Finding an affordable vehicle for Overlanding in Africa can be the hardest part of the trip planning process. Aside from navigating the rules of a foreign country, trying to rent a vehicle can be quite expensive. A Toyota Hilux with five seats and two rooftop tents can cost $135 USD per day, or $4,000 per month. This does not include insurance or other fees.
Buying, and then selling a vehicle afterwards isn’t much easier. You run the risk of buying something that has issues and will break down, and there is no guarantee you can sell it quickly when it’s time to leave.
Plus, if you’re getting the vehicle in South Africa where you have the most options, foreigners can’t insure vehicles. So, unless you have a local friend to help out, that option is nearly impossible.
The Best Way To Get An Overlanding Vehicle in South Africa
Thankfully, we found the perfect solution with Africa Overlanders. We got a great off-road vehicle that could handle most everything for just $1,400 per month, including repairs.
Africa Overlanders offers a unique buy-back program where they sell vehicles at cost and handle the insurance and licensing. When you return, they charge a service fee and repair any damage (because, trust us, you will damage it!). The labor rates they charge is fair and affordable, and their skilled mechanics can get a vehicle road-ready in just a few days.
Beyond that, they are also a fun family—adventurers themselves who offer camping and accommodation on their property. They originally started by helping travelers import vehicles, then expanded into mechanical services, full rebuilds, and eventually, a fleet of high-quality overlanders.
See the vehicle we got from them and follow our Africa Trip 2023 episodes here. And if you’d like to read about our three month trip to Africa with our three girls, check out our post.
Feel free to share any insights in the comments, ask us some questions, and share the excitement for family adventures in Africa! We’d love to hear what worked and what didn’t work for you.
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