Guide

A driver/expedition leader is included in this tour.

Meals

Eating well is a very important factor on our expeditions and good food is vital for everyone’s health and well-being so we always strive to prepare healthy, wholesome and plentiful meals.We will be cooking a lot of meals from our own kitchen on the truck. When we are camping we usually eat breakfast and the evening meal from the truck. For lunch we usually stop at a cheap local restaurant giving you a chance to taste the local fare too. Lunches are at your own expense. When we are staying in hotels/guest houses/hostels (usually in cities) it is often impractical to cook on the truck so we do not provide any meals at these times.When it comes to shopping and cooking we will divide ourselves up into groups of 3 or 4 people (depending on group size) who will shop for and prepare the day’s meals and clean up at the end. This will work out that you roughly get to cook once a week (depending on numbers).Fresh food is generally available daily so we try and eat meat and vegetables for every main evening meal. We do also cater for vegetarians but we cannot cater for fussiness. In these group situations everybody must appreciate we cannot cater for individual likes and dislikes.Don’t worry if you are not a gourmet cook as your crew are also always there to give advice.All our vehicles are equipped with a small fridge which is used for the cook groups food only. For personal food & drinks we have cooler boxes for everyone to use.Cleanliness plays an important role throughout this expedition and your crew will make sure an acceptable level of general hygiene is maintained throughout your journey to ensure the wellbeing of the group.Included: 2 meals per day while camping.

Others

Services of your expedition leader/driverUse of our own custom-built expedition vehicle and equipmentDiesel, mechanics, shipping and any other costs relating to the vehicleFerry tickets (when travelling as a group)An average of 2 meals a day while camping (usually breakfast and the evening meal)All accommodation costs (80% camping, 20% hotels, guest-houses & hostels)National Park entry fees when we enter as a group with our vehicleLocal transportation costs (if required)

Transport

We will be travelling in a purpose-built Madventure overland vehicle 100% of the time on this expedition. A standard bus simply wouldn’t be able to tackle many of the roads we travel on. The overland vehicle we use is a custom-built expedition truck which can accommodate up to 36 people although most of our expeditions travel with approximately 25 people.Comfort and safety is of course a big factor during expeditions of this length and nature so all our vehicles have high-backed coach seats with safety belts. The seating is on the upper level of the vehicle giving you an almost 360° view of the surrounding scenery.Our vehicles are designed to allow sufficient luggage storage and are also equipped with lockers to keep all your all your gear safe.Our long range diesel and water tanks ensure our self sufficiency in remote areas and the equipment we take with us is also of vital importance. In case of a breakdown we are equipped with a good selection of spare parts as well as a comprehensive tool kit to undertake any necessary repairs on our own as and when we need to.There may also be times when we get stuck in the sand or mud when travelling off road so all necessary recovery equipment such as sand mats, cables, ropes, shovels and pickaxes are also on board.We spend a lot of nights around the campfire so we take along good axes and saws for the times when we have to replenish our wood supply.We usually carry 500 litres of treated drinking water and we are equipped with a good kitchen which includes all cutlery, plates, cups, pots and pans, utensils, gas cooker, BBQ grate, etc.All our vehicles are equipped with a small fridge which is used for the cook groups food only. For personal food & drinks we have cooler boxes for everyone to use.Fold up chairs are provided for outdoor seating and we also have a large tarpaulin to keep us dry on those rainy days.Our vehicles are equipped with USB charging points only so try and bring all of your important electronic devices such as telephone, tablet & head-torch to charge from a USB socket. We do not have a 120V or 240V power supply on the vehicle but you will have the opportunity to charge your 120/240V electronic equipment when we stay at campsites & hotels.We carry solar showers and a toilet tent with us for those times when we are bush camping without amenities.We carry a comprehensive first aid kit for emergencies but we recommend you bring your own for general use.

Accommodation

You will spend 80% of your time on this expedition in your tent camping and 20% of your time staying in local hotels, guest houses and hostels.Quite often we will wild camp by ourselves out in the bush or in the desert and other times we will use designated campsites with amenities. The majority of our wild camp locations are usually very scenic and we always strive to find the perfect spot on the banks of a river, overlooking a canyon, behind a dune in the desert, etc. but sometimes we just have to camp wherever we can find a spot.From past experience on expeditions of this length and nature we have found that people prefer to supply their own tents as they are then not forced to share and they can pick a tent that suits their needs. As a general rule, try and choose a good quality lightweight and waterproof free-standing tent that is easy to erect, take down and carry.When we are not camping (usually in cities) we always try to use decent, clean budget hotels, guest houses and hostels, however, taking into consideration the sometimes unpredictable nature of this expedition and the remoteness of some of the areas we visit, please be aware that in some circumstances we just have to take what we can get – good or bad. When staying in hotels/guest houses/hostels you can expect to share your room with other expedition members of both sexes.In many of the places we stay there are upgrade options available so should you prefer not to camp or you just want some time alone you can often rent yourself a private room at your own expense.

Not included:

Flights

No flights included or expected during this tour.

