OVERLANDING is the ultimate travel style for those seeking adventure. Crossing land borders from one country into another in your own vehicle gives you a perspective that you can't experience when you fly in and out of airports.
Africa is a continent full of amazing sights and sounds. It is abundant with wildlife and offers breathtaking views and landscapes.
I felt my senses were heightened in a way quite unexplainable — maybe it was because I realised I was a little further down the food chain than I thought.
It is a surreal moment when an elephant raises its trunk to acknowledge your presence in the wild; or when you spot a hippo coming out of a lake, not realising how much of it was hidden underwater. Or even a pride of lioness on a hunt.
The people of Africa are proud of their cultures and traditions, which are deep and diverse.
Thomas Foo, fondly known as Tango, of 4x4 World Explorer, has been organising overland expeditions for more than 30 years, crossing the seven continents multiple times.
One of Malaysia's pioneer overlanders, he has crossed hundreds of land borders and will be leading Trans Africa VII scheduled for Oct 1 to Nov 23.
The convoy of overland-capable four-wheel drive vehicles and motorcycles will go on a 10,000km journey through six countries over a period of 54 days.
The vehicles will be shipped into Durban, South Africa — the start and end points of the expedition — with the convoy passing through South Africa, Lesotho, Namibia, Zambia, Botswana and Eswatini.
I cannot begin to say how much time and effort it takes to plan and coordinate an adventure like this. But with the experience and knowledge that Foo has gained over the years, and with the support of Steven Ng, Mohd Assir and Bee Heong, Trans Africa VII is set to be yet another amazing journey.
Participants can look forward to an adventure of a lifetime, including the journey up and down Leotho's Sani Pass and Maletsunyane Falls; South Africa's Gariep Dam and the vineyards of Upington in the Northern Cape; the Augrabies Falls National Park that's also known to the Khoi people as "Aukoerebis", or the Place of Great Noise; and Namibia's Sossusvlei, where salt and clay pans are surrounded by high red sand dunes in the Southern Namib Desert.
Ais Ais, which translates to "Burning Water", is a hot spring located in Namibia's Fish River Canyon and the Ugab River where there is a good chance to see wild elephants in the dry season.
The Epupa Falls, on the Namibian-Angolan border, is another amazing sight to look forward to.
In the middle of the dry savanna of Botswana, Foo will take the convoy through the Makgadikgadi Pan, one of the largest salt flats in the world and then to the Okavango Delta.
The Victoria Falls, on the borders between Zambia and Zimbabwe, is one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World and known to the locals as "Mosi-oa-Tunya", or the smoke that thunders. You have to see it to understand why.
From there, the convoy will head back to South Africa and into the famous Kruger National Park before heading into the Kingdom of Eswatini (formerly Swaziland), known for its skilled craftsmanship in making glassware, candles and handwoven products, and the infamous Black Mamba Chili Sauce.
"Travel broadens the mind and opens your heart and purifies your soul," said Foo. "You see different cultures and it makes you a better person."
His previous expeditions under 4x4 World Explorer are Trans Mongolia 2019, Trans Amazon 2019, Trans Andes 2018, Trans Africa 2017, Trans Scandinavia 2015, Trans Asia and Trans Siberia 2014, Trans Outback Australia 2013, Trans Africa 2011, Trans Amazon 2010, South America 2010 and Antarctica 2010.