Gulf of Guinea to the Cape Accra - Cape Town

Today we will apply for Togo visas at the Togolese Embassy in Accra. 

This morning we will leave Accra and head north to the village of Akosombo.

In Akosombo we will stay in a campsite next to the River Volta.

Estimated Drive Time - 3-4 hours (please note that all drive times given here are the approximate number of hours that the truck will be in motion only, and does not include any time taken for coffee or lunch stops, border crossings, photo stops, activities en route, comfort breaks, shopping stops, toilet stops, etc. The times given are approximate estimates only and whilst given with the best of intentions, the drive times are heavily dependent on traffic, road conditions, weather, police roadblocks, and many other factors - flexibility is essential on any overland trip!).

Border information: Exit Ghana at Klouto, enter Togo at Klouto.

Today we will have a full day's drive to the spectacular Mont Klouto, crossing the border into Togo.

Estimated Drive Time - 5-6 hours.

In Mont Klouto we will stay in a campsite, with the option to upgrade to dorm accommodation.

Today we will have a free day around the beautiful Mont Klouto region, with the opportunity to head out on optional forest walks or to visit Kpalimé town nearby.

In the evening, we will head to the village centre to see a spectacular show of drumming and dancing from the local villagers.

Over the next 2 days we will drive up the length of Togo, all the way through the remote northern border with Benin. We will wild camp for 1 night en route.

Estimated Drive Times - 6-7 hours each day.

This morning we will head to the beach while we are watingin for our visas to be processed. Time to relax before we head into Benin tomorrow!

Border information: Exit Togo at Ketao, enter Benin at Ouaké.

Today we will cross the border into Benin, before continuing our journey to the Tata Somba region close to the town of Tanguiéta. 

Today we will have a free day at Grand Popo for relaxing on the beach or taking a pirogue trip around the nearby ocean and mangroves.

There is also an option this evening to visit an incredible local vodun (voodoo) ceremony in the nearby village, complete with very energetic dancing and incredible magic tricks! It may also be possible to take a night walk in search of Atlantic turtles, which lay their eggs on the beaches between November and March.

Today we will take a very interesting half-day tour of the sites in Ouidah, including the Voodoo Python Temple, the "Route des Esclaves" (Slave Route), La Maison du Brésil art gallery and the Ouidah Museum of History in the old Portuguese Fort of São João Baptista de Ajudá.

We may hopefully see many of the local fishermen bringing their catch in.

In Ouidah we will camp at an auberge on the beach.

Estimated Drive Time - 1-3 hours.

This morning we will drive to Abomey-Calavi (a port on the outskirts of Cotonou), where we say goodbye to the truck for the night and jump aboard motorised pirogues to Ganvie, a fascinating town built entirely on stilts in the middle of Lake Nokoué.

Today we will have an included tour of the stilt town of Ganvie, exploring deeper on our pirogues and soaking up the unique way of life in the floating village. 

In Ganvie we will stay in a basic hotel in the stilt village itself!

Estimated Drive Time - 6-8 hours.

Our journey today continues to Abomey, the ancient capital of the Dahomey kingdom. On arrival we will take an included tour of the Dahomey Palace and Museum. 

In Abomey we will stay in a campsite, with the possibility to upgrade to rooms for the night.

Estimated Drive Time - 6-7 hours.

Today is where our true adventure begins! We will be making our way through the next 6 countries without a fixed itinerary. We will be keeping a close eye on the travel advice for each area that we head towards. This starts with the next 8 days through Nigeria. Some of the highlights we may experience include the impressive Usman Dam, Abuja National Mosque, Lekki Market and the beautiful Yankari National Park.

We will be wild camping for the majority of this trip from now on, experiencing the true life and culture of the towns and villages we stop in.

Now we will head out of Nigeria into Cameroon. We have allocated another 11 days here. We may have the chance to apply for some visas during our time in Cameroon.

Highlights of the country include Douala with its bustling shopping and nightlife as well as Yaounde which is where we will find the National Museum. There will be opportunities to relax by the beach as well as spend time in the foothills of Mount Cameroon which is one of Africa's biggest volcanoes.

We now pass into our next destination, Gabon. We will spend 6 days travelling through this vibrant country. This is the point where the tarmac runs out, we will be getting used to dirt roads from now on!

There may be options for time on safari here as much of Gabon is rainforest. This could be in Lambarene or Loango National Park which are barely inhabited by people and the wildlife is protected. There are also many Bwiti rituals in these areas.

Now onto 8 days in the Republic of the Congo. This is where we really prepare for the unexpected! Digging out the truck, huge potholes and overgrown passages can make this country feel truly wild. We will only pass through this country with the whole team working together.

