. As a reminder you should also bring any personal medication you require for the whole duration of the trip.

What visas do I need?
Your visa requirements will vary depending on your nationality. To get up to date visa information you can refer to a professional passport and visa Service or check directly with the embassies of the countries you are planning to visit. We also have details in our trip notes on which visas are needed.

Travcour give free, comprehensive, up to date, information on visa requirements. In addition to this they run a travel document service, whereby - for a fee - they will obtain your visas for you. Click here to see the Travcour website and select Dragoman Overland from the Visa pack drop down list to find the trip on which you are travelling.

Visa requirements do change, so it’s important to get up to date information before you travel. If you book a tour with Dragoman that requires invitation letters we will supply these at no extra cost.

Do I need travel insurance?
All passengers travelling on a Dragoman trip are required to get travel insurance before starting a trip. We recommend getting full comprehensive travel insurance which specifically covers adventure/overland travel with a repatriation option for peace of mind, but also in case of serious accidents. We now sell insurance at Dragoman for travellers who are UK citizens only*, contact our Reservations Team or click for more information. Further information will be also provided on your information pack once you have booked your Drago trip or you can read more here.
* People from other countries will need to arrange insurance with other providers.

Will I have ‘free’ time whilst on tour?
Yes, our trips are designed to give you the best of both worlds and combine organised activities, with enough free time to take in your surroundings. Trips can at times be intense, action packed, adventures which keep you busy. There is a balance with free time to wander the streets of a city, enjoy time at stunning remote beaches, take in a beautiful view...

I only have a suitcase do I need a rucksack?
Although you will not have to carry your main bag long distances you will need to help load and unload them onto the truck. For this reason we recommend that you use a backpack or soft bag rather than a heavy suitcase. During your trip your main luggage will be kept in the back locker so you will also need a small daypack. This can be used to carry your camera, water bottle and other personal effects for daily use.

The size of baggage that can be brought on this tour is limited by the locker space on the truck. Different trucks have different-sized lockers however to be safe we recommend that your bag be no larger than 66cm deep, 30cm wide, and 30cm high. The weight limit for luggage on all trucks is maximum 20kg. Backpacks should not have an external frame unless it can be easily removed and stored separately to avoid damaging other people's luggage.

Your clothes and equipment should be appropriate for the conditions you are travelling in. On overland trips Dragoman will provide all camping equipment apart from sleeping bags and ground mats (except on routes between Nairobi and Cape Town where ground mats are provided).

For a comprehensive kit lists take a look at the Dragoman kit list that Nomad Travel have created. Dragoman customers will receive a 10% discount on all equipment purchased either online or in store. Click to see the kit lists nomadtravel.co.uk/pages/dragoman

I have special dietary requirements, is this a problem?
No, you will need to inform us of your dietary requirements and any allergies when you book (add this in the medical conditions box), there will generally always be a vegetarian option available. Your group will be divided into smaller cook groups who will cook for everyone on a rota basis. If you are vegetarian and do not wish to handle meat you will need to be in a group where there are others that are happy to do this. In East and Southern Africa there is a camp master in charge of the cooking and the group will help with preparation and shopping etc. If you have a specific allergy or intolerance and are concerned that suitable foodstuffs may not be available en-route please bring these along with you.

What charging facilities will be available?
Our trucks vary and some will have charging facilities for the group to use, worse case scenario there is a 12v cigarette lighter on the truck which will be available to you. Please be aware that this will need to be used by all of the group so many of our passengers find “solar monkey” type chargers helpful. There will be charging facilities at campsites and hotels.

Accommodation: Will I have to share?
Dragoman trips are run on a shared accommodation basis, from the first night at your joining hotel, to the nights under canvas camping you will be sharing with another traveller. If you are a single traveller you will be paired with a person of the same sex. Depending on the area and the style of trip you are on it will be ‘rougher’ on trips with a lot of camping and bush camps (such as some Africa trips), but more comfortable on trips where there are more hotels used on trip (such as some South American trips). The trip overview page and your trip notes give you a break down of the amount of camping and hotel stays there are on each trip and the level of comfort and physical challenge you can expect on trip. Your trip notes have details of the accommodation used day by day on your trip and give an indication of the standard of the Hotel. Read more about Trip Ratings here.

