Please note that our itineraries are not set in stone and can be subject to change.
Days 1 to 14
We begin our journey in Gibraltar or southern Spain where your Trans Africa Crew will meet you from your flight. Our first stop is in Gibraltar. Here, the weather is warmer, and as it is a duty free port, we can stock up on supplies for Xmas and New Year. We cross the Straights of Gibraltar by ferry to Ceuta, a Spanish enclave on the North African Coast. In Morocco we visit Chefchaouen - set in a fertile valley of the surrounding Rif Mountains. We camp on a ridge overlooking this picturesque town with its white roofs , blue alleyways and narrow streets. You can wander around this relaxed town and maybe visit one of the old hammam bath houses. The Roman City of Volubillis is a remarkably well-kept reminder of the Roman presence in North Africa 2000 years ago. We spend some time wandering around the ancient streets and monuments before driving to the fortress city of Fez. Its huge covered bazaar with narrow winding alleys is crammed with craft workshops, restaurants, food stalls, mosques, dye pits and tanneries
Days 15 to 28
Our few days in the capital Rabat is spent organising visas before travelling onto Todra Gorge. Its massive red and orange cliffs rise a thousand feet on each side of a sandy river. From Todra we cross the Sarhro Mountains and follow the Draa Valley past numerous scattered Kasbahs - Ait Benhaddou being one such example that has been the inspiration for many a Hollywood film set. The old capital of Marrakech is our base for the next few days - allowing you the chance to wander around the Jema el Fna. This square is alive with activity through the day - from storytellers , snake charmers, water sellers & musicians. A nightly ritual sees hundreds of food stalls transform the square into one of Africa's largest local eating areas - the aromatic smells of fresh local food is fit for local and tourist alike. The fishing port of Essaouira is our last major stop in Morocco before we head south following the rugged Atlantic coastline towards Mauritania, & the Sahara Desert.
Days 29 to 42
After crossing into Mauritania, the remoteness and unrelenting heat and harshness of the desert becomes apparent. We have now left civilization behind and are in the desert proper. The security of knowing that our truck is totally self sufficient with food, water, fuel and a complete set of spares is a very comforting thought. We drive off-road for hundreds of miles, occasionally having to dig the truck out of very soft sand - where the use of sand ladders will be our only way forward. We pass through the Parc d'Arguin, renowned for its bird and sea life. In the small undeveloped capital of Nouakchott, we spend a couple of days re organising the truck and life in general our dusty desert travels. It is quite incredible to think that slavery was only abolished here in 1980 and it is rumoured that it still continues in some outlying areas. From here we drive inland toward Mali, and some of the poorest regions in the world.

As we get into the Sahel scrublands - we find the road conditions only slightly better than before. After a few days of dusty, stony, corrugated roads, smooth asphalt becomes our main desire! We pass slowly through many spread out villages harbouring free range goats, cattle and hardy chickens - some of which we may buy for a spit roast. Arriving in the capital Bamako, is a welcome relief for most - abounding with lively bars, cold beers, markets with fresh fruit and vegetables and people with different culture, language and dress to those in the Western Sahara. The town overlooks the Niger River and has some good live clubs - allowing the night owls in the group to enjoy some late night drinking and dancing to some world famous Malian music.
Days 43 to 63
Following the Niger River we visit the old mud built towns of Mopti and Djenne. These towns were important trading centres over 500 years ago. Not much seems to have changed as you wander through the narrow alleyways - it is hard not to get absorbed into the local hustle and bustle as we go about doing our ritualistic food shop just as the locals do daily. Djenne's huge mud built mosque, said to be the largest and oldest mud brick buildings in the world showcases a weekly market place - where locals from surrounding regions all travel to sell on their wares. On the remote Bandiagara Escarpment we hike out to visit one of most fascinating areas of West Africa - Dogon Country. Situated along a 200km long cliff face - the Dogon people were some of the few tribes who resisted the spread of Islam when its missionaries and forces swept across North and West Africa a thousand years ago. They still maintain most of their traditional religious beliefs. Using a local guide , we spend a few days hiking along the escarpment and staying in Dogon villages - either in adobe lodgings or atop open air roofs where the nightly display of shooting stars can be enjoyed. Our guide will be able to explain some of the history and culture of the area as well as take you to some of the old abandoned cliff dwellings - with tradition requiring a sacrifice of an animal before entry to the area is permitted.

