“But how much did it cost?” That’s the question I get most after telling stories about my 30+ overlanding trips across Africa. Well, grab your calculator – I’m spilling all my budget secrets, from $30 camping nights to those surprise mechanic bills when an elephant decides your vehicle looks suspicious!
The Basic Vehicle Setup
Skip those fancy $100,000 overland rigs – my trusty 2015 Land Cruiser cost $25,000 used and hasn’t failed me yet. Last month, I met a couple who spent $150,000 on a custom rig, only to struggle to find someone who could fix their high-tech systems in rural Tanzania. Here’s what you need:
Essential Vehicle Costs:
- Reliable 4×4: $20,000-30,000 (used)
- Basic camping setup: $2,000-3,000
- Vehicle modifications: $3,000-5,000
- Spare parts kit: $1,000
- Recovery gear: $500
- Basic tools: $300
Pro Tip: That flashy new Defender might look Instagram-worthy, but good luck finding parts in rural Zambia. Stick to Toyota or Land Rover – they’re everywhere in Africa.
Daily Running Costs
After 287 nights of Overlanding (yes, I counted!), here’s what you’ll spend per day:
Budget Setup ($75-100/day):
- Camping fees: $15-30
- Fuel: $30-50
- Food/Supplies: $20
- Border fees: $10 (averaged)
- Miscellaneous: $10
Mid-Range Setup ($150-200/day):
- Mix of camping/lodges: $50-80
- Fuel: $30-50
- Better meals/supplies: $40
- Activities/guides: $50
- Park fees: $30-50
The Hidden Money Pits
Nobody talks about these, but they’ll eat your budget alive. Last year, I watched a family’s dream trip fall apart because they hadn’t budgeted for these sneaky expenses:
Border Crossings:
- Carnet de Passage: $500-1000 deposit
- Visa fees: $30-150 per country
- Insurance: $50-100 per country
- “Express processing fees” (wink): $10-20
- Copies and photos: $5-10
Vehicle Maintenance:
- Pre-trip service: $500
- Monthly check-ups: $100
- Emergency repairs: Keep $1000 ready!
- Tire repairs: $20-50 each time
My Biggest Money-Saving Secrets
After blowing my budget in my early days (those Namibian craft markets are tempting!), here’s what I’ve learned:
Camping Hacks:
- iOverlander app shows free camping spots
- Community campsites are often half the price of national parks
- Negotiate long-term stays – I once got 50% off for a week-long stay
- Make friends with local farmers – they often let you camp for free
Fuel Strategy:
- Fill up in major cities
- Carry extra fuel for remote areas (cheaper than rural prices)
- Track your consumption – different terrains eat different fuel
- Join local WhatsApp groups for fuel availability updates
The Emergency Fund Truth
Here’s what no one tells you – budget 30% extra for surprises. Real examples from my trips:
- Broken suspension in Botswana: $700
- New tires after Mozambique’s roads: $800
- Bribe to speed up border crossing (I’m not proud): $50
- Towing from muddy marsh: $200
- Emergency medical visit: $150
Country-by-Country Breakdown
Based on my recent 3-month trip:
South Africa:
- Daily costs: $80-100
- Fuel: Cheapest in the region
- Camping: $20-30/night
- Excellent infrastructure
- Grocery costs: Reasonable
Namibia:
- Daily costs: $100-120
- Fuel: Moderate
- Camping: $15-25/night
- Long distances = high fuel costs
- Water costs in the desert: Plan!
Botswana:
- Daily costs: $120-150
- Fuel: Expensive
- Camping: $30-50/night
- Park fees add up quickly
- High-quality campsites
Essential Money-Saving Tips
- Cook your own meals (I saved $1000/month)
- Buy bulk supplies in major cities
- Use local SIM cards for data
- Join overlanding Facebook groups for shared costs
- Travel slow – rushing burns fuel and money
- Learn basic vehicle maintenance
Seasonal Price Hacks
High Season (June-October):
- Book camps 6 months ahead
- Prices up to 50% higher
- Better road conditions = less vehicle strain
- More overlanders to share tips with
Low Season (November-May):
- Up to 40% cheaper
- More negotiating power
- BUT prepare for rain and repairs
- Fewer crowds = more authentic experience
Communication & Tech Costs
Here’s something most blogs won’t tell you about – staying connected isn’t cheap, but it’s essential:
Monthly Tech Expenses:
- Local SIM cards: $10-20 per country
- Data packages: $30-50 per month
- Satellite phone rental: $50-100/month (recommended for remote areas)
- GPS maps updates: $50-100 per region
- Emergency beacon subscription: $15/month
Pro Tip: I’ve found Mozambique and Zimbabwe have the priciest data, while Kenya and South Africa offer the best value. Buy your SIM cards in official stores, not at borders – trust me on this one!