Others

Personal travel insurancePersonal spending money (£100 – £120 per week recommended)Visas & Letters of Invitation (approximately £800 depending on nationality)LunchesMeals while staying in hotels/guest houses/hostelsAccommodation upgradesEntrance fees to optional sites and parksAny optional activitiesAny flights (no flights expected)Tent, roll mat, sleeping bag & pillow

Optional

Below is a list of the most popular optional excursions along with the most recent prices. Prices can of course change and are not controlled in any way by Madventure so please use the list below as an approximate guide only.GhanaKakum NP canopy walk £10Cape Coast slave fort guided tour £5TogoMuseum of West African Arts £4BeninLake Ganvie boat trip £15CameroonMt. Cameroon 3 day trek £120GabonReserve de la Lope guided walk/jeep tour £35Reserve de la Lope river safari £35Pongara NP day trip £40CongoConkouati NP £200NamibiaSkydiving £160Sandboarding £30Quad-biking £50Game fishing £100Hot air ballooning £300Scenic flight, Sossusvlei £250South AfricaCable car to Table Mountain £15Abseil Table Mountain £60Cage diving with Great White sharks £150Robben Island guided tour £20Stellenbosch wine tour £40

Insurance

It is compulsory that every person who travels with Madventure obtain travel insurance for the complete duration of the tour. Proof of travel insurance must be shown before joining a tour.You may be covered under your credit card’s travel insurance so it might be worth checking with your credit card provider first.There are various travel insurance companies to choose from and a Google search will bring up a vast selection but for a comprehensive reliable policy that includes Covid Cover and Medical Repatriation we recommend a London based company named Campbell Irvine, Telephone: +44 20 7938 1734, https://microsite.campbellirvinedirect.com/madventure/. They are familiar with what we do so if you mention Madventure and the tour you are travelling on they should be able to provide excellent cover for you.For people based in North America a company called Allianz offers good cover – Telephone: +1 866 884 3556, www.allianztravelinsurance.comIf you choose to obtain your travel insurance through another company please ensure you read the small-print and make sure your policy includes Covid Cover and Medical Repatriation.

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Day 1 Day 1-3: Ghana
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 1-3: Ghana

This tour starts in Ghana’s capital Accra which offers us a taste of African big city life. The district of Jamestown’s dishevelled colonial buildings and fishing port are also well worth a visit. Heading inland we visit the Tafi Atome Monkey Sanctuary where you have the chance to get up close & personal with Mona monkeys that will gladly sit on your shoulder as you feed them bananas. Our last stop here is at the beautiful Wli Waterfalls, the tallest in West Africa, where you have the day to hike to the falls and enjoy one of Ghana’s best natural sites.
Day 2 Day 4-10: Togo & Benin
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 4-10: Togo & Benin

Togo is only 50 km wide and on our first day we will visit the artistic town of Kpalime which is famous for its traditional crafts of woodcarving & batik. We continue to the capital Lome where a day out can include visiting the bizarre fetish markets, marvelling at the displays in the Museum of West African Arts and exploring the labyrinths of the colourful Grand Market. Across the border is Benin, the birthplace of voodoo. Here our first day is spent camping on the shores of Lake Aheme and if our luck is in we will get the opportunity to watch the locals perform the traditional Zangbeto voodoo dance for us. The remarkable town of Abomey is our next stop where you can explore the ruined temples and palaces of the Dahomeyan empire. At Lake Ganvie you have the option to take a boat out to a village in the middle of the lake that is home to 30 000 Tofinu people who reside here in stilted bamboo huts. Passing through Cotonou for a brief stop we now head for the Nigerian border.
Day 3 Day 11-19: Nigeria
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 11-19: Nigeria

Abeokuta is our first destination in Nigeria where we visit the Olumo Rock formation, an historical natural fortress used during inter-tribal warfare in the 19th century. In Osogbo we visit the Sacred Grove Forest to explore the sanctuaries, shrines, sculptures & artworks created in honour of Osun, the Goddess of Fertility. In Benin City the national museum offers us an insight into the Benin Empire with a significant amount of ancient artefacts. For those more interested in modern art a walk down Bronze Casters Street will show you some fine bronze works of art. Our last stop here is the lively colonial port town of Calabar where highlights include a visit to the Slave Trade Museum, National Museum and Drill Monkey Ranch.
Day 4 Day 20-27: Cameroon
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 20-27: Cameroon

Our first stop here is at the relaxed beach town of Limbe where you have the option to either take the 3 day trek up Mt. Cameroon (4095m), visit the local primate reserves or just relax on the beach. We continue inland to the capital Yaounde where you can visit the local markets & monasteries and enjoy one of West Africa’s most pleasant cities.
Day 5 Day 28-37: Gabon
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 28-37: Gabon

Situated on the equator we get a real taste of Africa at the Reserve de la Lope where we spend a couple of days in the reserve with the option of game drives or trekking through the forest in search of mandrills, forest elephants and buffalo. In the capital Libreville the National Museum of Arts & Tradition will give you a good insight into local culture. If you are feeling more adventurous you can take a boat over to Pongara National Park, a beautiful mangrove reserve and a favourite spot for nesting turtles where you also have the chance of spotting elephants, chimpanzees & buffalo. In Lamberene we visit Dr Albert Schweitzer’s hospital which is now a museum where we can get an understanding of the Nobel Prize winning work he done here for the African community.
Day 6 Day 38-45: Congo
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 38-45: Congo

