Complete guide to overlanding in Africa

Our hearts sank as we felt the truck grind to a halt, its wheels digging into the soft sand. Nervously we glanced at the cold waters of the Atlantic Ocean, just a few metres away. It was the moment we had been half-dreading, half-expecting.

We'd been driving across the Sahara Desert for several days, and this section, in Mauritania, was always going to be the most critical. This was where the dunes met the sea, and for 120km there were no roads or tracks across the desert. The only way through was to drive along the beach at low tide - and pray you didn't get stuck.

'OK, everyone out,' cried Rick, our overland expedition leader. We jumped down and set to work. It was a well-rehearsed routine: unhook the sand mats, dig out the sand in front of the wheels, slot the mats into place, and move around to the rear of the truck ready to push when Rick started the engine and gave us the signal.

Gradually, the truck struggled free, and we were able to resume our drive along the beach, hoping to reach the safety of a fishing village before the tide cut us off. A tense hour passed and then, suddenly, we saw a group of children shouting and waving as they ran towards us. We made it, only narrowly beating the rising tide.

This was my third overland expedition in Africa - and another mini-drama to add to the long list of adventures and encounters that characterise this form of travel. Overlanding is far more than an opportunity to see the people, landscape and wildlife of a region.

By getting you off the beaten track and into remote areas for long periods of time, it provides a level of immersion in the culture and spirit of a place that can't be matched by any other form of travel. So, how do you go about planning this great adventure?

Routes Across Africa

With so many options available, choosing where to go is no easy task. Some overland trips are intensive, cramming an incredible number of attractions into a relatively short space of time, while others explore remote regions where the journey itself can be the adventure (one company, Migration Overland, even lets participants decide their route as they travel!).

Overland expeditions in East and Southern Africa are deservedly popular, taking in spectacular reserves like the Serengeti, Kruger and Okavango Delta, as well as offering chances to meet tribal people, such as the Maasai, Samburu and Himba.