How much money should I bring with me?
Everyone spends different amounts depending on how many souvenirs you buy, or how much you like to spend at a bar or cafe. However a good rule of thumb is around 10 – 15 USD per day. Once you're on the road on a Dragoman trip you will find that you won’t need much money and many things are already included in your kitty (such as: food when cooking on the truck, accommodation, some activities, etc.).
Should you want to get money out on the road you’ll find that ATM’s are available in most countries en-route but do read your trip notes thoroughly as it does vary in the best ways to get money for each country. Travellers Cheques are one way to get money but not all banks exchange them and when they do it is often not at a particularly good exchange rate.

Can I travel on my own if I’m under 18?
Sorry, but to travel on your own you have to be 18 years old on the day you start to travel with us.

What kit do I need to bring?
Your clothes and equipment should be appropriate for the conditions you’ll be travelling in, which will vary depending on which part of the world you're heading to, and when. Dragoman will provide all camping equipment though you’ll need to bring your own sleeping bags and ground mats (except on our “In Depth” overland trips in Southern & Eastern Africa between Nairobi and Cape Town, which have ground mats already provided). Think about the climate and altitude of the areas you'll be travelling to, there's nothing worse than being cold at night so it's worth investing in a decent sleeping bag if it's likely to get cold. And remember even when it's warm during the day, it can often get cold at night, particularly in desert regions.

We’ve been working with Nomad Travel in the UK for years, and Dragoman customers are entitled 10% off kit and equipment purchased at Nomad online or instore as well as 10% off all Nomad vaccinations at any Nomad Travel Clinic.

Nomad’s website includes their comprehensive overlanding kit list (as well as comprehensive, up to date vaccinations and health information) but here’s what we recommend as a guide:

Sleeping bag - Check the expected climate en route. Nights in desert and mountain regions can be very cold in winter months
Mattress or compressed foam
A day pack is useful for short hikes in the countryside, wandering around cities, etc and also for keeping inside the vehicle for items used during the day
2 sets of comfortable travelling clothes (light, easily washable cotton clothes are best)
1 set of casual but smart clothes for evenings out. Women should bring a skirt that covers their knees and a scarf for visiting places of worship
2 pairs of shorts
Sun hat or warm hat if trekking
1 pair of sunglasses
Warm sweater/fleeces
1 waterproof jacket with hood
1 pair of comfortable walking shoes/boots (or ankle height canvas jungle boots)
1 pair of sandals or flip-flops
Underwear and socks (thermals are also a good idea if you are travelling to altitude or to the desert as it can get very cold at night)
Swimwear
2 small towels
Washing kit, including a small mirror
Clothes washing detergent, small scrubbing brush & washing line (just a length of cord)
Head torch/flashlight with spare batteries & bulbs (only the 3 standard sizes of round 1.5v batteries are widely available en route)
Passport photos (average of 2 per country for which visas will be applied for en route)
Good water bottle at least 1 litre
A pouch or money belt worn inside your clothing, or unobtrusive pocket sewn into the inside of a pair of loose fitting trousers, is a must.
Alarm clock
Pocket calculator (useful when exchanging money)
Writing materials & notebook/diary
Multi purpose knife
Cotton sheet sleeping bag (or sheet folded and sewn up on 2 sides). It will help keep your sleeping bag clean, and can be used on its own on warm nights.
Mosquito net - The tents supplied by us have mosquito netting and you will only need a net if you think you will sleep out under the stars a lot of the time.
"Wet Ones" (moistened tissues) and hand gel
Toilet paper – this can be purchased almost everywhere en-route but one roll is worth packing
Assorted sized plastic bags - protects clothing and equipment from dust and damp