How Much Does It Really Cost to Go Overlanding in Africa? Here’s the Breakdown
“But how much did it cost?” That’s the question I get most after telling stories about my 10+ 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!
Skip those fancy $100,000 overland rigs – a trusty 2015 Land Cruiser costs $25,000 used and hasn’t failed anyone yet. Last year, 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:
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:
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:
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:
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
Check out this guy’s video on how he plans his overland trips in Africa!
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
Making It Work For You
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. 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.
If you have any more questions about this topic or other ones, feel free to ask them in the comments section below and I wish you happy travels!
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!
