On the blog...
Here on the blog you’ll find (at least some of) our stories from the road, plus itineraries and plenty of first-hand advice that we like to think is useful.
Obvious exceptions like Turkmenistan or Bhutan aside, we travel on our own, sorting out the details as we go. Which works most of the time. Story, guide, or trip-report-hybrid, I write about what really happens to us as a direct result of this kind of independent travel. What we do, the people we meet, and everything else that rolls up together to make a great trip (…or not. But mostly great).
Since we travel by road (or rail, or sea) most of the time, there’s a lot of exactly that here – getting around on local transport in one form or another. And for some of our best self-driving adventures, I’ve laid out our itineraries and how to plan a similar road trip for yourself.
This type of travel inevitably involves more than a few border-crossings. So you’ll find plenty of posts explaining the ins-and-outs of some of the more complicated borders we’ve come across.
If you’re irresistibly drawn to the endless adventures and challenges that come with overland travel, then have a look below. Happy travels:)
Africa’s Wild West: The Road to Sierra Leone
There are two ways to get into Sierra Leone: the normal way, and the way we went. Here’s how we crossed the border from a remote corner of Guinea, and ended up in a National Park with a goat for Christmas dinner.
Special Interest Holidays: Travels in Guinea
After some fabulous days in the Bijagos Archipelago and a private flight back to the mainland, we were ready to take on the overland journey into Guinea…or so we thought.
Guinea Bissau: It’s Complicated
Travelling around independently in Guinea-Bissau can be complicated, but the islands in the Bijagos Archipelago are so worth the trouble.
Toubabs on the Road: Hiring a Motorbike in the Casamance
We wanted to go to Cap Skirring, a town on the beach, and every tout in the vicinity knew it too, making our journey more difficult. But once we got there, we hired our own bike and went exploring. If you don’t puncture the tire and run out of gas, it’s a great way to get around. And even if you do – it’s a lot of fun anyway.
West Africa: It’s Nice to be Nice
We started off in Dakar, Senegal. Travelling by public transport towards Freetown, our roadtrip took us right through the Gambia, ‘The Smiling Coast’ of Africa. Why go around it when you can go through it?
Cairo to Cape Town
We set off with one-way tickets to Cairo. We didn’t have an itinerary – just the idea that we’d head south and try to make it to Cape Town. And we did. Here are some of the highlights from a trip down the length of a continent.
South Africa: a Trip Within a Trip
Vineyards, safaris and road tripping. When we finally came rattling in from Mozambique to South Africa on an old minibus, it felt like an entirely different trip.
Mozambique: Welcome to the Brazil of Africa
Mozambique. Divine scenery, a relaxed and easygoing atmosphere. Long, serene beaches that are as yet mostly undeveloped and unspoilt.
The Great Stone House: Where Zimbabwe Got its Name
Masvingo, Zimbabwe. Not much of a town in and of itself, but home to the ancient Great Stone Houses that gave Zimbabwe its name.