Overlanding is adventure travel in all its glory. It caters to those seeking escapades in nature’s wilderness. Be it a leisurely weekend sojourn into a woodland oasis or an elite exploration into the farthest recesses of our terra firma, overlanding is for the young and old alike!
Whether it’s majestic mountain passes or muddy terrain, successful preparation for your trip means having both the right 4X4 vehicle and all your outdoor equipment.
Origins
Traditionally, overlanding was a vehicle-centric, vehicle-supported expeditionary adventure that lasted weeks, months and even years. Today, powered by evolving technology over the decades, it has reinvented itself as a leisure pursuit, a recreational activity offering only the thrills and challenges.
A four wheel drive vehicle with the right accessories generally means you can access obscure places and be self-sufficient while you travel. However, it’s easy to fantasise about building the absolute ultimate overland rig and heading off round the world on your own. It’s not going to suit every aspiring overlander though – particularly if you’re new to the concept, or just want an easy, fuss-free start without the detailed preparation. A guided overland adventure might be a better fit for you.
It originated in Australia, where cattle drove over great distances across the Outback. It was later adopted by road builders using vehicles to forge paths through mountains.
Purpose
The spirit and techniques of overlanding and expedition travel represent more than just a means of reaching a destination. They embody a particular approach to travel that fulfils a human desire for exploration by taking the traveler into the wildest and most inaccessible places. Overlanding also encourages self-reliance and gives travellers the satisfaction that comes from conquering challenging terrain on their own.
The true appeal of overland travel is adventuring on routes that surely push an overlander’s skillset to its limits. Be it the difficulty of the terrain, remote culture or even extreme weather. That being said, a great overland journey depends on having everything you need all the time. The full-size spare, camping gear and supplies, food, a first-aid kit, every future need foreseen (literally). The list goes on.
An expedition cruise allows you to experience the same level of satisfaction. visiting far-flung places you otherwise couldn’t access by land or air, with the added value of cultural exchange and education.
Equipment
While overlanding is simply recreational travel, it differs from other popular forms of travel such as backpacking or cruise ship vacations in several important ways. Not only does it provide leisure-seekers with opportunities to spend time in nature and learn new skills that promote independence and self sufficiency, but it also increases access to otherwise hard-to-access places that many people would never visit otherwise.
A typical overland vehicle is often fitted with add-on gear to increase comfort and usefulness for conducting an overland expedition including sleeping bags/beds/pads/shelter/tarpaulin/tents, cooking gear, utensils and communicational tools. Sometimes, additional cargo storage solutions or recovery kit may be installed in case you get stuck on obstacles or just lift yourself over obstacles.
You can’t be an overlander without winches, which can get you unstuck and save money on repair or tire replacement. Satellite communications ensure your safety in remote places while power sources keep your devices’ juice flowing. Lighting ensures your eyes function best in the conditions you’re moving through.
Safety
Overlanding and expedition-travel experiences promote a great sense of adventure. However, for overlanding travel to be accomplished safely and responsibly, certain basic safety precautions should be followed before embarking on your upcoming overlanding trip – from overlanding gear you should have on hand for your vehicle of choice such as a car/camper or a motorcycle, or even a bicycle as well as knowing basic motor vehicle-maintenance practices and off-road driving skills . Joining an overlanding club or online ‘community’ will surely help with all the tips and tricks from experiences from fellow overlanding enthusiasts!
Do your pre-planning ahead of time . research trail conditions, acquire any hard-to-get visas, and invest in good reliable tires, a cooler and recovery gear. But also have an escape plan . Pack those extra gallons of water, supplies of food, and fuel and maybe invest in a signal booster too, so you can keep the whole world informed about your exploits and never leave hardly a footprint on any natural area!