Our first 2 days in the friendly Congo are spent on dirt tracks which often turn into thick mud and test our vehicles off-road ability. The small town of Dolisie is a welcome relief where we have a couple of days to get a feel for the local culture and sample the delicious street food. On the coast we visit the red Gorges of Diosso which are referred to as Congo’s Grand Canyon. The local museum is a quaint place that explains the areas history. In the town of Pointe Noire you have the chance to visit the African Circle Museum and also stock up on goods at a rare supermarket. From our base here you also have the option to visit the Conkouati-Douli National Park on an organised tour. This park is a highlight of the Congo where you have a good chance of seeing the thriving chimpanzee population that inhabit the area's islands. The park is also home to elephants, leopards, turtles and gorillas.
Day 7 Day 46-49: Democratic Republic Of Congo (& Cabinda)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 46-49: Democratic Republic Of Congo (& Cabinda)

We have a short day’s travel through the oil rich Angolan exclave of Cabinda before we reach the DRC and encounter more mud tracks on our way to the mighty Congo River. Boma is a bustling little port where you will have the chance to get out and visit a true Congolese river town. We cross over the Congo River via the huge Matadi suspension bridge and spend a day in Matadi town to sample the local fare and explore the bustling markets.
Day 8 Day 50-60: Angola
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 50-60: Angola

The town of Mbanza Kongo is the first Kingdom the original Portuguese navigators discovered and here today you can visit one of the oldest churches in sub-Saharan Africa as well as explore the Royal Museum. Travelling through scenic landscapes we arrive at the impressive Calandula Falls. These falls are one of Africa’s largest waterfalls but because they are so remote they are also rarely visited by tourists so we will most likely have the place to ourselves. The capital city of Luanda offers us some modern convenience as well as a step back in time with wonderful colonial architecture and fabulous historical museums. On our route south we visit the Miradouro de Lua where bizarre rock formations form a sort of mini Grand Canyon stretching out into the Atlantic. A brief stop in the town of Benguela will give you enough time to get a feel for this ancient slave port. Our last stop here is at the cool & picturesque Lubango where Christ the King Statue overlooks the town and the surrounding mountains offer us spectacular views from the Tundavala Gap.
Day 9 Day 61-75: Namibia & South Africa
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 61-75: Namibia & South Africa

Our first stop in Namibia is one of Africa’s greatest wildlife viewing venues, Etosha National Park, where we spend a couple of days driving through the parks desert & bushveld landscapes in search of lions, buffalo, elephant & giraffe, plus many of Africa’s other great mammals. After exiting the park we will then visit a traditional Himba village and get an insight into these indigenous nomads way of life. Near Kamanjab we will be visiting a Cheetah Park where we get to see these incredible animals up close and watch them feeding. On our route to the coast you will have the option to visit a petrified forest with 45m long trunks and also take a guided tour around the bushman rock engravings at Twyfelfontein. The Skeleton Coast is a desolate place and a drive through this wilderness will allow us to see an abandoned oil rig, numerous shipwrecks & a noisey seal colony. Spitzkoppe is ‘Namibia’s Matterhorn’ and the sight of these bold granite outcrops rising dramatically out of the flat surrounding plains make it an awesome spectacle. The adventure sports capital Swakopmund is where you will have the opportunity to go deep-sea fishing, quad-biking, sand-boarding, camel riding & skydiving, or just relax on the deserted beaches and enjoy the German influenced resort towns hospitality. We now head to the iconic towering red sand dunes of the Namib Desert at Sossusvlei where you will have the option to climb the famous Dune 45 for sunrise. The more spirited ones can attempt the climb up the much more arduous Big Daddy dune to get a view over one of the driest landscapes on earth. Our last stop in Namibia is at the awesome Fish River Canyon NP where you will be amazed by one of Africa’s most incredible natural rifts. South Africa’s Cape West Coast offers beautiful landscapes and our last night of the tour is spent here at Highlanders Vineyard where we get a taste of SA’s famous wines and enjoy a traditional farewell dinner. Cape Town is our last port of call where your tour ends upon arrival. Before heading home we recommend you take time to relax and enjoy the area’s attractions such as the nearby penguin colonies, Robben Island, cage diving with sharks and brilliant V&A Waterfront. Not to be missed is a day trip around the Stellenbosch wineries, a must-do for any wine lovers and a divine last taste of Africa!

9 days tour

Ghana To Cape Town Group Overland Tour

This tour includes:

Not included:

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Itinerary of your trip Ghana To Cape Town Group Overland Tour

Day 1-3: Ghana

Day 4-10: Togo & Benin

Day 11-19: Nigeria

Day 20-27: Cameroon

Day 28-37: Gabon

Day 38-45: Congo

Day 46-49: Democratic Republic Of Congo (& Cabinda)

Day 50-60: Angola

Day 61-75: Namibia & South Africa

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