Hidden Insurance Costs
Don’t skip these – I learned the hard way after a run-in with a very determined hippo:
Essential Coverage:
- Vehicle insurance: $500-1000/year
- Medical evacuation insurance: $300-500/trip
- Travel insurance: $200-400/trip
- Equipment insurance: $200-300/year
- Border crossing insurance: Varies by country
Money Management Tips
Banking in Africa requires strategy. Here’s how I handle it:
Smart Banking:
- Multiple credit cards (different banks)
- Emergency cash in USD (at least $500)
- Money belt for border crossings
- Western Union account as a backup
- Local bank account if staying 3+ months
Group Cost-Sharing Strategies
Traveling solo? Here’s how to reduce costs:
- Join overlanding groups on Facebook and WhatsApp
- Share convoy costs (recovery equipment, guides)
- Split campsite fees with other travelers
- Bulk food shopping with other Overlanders
- Share mechanical knowledge and tools
Unexpected Cost Savings
Some surprising ways I’ve saved money:
Local Knowledge:
- Learn basic vehicle repairs (saved $2000+ last year)
- Make friends with local mechanics
- Join community events for free entertainment
- Trade skills for camping fees (I taught English)
- Use local markets instead of supermarkets
The Truth About Time vs Money
The slower you travel, the cheaper it gets. My cost breakdown:
3 Months Trip:
- Average daily cost: $150
- Total: $13,500
6 Months Trip:
- Average daily cost: $120
- Total: $21,600
12 Months Trip:
- Average daily cost: $100
- Total: $36,500
The longer you stay, the more you save per day – you’ll drive less, negotiate better rates, and find local deals.
Making It Work For You
Remember those lions I mentioned? Well, I’ve watched plenty of overlanders roll up in their shiny new rigs, only to head home early because they blew their budget on unnecessary gear. Africa doesn’t care about your vehicle’s brand or how many gadgets you’ve got. What matters is preparation, patience, and a realistic budget.
The best trips I’ve had weren’t the ones where I spent the most money. They were the ones where I spent smart – investing in experiences rather than things. Like that time I skipped a fancy lodge to camp in a Maasai village instead. Sure, the shower was a bucket of cold water, but the stories around the campfire? Priceless.
The African Way
Africa will teach you to be flexible with your money and your plans. That budget you carefully planned? An elephant might have other ideas. But that’s the beauty of overlanding this magnificent continent – every unexpected expense comes with an unforgettable story. And really, isn’t that what you’re paying for?
Hello Africa travellers!
Who am I? Well, the least you can say is that I am quite crazy about Africa, its nature, its climate, its culture, and more.
As a young woman in my twenties, I had already traveled to several African countries by traveling along in an overlander on my own and mostly camping ( or glamping ) and just fell in love with the diversity of it all.
So much, so that at the age of 26, I went back to university to study biology, which, unfortunately, I couldn’t finish because of health reasons (yes, I got sick from a tropical disease, oh cynicism). But this did not stop my dream of traveling back to Africa several times, and I still do.
My dream was back then to leave Europe and go study animal behavior, especially the elephants (sure, that’s every girl’s dream haha), but I am also very much intrigued by hyenas and other “ugly African animals“.
So, I “kind of” have a little bit of a scientific approach to my articles, when I write about African birds, for example. And most of all: the passion.
But life goes on, you move from one side of the country to the other, you get sick again and top it off with lower back problems, and before you know it, you are over 50 hahaha!
Now, I still travel to Africa, but take it a bit “easier” than the good old camping days, and stay in comfortable, yet affordable accommodations, together with my husband Wouter.
These are some of the countries I have traveled to: Kenya, Tanzania, Zanzibar, Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Tunisia, and a little bit of Lesotho LOL .
While clearly not being African territory, but Spanish, I also visited Gran Canaria and Tenerife, and location-wise, I consider them “African”, because of their climate and nature, sue me :-p
The last trip I took was to South Africa in the year 2023, and it sure got the fevers for Africa back! From the Barberton mountains to the Drakensberg and the Southcoast, one month wasn’t enough at all to see the whole country, so we’ll be back! At ease and with a little bit more luxury than in my younger days haha!
I wish you happy travels!
Kind regards
Lizzy