Backpacking: Africa overland

Every year, hundreds of thousands of people go off on big trips, regarding any problems they encounter on the way as part of the adventure. We've had a look at five classic backpacking itineraries...

Africa overland
Sitting in a truck for nearly two months in baking heat would be some people's idea of torture, but the overland adventure from Nairobi to Cape Town has long been seen as the ultimate backpacking route.

It's never supremely comfortable, but then Africa isn't supposed to be.

Challenge rating (out of 5): 4
Highlights: The big beasts of the Ngorongoro Crater and Serengeti in Tanzania, the massive sand dunes of Namibia, Victoria Falls and adrenaline activies in the Okavango Delta.
Contact: Companies such as Oasis Overland run big expeditions, with the duration dependent on what activities you want to partake in.
Potential Itinerary: Nairobi (Kenya) - Serengeti (Tanzania) - Ngorongoro Crater (Tanzania) - Dar-Es-Salaam (Tanzania) - Lake Malawi (Malawi) - Lake Kariba (Zambia) - Victoria Falls (Zambia) - Okavango Delta (Botswana) - Swakopmund (Namibia) - Cape Town (South Africa).

Be there: Nairobi | Cape Town
Related: World's funkiest parties | Extreme cuisines
Search: African big game | Backpacking in Africa