The people in this country are renound for their hospitable welcomes and we will find smiling faces wherever we go, from Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park (home to Gorilla's), to Pointe-Noire (where the beaches are renound) we will be greeted with open arms.

We will be passing through a small portion of the Democratic Republic of the Congo as we make our way to Angola. Here we have the option of travelling West and visiting Kinshasa or, if it is in our best interests to do so, we can visit the enclave of Cabina, which is part of Angola.

We should be able to view the Crystal Mountains range and have the option to climb Mont Mangengenge, a pilgrimage site for local people. You will probably be overtaken by the Congolese praying step by step as they ascend. The DRC is also home to the only Bonobo sanctuary in the world, definitely worth a visit!

Our final country with no fixed itinerary is Angola. This is a country that is still making it's way back from years of civil war. Due to this tourists are not seen very regularly, in fact, we may be the first tourists to travel through some villages. We also have the chance to test out our Portuguese here.

Close to where we enter the country is Turtle Beach where endangered Olive Ridley Turtles hatch through September to March. The National Museum of Slavery near Lobito is a stark reminder of Angolas past. Other highlights include Kalandula Falls and Quicama National Park.

Today we head west to the stunning Etosha National Park.

Etosha is one of the world's most pre-eminent wildlife areas, and we have an excellent chance to spot some of Africa's most famous animals such as elephant, lion, giraffe, zebra, leopard, oryx, impala, and rhino!

We will stay in the park for 2 days, giving us plenty of opportunity for game drives in our truck in search of the animals here.

In Etosha National Park we will stay in a mixture of the campsites of Namutoni, Halali or Okaukuejo according to availability, all of which are superbly located within the National Park, have excellent facilities and are situated next to watering holes where many animals come for a drink at night.

Estimated Drive Time - 4-5 hours each day.

Today we will drive south to the stunning mountains of Spitzkoppe. This remote region has breathtaking sunsets and sunrises as the colour of the landscape takes on remarkable oranges and reds.

In Spitzkoppe we will wild camp with very limited facilities. 

Estimated Drive Time - 5-7 hours.

Today we will continue to the old German colonial town of Swakopmund, where we will have 2 nights to explore the town and enjoy some of the many optional adventure activities on offer.

We will also have an included visit to Cape Cross en route from Spitzkoppe, to experience the sight, sound and smell of thousands of olive-coloured seals on the shore.

In Swakopmund we will stay in group Cabins, near town. 

Estimated Drive Time - 5-6 hours.

Today we will drive from Swakopmund to Sesriem, our base for exploring the spectacular Namib Desert. If time allows, en route we will have the option to take a short walking tour of the desert around Solitaire where we can learn all about the ecosystem of the desert - please note that our time available for this is dependent on the time of the sunset, as they close the gates to our Sesriem campsite at sunset.

In Sesriem we will camp at a well equipped campsite.

Estimated Drive Time - 9-10 hours.

Today we have an early morning start to climb to the top of the famous Dune 45 for a dramatic and incredible sunrise view across a vast sea of sand. We will also have chance to explore the otherworldy landscape of the Dead Vlei. In the afternoon, we head south to our river camp near the small town of Bethanie.

At Bethanie we will camp at an eco-tourism campsite.

Estimated Drive Time - 5-6 hours (not including the Dune 45 excursion).

Today we head south to the dramatic scenery of the Fish River Canyon. Here we will have some time for exploration and taking in the beautiful sunset over the canyon. 

At Fish River Canyon we will camp in a basic campsite.

Estimated Drive Time - 8 hours.

This morning we will drive to Noordoewer, next to the scenic banks of the Gariep (Orange) River - the natural border between Namibia and South Africa. If there is sufficient water in the river we may be able to take an optional canoeing tour on the Orange River. 

NB: If we have arrived late the previous day, the Tour Leader may opt to spend more time at Fish River Canyon before driving to Noordoewer.

In Noordoewer we will stay in a well equipped campsite.

Estimated Drive Time - 3-5 hours.

Border Information: Exit Namibia at Noordoewer, enter South Africa at Noordoewer.

Today we cross the border into South Africa and head down the Western Cape to camp site near Citrusdal. In the evening we will have the option for some wine tasting!

We will stay in a well equipped campsite.

Estimated Drive Time - 8-9 hours.

Our final day takes us down the Western Cape to the charming and beautiful city of Cape Town.

This evening you will have the opportunity to enjoy a final group meal to say goodbye to your fellow travellers.

In Cape Town we stay in a well located and busy Hostel. 

Estimated Drive Time - 5-6 hours.

End Day