Passing through the friendly country of Burkina Faso we stop at the capital Ougadougou - pronounced Woga-Doogoo !!. This is a little heard of nation - which has a small but thriving film industry.Burkinabes are also renowned for their music and dance bands - as well as having an enthusiastically supported national soccer team. Time permitting - you will be able to enjoy some of the best local and high spirited entertainment in the world.

In Ghana we notice another change in people and culture. Especially the language! For the first time in two months we are in a country where English is the main Language. We spend a night in Mole National Park in northern Ghana and get the opportunity to game walk with an armed ranger - hoping to view some of the numerous elephants and other wildlife that inhabit this park. Making our way to the coastline we stop off at Kakum National Park where you have the opportunity to embark on a canopy walk, or walk through the nature trails in the forest. Following the Coastline we pass the castles of Cape Coast making our way toward Accra, where we camp near the capital Accra for a few days and relax on its palm-fringed coastline.
Days 64 to 66
We will spend a few days on the beaches near Accra where you can indulge in great seafood, and cold drinks. We will need to obtain a couple of visa's in Accra before beginning the next leg of our adventure.
Days 67 to 87
Travelling through Togo and Benin doesn't take long as they are only 50 miles wide. Voodoo is the main religion here, basing its beliefs in the power of the dead. You can visit an interesting fetish market as well as some good African restaurants in Togo. In Benin you can take local canoes out to Ganvie village - built on bamboo stilts on Lake Nakoue. Next we enter Nigeria, Africa's most populous country with well over 100 million people. The pace of life here tends to be more hectic than we have become used to, full of hustle and bustle. We stop for several days in Abuja, the capital before moving through mountainous and lush jungle toward Cameroon. Along here - we may encounter some of the most challenging road conditions and situations on the whole of the route. Team work will definitely be needed if we are to tackle what may lay ahead - from clearing paths through water logged pot holes the size of the truck to only travelling a couple of miles in a day over wet and unkept mud roads. These are some of the best memories you will take away with you.

Arriving at the foothills of Mount Cameroon, we spend a few days camping near Limbe and 6 Mile Beach - where you can choose to trek up Mount Cameroon, visit a chimpanzee orphanage or relax on the beach.
Days 88 to 108
Leaving the Cameroon coast, we travel inland and south on rugged roads. We skirt a number of Pygmy villages and pass the through lush jungle scenery and the occasional waterfall before eventually reaching the lively market town of Ambam. Here we can replenish our food supplies before crossing the Ntem river into Gabon, a country that consists mostly of Tropical Rain Forest. We visit the capital city of Libreville where we can laze on some of the laid back local beaches, or try some of the many restaurants that serve African cuisine whilst we obtain more visas for countries further south. The next town of any size that we come to is Lambarene. Situated on an island in the middle of the Ogooue River, Lambarene's claim to fame is it's hospital built in 1913 by the Nobel Peace Prize laureate Albert Schweitzer. Situated 8kms away in the forest, it is still the main hospital in Gabon. From Lambarene we continue south along dirt and mud roads toward the Republic of Congo - tar seal roads are no where to be seen until our arrival into Ponte Noire.
Days 109 to 122
One of the main highlights for most people who visit Congo is the friendliness of the people, particularly in the countryside. The coastal city of Ponte Noire is also very relaxed and friendly - but a bit of a contrast to most other parts of the country. Signs of affluent businesses and general living are all around - mainly due to the resident oil mining and logging industries. Besides the beaches and market places, Ponte Noire also has a healthy selection of restaurants and cafes catering to many a craving for treats that we may not have seen for some time. From Ponte Noire it is only 40kms south to the border of Cabinda. This is a small oil rich province of Angola, only 150kms wide, whose recent history has been largely influenced by western oil companies.
Days 123 to 143
From Cabinda we drive into the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), formerly known as Zaire. The roads here can be just as bad as those encountered earlier in Cameroon. However, natural sites and charming towns and villages with names like Banana and Songololo make this an interesting and unique experience. We will only be in DRC for a few days before entering Angola proper.

