Oasis Overland Adventure Travel

Overland Adventure Info - Africa & Middle East

This is a general overview of our Overland Adventure Trips.   Please refer to the 'Before you Go' section of the relevant trip page for  more detailed information.

Our 'Overland Adventure Trips' are run on our own expedition vehicles with two crew which carry up to 24 travellers (one can carry 25) although the average group size tends to be around 16 - 20 people.

Starting and finishing your trip
We recommend arriving a couple of days before your trip starts in order to acclimatise and give yourself a free day to explore the town or city you arrive into.   Allow a day or two after your trip has ended in order to experience and explore these interesting cities as well and in case the trip is delayed by a day or two (although this is very rare).   We can advise you where to stay and can book accommodation for you at most departure points.

Life on the road
The Oasis truck will be your home giving you a comfortable, secure base with which to experience your trip. You will be expected to have an active involvement in the day to day running of the trip and be part of the group and get stuck in and help with various tasks, whether it's collecting firewood, cooking meals over open fires, pitching your tent or keeping the truck clean and tidy.

Expect to sometimes get dirty and not be able to have hot showers every night and that sometimes things may well go wrong or not to plan... this is simply down to the countries and the continents we operate in and that you are thinking of travelling to - our opinion is that it adds to the flavour of the trip, so if any of the above freaks or frustrates you then please seriously think again about doing one of our Overland Adventure trips.

During the day
Driving days normally start at about 8am and finish at about 5pm, with stops for lunch and buying food, seeing local sights etc. We won't be driving every day, although there are times when we will drive for two or on the odd occasion three days, but we will then stop for a few days and you will then have free time to explore, meet local people, do some optional activities or just relax and do your own thing.  We believe that an active involvement in your trip is essential to building a great travelling group. Therefore, helping and participating with your group in the unexpected as well as partying and having a good time are essential ingredients.

Accommodation
In Africa your accommodation is usually under canvas and we mainly stay at campsites as well as in the open desert and bush. In the Middle East around half the accommodation is in hostels or hotels with the rest being under canvas.  Facilities and standards at campsites vary and at bush camps when you are living off the truck, there are no facilities especially en-suite options! At certain campsites there is the opportunity to upgrade to a room if you are missing your bed.

Meals
We usually cook using gas or over open fires in a rota system and you can expect to cook in a group of two or three people approximately once every ten days. As a cook group you will be have to decide on what to cook, utilise stocks from the truck stores and locally obtained ingredients and rustle up a feast! But don't worry if you're not a Gordon Ramsay as the rest of the group and the Tour Leader usually lends a helping hand. If you're a Vegetarian, Vegan or have any other dietary requirements we will do our utmost to cater for you, but never fear, no one goes hungry.

Passports & Visas
The 'Before you go' section for each trip gives more in-depth information for most nationalities on which visas are required and the costs involved. As a  general rule you will need at least one blank page in your passport for each country you enter. Your passport must be valid for at least nine months from the start date of your trip.

Africa - Most nationalities require visas for some of the countries we travel through. However the majority of these can currently be obtained en-route or at the border of entry so most nationalities are not required to obtain any visas before travelling. Please ensure that you bring US Dollars to pay for your visas.

Middle East - Passports with any indication of travel to Israel must be replaced if you are travelling to Syria or Libya. Most nationalities can obtain visas for Turkey, Jordan & Egypt on arrival for approx £10-£15 each, (please see 'Before you Go' section for detailed costs), however South African passport holders need to obtain a visa for Egypt before they arrive and NZ for Tunisia. Most nationalities can obtain a visa for Syria en-route (payable in US$ cash) whilst on a trip, but if you are flying into Syria to begin your trip you will need a visa before arriving. All nationalities require a visa for Libya before they enter.

Health
Africa - you must be vaccinated against Yellow Fever and will need an International Vaccination Certificate to prove this at some border crossings. It is also advisable to be vaccinated against Typhoid, Tetanus, Polio, Hepatitis A and Meningitis and possibly Hepatitis B and Rabies.  There is a number of prophylactic malarial treatments on the market and requirements do change. Also, one particular regimen might suit you better than another. It is also wise to take a sample of whatever prophylactic you choose a few weeks before your trip begins. This way you may determine early on if you have any adverse reactions so you can change your regimen if necessary. 

Middle East -  It is advisable to be vaccinated against Typhoid, Tetanus, Polio, Hepatitis A and Meningitis.

Consult your doctor or a reputable medical clinic about these or any other travel related queries you may have.

Local Customs
People in the countries we visit are usually extremely friendly and helpful, but please respect their customs and beliefs, i.e. respect local people's beliefs and sensitivity regarding photography. Both men and women should dress modestly when in small towns and villages. Women travellers should wear loose-fitting clothes that cover their arms and legs (this is especially relevant in Middle East countries, although on the Mediterranean and Red Sea beaches local attitudes are more Western and relaxed).

Spending Money & Local Payment

At the beginning of your trip the crew will collect the Local Payment in Cash - Sterling or US Dollars. For personal spending we suggest an average of £100 to £140 per week (excluding optional excursions). Personal spending habits vary hugely depending on the individual. We cannot specify every cost, however you need to allow for visas, drinks, occasional meals out, souvenirs and local crafts, telephone calls, e-mails and items of a personal nature etc. Budget for optional excursions separately.

Africa - credit cards are virtually useless outside main cities (although in S. Africa, Botswana & Namibia they are more widely accepted and ATM's are widely available), you will need to bring  two thirds of your spending money $US cash and the rest in GB£ or US Dollar Travellers Cheques.

Middle East - credit cards are increasingly easy to use in the main cities in Egypt and Turkey but there are times when ATM machines run out of cash and cards get declined. So we recommend that you bring 50% of your spending money in cash $US Dollars. Travellers Cheques can be used but attract high commission charges. Please note that in the Middle East most historical sites give 50% reductions with a valid International Student Card or Youth Card.

For more information on visas, vaccinations, climates and other information relating to our trips, please check out the 'Before you Go' section on the trip page of your choice.

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