Overland Tour Operators in Africa are resilient to say the least. After all, in the wake of an economic down turn in 2008, most overland companies in Africa disappeared off the face of the earth.

But how were some able to remain?

These companies were savvy when it came to budgeting, online marketing and listening to their customers.

As you may know, I have spent quite a long time on the road and encountered almost every company in the market. With this in mind, the following is a list of the overland tour operators in Africa and some statistics according to Tourradar :

Quick Answer: Top Overland Companies in Africa

G Adventures

Nomad

Acacia

Oasis Overland

Absolute Africa

Africa Travel Company

Dragoman

Needless to say, this is not every single overland tour operator in Africa. However, these are certainly the main players on the scene:

Top Overland Tour Operators in Africa

Nomad Tours Review

Rating: 4.3 /5 Stars

Accommodation: 3/5

Transportation 4/5

Meals 4/5

Guide 5/5

Nomad was formed in the aftermath of an epic adventure. You will find this is often the case with overland tour operators in Africa. Anyway, they have quite a big reputation around the globe and are now one of the biggest overland tour operators in the world.In fact, they have more than forty trucks and forty monthly departures in Africa alone. I would agree that Nomad is a great company which is suited to those aged 30 upwards.

My Rating – 8/10

G Adventures Review

Rating: 4.2 / 5 Stars

Accommodation 4/ 5

Transportation 4/ 5

Meals 4/ 5

Value for money 4/ 5

Guide 4.5 / 5

Oasis Overland Review

Rating – 4.2 / 5 Stars

Number of Reviews – 97

Accommodation 4/ 5

Transportation 4 / 5

Meals 4 / 5

Value for money 4.5 / 5

Guide 4.5 / 5

Oasis are another international company with a base of operations in the UK. The company was started by two overland crew who had been working for another company. Oasis are a great company and they get a lot of business through referrals and word of mouth. You will find many trip options and some of them are immense such as the Trans Africa which takes 40 weeks to travel around the continent. In my opinion, this company is more for the party crowd and budget minded peeps aged between 18 – 30.

My Rating – 7.8/10

Absolute Africa Review

Tourradar Rating: 4.6 / 5 Stars

Accommodation 4.5/ 5

Transportation 4.5 / 5

Meals 4.5 / 5

Value for money 5 / 5

Guide5 / 5

Another company that started after the owner took a mega trip from Cairo to Cape Town. Absolute Africa is the budget tour company. They receive a lot of reviews online which has really put them to the fore in recent years. However, the rating for transportation seems a little exaggerated. While the trips run just fine, some of the equipment leaves a lot to be desired and the trucks are a lot more jaded next to competitors. That being said, if you are on a budget and it’s this or nothing – you will still have an awesome time. In my opinion, Absolute Africa is suited for the super budget minded peeps who do not expect any kind of luxury.

My Rating – 7.5/10

Acacia Review

Tourradar Rating: 4.6 / 5 Stars

Number of Reviews – 197

Accommodation 4.5 / 5

Transportation 4.5 / 5

Meals 5 / 5

Value for money 4.5 / 5

Guide 5 / 5

Acacia have been around for a long time and seem to fall in the middle of the overland tour operators in Africa. That is to say, they are not super budget minded but they are certainly not luxury either. Acacia also have a wide range of options for their tours and plenty of monthly departures. In my experience, the passengers are usually aged between 23 – 35. As for the trucks and equipment, I would rate this as being average. As with most overland tour operators in Africa, the trucks are pretty jaded and could do with a little TLC. Otherwise, great company and relatively affordable.

My Rating – 7.5/10

Dragoman

Tourradar Rating: 4.5/ 5 Stars

Number of Reviews – 65

Accommodation 4.5 / 5

Transportation 4.5 / 5

Meals 4.5 / 5

Value for money 3.5 / 5

Guide 4.5 / 5

Dragoman are huge worldwide and I must say, they do a great job with marketing and getting people excited. They also go to a lot of effort to train their crew and lay out their itineraries. However, they seem to focus on the awesomeness of their trucks quite a lot and I’m not sure this is wise anymore. In other words, the trucks are super worn and while I think this looks awesome, I can see how they might be uncomfortable over long distances. Another thing I never quite liked about Dragoman was the pricing. It would be okay nowadays but back when overlanding was super cheap, Dragoman were charging huge prices for their trips. Passengers of all ages here but sadly, not for me.

ATC (Africa Travel Company)

No Reviews or Ratings on Tourradar