We cross the Congo river into Angola and enter the northern province called Zaire. Angola is still recovering from over two decades of civil war - evidence of which you will see with the many military tanks that litter the sides of the road. The country is slowly rebuilding its infrastructure and basic needs - with the capital of Luanda showing full sign of this slow progression. As we travel south through small villages and communities- we will pass waterfalls, deserted beaches and lots of friendly people - especially children who may never have seen a foreigner before. As Portuguese is the preferred language and hardly anyone we encounter will speak English - a lot of humorous improvisations with hands, face and voice are usually needed by all of us. After the southern town of Lubango we head to the Namibian border.
Days 144 to 153
Crossing into Namibia and into the region of the Owambo people - we pass through the country's second largest town - Ondangwa. This town is one of the main suppliers of beer to Northern Namibia - hopefully there will be enough left for us!!!! Heading west into what is known as the Kaokoveld - we enter one of Africa's lesser visited areas. By some it is classed as prime safari territory due to its inaccessibility and nearly non existent infrastructure. We may be fortunate enough to see one of 30 remaining desert elephants - who have adapted to the harsh arid conditions of this area in search of the underground water reserves of the ancient riverbeds. Black Rhinos also inhabit this area - but their secrecy makes viewing them in the wild that little bit more difficult. The Kaokoveld is also home to the Himba people - a tribe of nomadic pastoralists who to this day have shunned the advances of the modern world to keep with their tradition of leading nomadic lifestyles. The men and women of the tribe traditionally wear little clothing except for goats skin or modest cloth - opting to rub their bodies and hair with red ochre and fat which ultimately protects them from the sun and represents the distinctive look associated with the Himba people.We hope to visit a local Himba village to allow us a greater understanding into one of Africa's most visually unique people. We then head towards the Brandberg Mountain region - home of Namibia's highest peaks.

Next we stay for a night or two in the capital Windhoek - the first taste of western civilization we would have experienced in a few weeks. This will give you the chance to take a walking tour of the town - with its influence of old world German architecture and twentieth century modernity side by side. The hustle and bustle of the capital could not seem more far away from what we have experienced for the last few weeks. From Windhoek we head south and border the fringes of the Kalahari Desert, home of the San Bushmen where we will spot various buck and wild ostrich as well as enjoy camping out in the freedom of the vast desert. We also pass through some diamond mining settlements in southern Botswana before entering South Africa.
Days 154 to 162
Our first stop in the Northern Cape is the diamond town of Kimberly. Here we can visit the Mine Museum and the Big Hole, an excellent introduction into Kimberley's fascinating history. There is also the opportunity to take a trip almost 1km down an operating modern Diamond Mine. Further south we visit Addo National Park, home to the big five where we should spot Elephant, Hippo, Rhino, Buffalo, Lion and if we are very lucky Leopard. We continue heading towards the Outeniqua Mountains to the Little Karoo. Here we visit the Cango Calcite Caves recognised as one of the worlds finest network of Calcite caves. The bizarre formations of Stalagmites and Stalactites represent over a million years of slow formation. We also visit an Ostrich farm to learn more about the worlds largest bird. The Ostrich has been around for 8 million years and a feather was actually discovered in King Tutankhamun's tomb in Egypt. 97% of the world's population of Ostriches lives in the Karoo and here we will have the opportunity to feed and ride one!

We spend a couple of days winding our way along South Africa's famous Garden Route where there is a wealth of things to see and do. We travel through the popular resort of Knysna, located on a tranquil lagoon that is protected from the sea by two enormous cliffs known as 'the heads'. We visit the Tsitsikamma Forest, where you will be able to hike along the coast and view the crashing waves at the mouth of the scenic Storms River, and maybe spot dolphins and whales in the ocean. Optional excursions in this region include mountain biking, black water tubing, and the mother of all bungee jumps at Bloakrans Bridge - the highest jump in the world at 216 metres.

The most southern tip of Africa at Cape Agulhas is the dividing line between the warm Indian Ocean and the cooler Atlantic Ocean. From August to November Southern Right and Humpback Whales maybe spotted along the coast - as they feed in the nutrient rich waters off the southern coast. The final destination for some on this amazing expedition is the vibrant and cosmopolitan city of Cape Town. Our accommodation here will be in a backpackers lodge.