Overlanding
Thabaphaswa is a popular sleepover destination for overlanders on their way to Botswana, Zimbabwe, East and West Africa, Kruger Park and Mapungubwe.
Overlanding is self-reliant overland travel to remote destinations where the journey is the main goal.
Overlanding, or overland camping, is popular world-wide, but has only recently become popular in South Africa. Local campers caught onto overlanding as international overlanders increasingly started visiting South Africa.
The term “overlander” originated in Australia where it is used for a cattle or sheep herder who drives large herds of animals over long distances to new grazing, railway stations to load the animals, or to the market.
Overlanding is a combination of off-roading, camping, touring and visiting new destinations to enhance one’s experience and knowledge of a country or area. The main goal is to explore and discover, and the pleasure is mainly in the journey.
Although overlanding combines different disciplines of outdoor life, it does not need to include all outdoor experiences. Many overlanders do not do advanced four-wheel driving, while some are keen birders and others not. Some enjoy mountain biking, others hiking, while some are anglers and others photographers.
Overlanding differs from off-roading in the sense that off-roading is about the adventure of rough riding at a destination, whereas overlanding is about the journey, with the different destinations being part of the journey or experience.
The experience is all about being in the great outdoors, enjoying what nature offers, while at the same time learning more about a country.
Vehicles
Overlanding vehicles include four-wheel drive vehicles, trucks, vans and motorbikes. Comfort depends on what vehicle you use.
Accommodation
Overlanders are campers.
Some sleep in their vehicles while others prefer rooftop or other tents or off-road caravans.
Overlanders are campers that enjoy the off-grid experience. To overland effectively a camper needs to be as self-reliant as possible.
In addition to being able to sleep at any destination and make camp at the drop of a hat, overlanders are usually well-equipped with off-grid aids such as sun power, water and water cleansing chemicals, porta potties, field showers, deep cycle batteries and gas bottles.
The more self reliant, the better the overlanding experience.
To get an overview of what overlanders in Southern Africa experience, follow The Overland Forum on Twitter.
How do I start overlanding?
A popular view is that you must be able to do a trip lasting at least 10 days, because overlanding is a repeat of 10 day cycles.
Now, you may work on 14 day or one month cycles, but the basic approach is based on a repeat of cycles. If you approach overlanding in this way, you are set up for success.
Skill sets needed to be an overlander
Problem solving – overlanding by its nature will present you with problems that you will need to solve. These may be mechanical break downs, closed roads, medical emergencies – anything out of the ordinary that disrupts your travels can be a problem that needs to be solved.
Camping
If camping is too rough for you or you can’t adapt to the loss of your comforts, then overlanding is not for you.
If you, however, find pleasure in being out in nature, like to meet new people and encounter new cultures, then you will enjoy overlanding.
People who have never camped, should first do a camping weekend to see what it entails. Don’t go camping to “see what it is like” only to suffer from being unprepared, and then deciding that “camping is not for me”. We would advise newbies to camp with an experienced family or group, so that they can teach you the basics that makes camping a joy.
Driving
Any vehicle can be used for overlanding, but your vehicle will dictate which routes you can take and which places can be reached.
If your vehicle is mechanically sound and you have the basic technical accessories to deal with emergency repairs, you should be able to start overlanding.
Navigation
Plan your trip.
Many people brag about their travels done without pre-planning, but it’s not a good idea for a beginner overlander.
Know where you are going, how to get there, emergency services available en-route and how you will deal with unexpected events.
When you start overlanding, it is a good idea to start local. In South Africa, a one night stand such as a weekend in a 200 or 300km radius from home, may be just the right way to start your new hobby.
Although it is not written for South Africa specifically, you can read more in this blog post.
Once you decide that overlanding is how you want to spend your vacations and add adventure to your life, you can approach the hobby more seriously.
Overlander accessories
You will need:
- a well-kept fourwheel-drive vehicle
- rooftop or other tent if you cannot sleep inside your vehicle or off-road caravan
- cooler or off-grid fridge
- storage for everything you need to take with you
- cookware and utensils
- GPS
- two-way radio’s if you need to communicate with other vehicles
- recovery tools
- off-grid lights
- a camera to save memories and the tools of your hobby such as mountain bikes and fishing rods.
Do not upgrade your vehicle or gear before you know that overlanding is what you want to do. The enjoyment of overlanding does not depend on expensive gear and imported gadgets. If your vehicle cannot go where you want to go, it is time for a vehicle upgrade – not before.
Do challenge yourself so that you will grow in your experience, but do not take risks that you won’t be able to deal with if something goes wrong.
Do build a list of camping gear you need or find valuable. After a few overlanding trips, you will know what you need to take and what only adds weight but no value.
Visit Thabaphaswa on your overlanding trip
Foreign overlanders
Thabaphaswa lies in the fork of the main routes to the North namely the N1 and N11.
It is also a great venue for novice overlanders who want to test their preparedness for overlanding, because it is in the bush (no electricity and very limited mobile phone reception), but also near “civilisation”, should you forget something or realise that you need something to enhance your overlanding experience.
Overseas visitors often start at OR Tambo Airport where they collect their rented 4X4 vehicle. They usually arrive around 16:00 at Thabaphaswa. (See the OR Tambo/Thabaphaswa route map below.)
Most foreign overlanders camp, but some book the Cot House (the Pump House was popular but unfortunately it was gutted in a fire). The Cot House has an annexed camping site which shares the Lapa and ablutions.
People who stay in The Cot House also often book the traditional dinner offered by Thabaphaswa and prepared by our staff.
After a single night sleep-over (or sometimes a few days to rest properly), overlanders then travel on to Botswana, Mapungubwe or Kruger Park.
Overlanders who travel the Groblersbrug/Martins Drift border post route (map below), cross the Limpopo at Groblersbrug and overnight at the Rhino Sanctuary or camping venues North of Francistown in Botswana.
Some overlanders travel to the Tuli Block in the South Eastern corner of Botswana. These overlanders travel from Thabaphaswa to Alldays (map below) and cross the border at one of the smaller border posts on the Limpopo River.
Overlanders on their way to Mapungubwe National Park, or the Northern parts of Kruger National Park, mainly use the N1 route from Thabaphaswa. (map below)
We often find that overlanders on their way back from Botswana, Mapungubwe or Kruger, stay at least one night at Thabaphaswa. They use this time to hike in the mountains, clean their gear and vehicles or rest before their trip back home.
Many overlanders become repeat visitors and valued friends of Thabaphaswa.
South African overlanders
Our local overlanders mostly come from Kwa-Zulu Natal with many from the Western Cape and other parts of South Africa.
Gauteng overlanders overnight at Thabaphaswa to “clean their souls” before crossing the border to Botswana late in the day to camp just inside Botswana.
Overlanding can be a very satisfying experience, and Thabaphaswa would like to help you make your experience unforgettable.
