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:)

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.

A Shortcut Through ZimZam
There is a bridge over the Zambezi river that connects Zambia and Zimbabwe. You can visit the amazing Victoria Falls on either country’s side, or both.

Getting There is Half the Fun: Local Transport in Ethiopia
Ethiopia is a big country. The roads are bad; distances are long. It’s an understatement to say that public transport here is not for the faint of heart.

Ethiopia – T.I.A
This Is Africa (or Ethiopia, anyway). Trekking and camping in Simien National Park; Lalibela’s rock-hewn churches; stunning nature and busy Addis Ababa.

Sudan to Ethiopia: Behind the Rope
Crossing the border on foot from Gallabat to Metama, Sudan to Ethiopia. But first: Khartoum’s Omdurman souk, whirling dervishes, and one last cup of tea.