This website is not about what you should buy to travel Africa. It is merely a source of information so that you can go about buying and prepping a vehicle that is right for you. No two vehicles are the same. No two 4x4 owners will pack exactly the same items. But it is important to remember a few key facts that will influence your purchase and subsequent prep.
| What is your budget? |
The sole most important factor. Overland travel is an expensive hobby. Once your vehicle is paid off and your kit bought, its an inexpensive way to travel, but make no mistake; kitting out your vehicle can cost over what you paid for the car in the first place, so factor this into account.
Firstly, buy the best vehicle you can afford. Secondly fit the best tyres money can buy. You can scrimp on the rest. |
| What are you needing the vehicle for? |
Are you going to tranverse the Sahara, or are you bumbling about Botswana sticking to the main roads? |
| Where is it that you are going? |
In each African country, the vehicles found there differ immensely. In Kenya, Landcruisers rule. In Zambia, Landrovers are loved. Its is impossible to get a vehicle that is prolific in every country, but it is possible to find parts for the many vehicles in most places. You don't need secondary tanks for fuel/water in many parts of Southern Africa. |
| What do you want to use the vehicle for when you are not in Africa/on the road? |
A Series III Landrover is wonderful in Africa proper, but hell on the school run or in the middle of winter. You probably don't want to drive your Discovery 3 through the Mara river with water up to your windscreen. It is possible to bridge both needs. |
| Are you mechanically minded? |
Unless you are a mechanic by trade, the rule is: Less is more. Bumps and dust can and will break your vehicle in places that are hard to reach, hard to diagnose, and hard to fix. That part that goes is always the one you didn't bring along. Go for simple engines. If it is comfort you are after, rather put in new seats... And it goes without saying it is worth doing a mechanics course to learn the basics before you set off if you are a novice. |
| How many people will be travelling with you? |
Our original plan was to go through Libya. In prepping our vehicle we had not factored into account that we needed to take a guide. This caused us to change our plans rather than the vehicle layout. |
| Land Rover or Toyota? |
Whilst many other vehicles are becoming more popular amongst transafrica travellers, these two are indeed the most widely used. At the end of the day, it is a personal choice completely. Toyotas are more easy to come by in Africa than in Europe for example, so choice is also down to the geographical location of the driver. |
| The load capacity |
Most travellers make the mistake of overloading their vehicles. If you are a family/group of 4 for eg, your load will be heavier. Different vehicles have different load capacities. |
| Diesel or petrol? |
It is recommended that you chose the diesel option, due to availability and cleanliness of fuel. Whatever your choice, bear in mind that you will need to take a good filter as well as additives. Ever wonder why all cars smoke in Africa? The quality of fuel is much worse than we have in Europe or South Africa. Even if it is clean/safe by local standards. |
| Where do you want to sleep? |
You cannot sleep in the back of a Def 90 or a Discovery I unless you are alone and under 6ft. |
| What are your security requirements? |
Hard top van vs station wagon. |
| Ease of modification |
The older Land Cruisers and Land Rovers (Def & Series) and boxy and easy to modify. Discoverys and later landcruisers are rounded and you can't just bolt stuff to them. But the later vehicles have aircon and other comfy additions. Its a trade-off. |
Here are some examples of packing systems send in by some of our readers. Checklists for kit can be found under the checklists section.
Send us your pics with a little bit of info on your trip/vehicle.
