.JPG)
Featured
OFFROAD-TRAVEL · AFRICA
TransAfrica 4x4 Expedition on the West Route
Transafrika Expedition means for you: 55 days on the Transafrika West Route from Tübingen to the Cape of Good Hope. As a 4x4 Africa Crossing, the route takes you through the High Atlas, the Sahara, along the Ivory Coast, and through dense jungle to South Africa.
How long?
55 Days
When?
Dec 27, 2026
Price
€ 9,899
/ Person
The Journey
TransAfrica West Route: 4x4 Expedition to Cape Town
Your Transafrica Expedition starts with the initial meeting at OVERCROSS in Tübingen, or directly at the Strait of Gibraltar. This 4x4 Africa Crossing takes you on approximately 16,000 kilometers in 55 days from Europe through Morocco, the Sahara, and West Africa to Central Africa, Angola, Namibia, and South Africa, where the destination awaits at the Cape of Good Hope.
As a 4x4 Vehicle Expedition Africa, this journey is not a classic package tour: There is no guarantee of fixed daily stages, accommodations, or route plans. The route and schedule are shaped along the way, under sometimes unpredictable conditions. You need self-responsibility, technical preparation, improvisational spirit, and the willingness to adapt to changing conditions. Participation in the expedition does not constitute a package tour according to §651a BGB.
Before departure, you will meet your travel companions: The preliminary meeting takes place two days before the official start of the trip at OVERCROSS in Tübingen. A second meeting point is in Málaga, a third in Marrakech, for those who wish to arrive earlier. From Tübingen, you will roll through Lyon, Barcelona, and Málaga to Gibraltar and take the ferry across to Africa.
You can join in three ways: with your own off-road vehicle, as a passenger in the support vehicle from OVERCROSS, or with an off-road vehicle provided by OVERCROSS for the simple route from Tübingen to Cape Town, including camping equipment, tent, cooler, aluminum boxes, and a navigation device on board. You can choose either a Land Rover Defender 130 CC or a Toyota Hilux Pickup. Mandatory modifications to your own vehicle are not necessary; all-terrain tires are completely sufficient. With the expedition information, you will receive suggestions on what is sensible to have in or on your vehicle.
Along the way, you will be accompanied by an experienced expedition leader, on-site in the guide vehicle and online via satellite tracker connection. This includes day-by-day routing for groups and individual drivers, satellite phone, tools and cooler in the guide vehicle, maps for the entire Africa crossing, a tour folder with equipment and packing lists, as well as support for visa questions, border crossings, and the Carnet de Passage through the external partner ADAC. Upon request, weekly location and status reports can be sent to your relatives, and there will be a follow-up meeting after your return.
Accommodation, local airport transfers, vehicle liability insurance (ECOWAS Brown Card), and the organization of the return transport of your vehicle are offered externally as an ALL-IN package by PR-Services, calculated and organized. These services are explicitly not part of the Transafrica Expedition. You will find all details regarding participation fees, options, and external services further down in the Service section.
If you are more intrigued by the other side of the continent, you will find the 4x4 Offroad Trips in Africa also featuring the Transafrica Go EAST Expedition through the eastern route. Ready for your Transafrica Expedition? Secure your spot now on the Transafrica West route to Cape Town.
Key Highlights of the Trip
Key Highlights of the Trip
01
Start of the adventure journey
01
Start of the adventure journey
The expedition begins on December 26 at 5 a.m. in Germany.
02
Wine hikes in France
02
Wine hikes in France
Experience the wine country of France with premium French wines for your journey.
03
Culinary Night in Spain
03
Culinary Night in Spain
Enjoy an overnight stay with Chris featuring delicious paella near the Pyrenees.
04
Morocco: New Year's Eve in the Kasbah
04
Morocco: New Year's Eve in the Kasbah
Celebrate New Year's Eve in a Kasbah fortress overlooking Marrakech and the Atlas Mountains.
05
Gorilla encounters in the Congo
05
Gorilla encounters in the Congo
Visit the impressive gorillas in the Congo and experience an exciting speedboat ride through the jungle. Our project supports local initiatives for the conservation of these majestic animals and provides a deep understanding of the challenges of conservation in this unique region. Immerse yourself in the adventure and biodiversity of Congolese nature!
Days 1-17
Transafrica Expedition through Germany & Spain
Your Transafrika Expedition starts on December 26 at 5 a.m. at OVERCROSS in Tübingen. Via Lyon, Barcelona, and Málaga, you roll to Gibraltar. After about 2,500 kilometers, there is breakfast at the Rock in “England,” toast included. Then it’s only 10 kilometers to the ferry to Africa.
The 4x4 expedition across Morocco
After the crossing, you traverse the green northwest region, known as Morocco's vegetable pantry. In Marrakech, there is a full day for the old town, souks, and tanneries. At the Djemaa el Fna, you let yourself be carried away among jugglers and spices. The next day, you head over the Tizi-n-Test Pass into the Atlas Mountains and continue south along old Dakar tracks. Overnight stay in a kasbah in the desert sand, with the starry sky instead of Netflix.
The 4x4 expedition crosses the Western Sahara
The road leads along the rugged Atlantic coast. You pass Tan-Tan and reach the resource-rich region of Guelmin Oued Noun. Western Sahara is internationally disputed: Since 1991, a ceasefire has been in place between the Polisario and Morocco. You reach El Aaiún, the largest city in Western Sahara with around 218,000 inhabitants, and continue through sandy plains and rocky desert landscapes on kilometers of straight roads.
Transafrica Expedition through Mauritania
Continue south towards Dakar, the eponymous city of the legendary rally. You cross the border into Senegal on a small river ferry and pass through the charming colonial city of Saint-Louis, where the Senegal River flows into the Atlantic. You are now in the Sahel zone, the transitional region between the Sahara and dry savanna, and enjoy an evening meal by the sea under palm trees.
Transafrica Expedition following the tracks of the Paris Dakar Rally
Dakar is legendary for the Paris-Dakar rally, which first started in 1979 and over decades led through Europe and North Africa to the beach of Dakar, not far from Lac Rose. A mix of perfectly built highways and stuffy, dusty tracks takes your off-road vehicle expedition today through open savannah landscapes. From Koungheul, the route leads through dense forests and vast grasslands into the interior.
The 4x4 off-road expedition crosses Guinea
Through a small border post, you reach Guinea, a country full of challenges, traditional villages, and scarce gas stations. At the Fouta-Djalon Plateau near the Tinkisso River, a fuel depot awaits to cross the country. Guinea fascinates with rainforests in the south and dry savannas in the north. The population is young, hospitable, and ethnically diverse. Depending on your fuel, you will reach Kankan, the third-largest city in Guinea.
Off the Road through the Ivory Coast
Continuing on a challenging route to Sopota, a remote oasis in the midst of wilderness. Depending on the group dynamics, the route takes you over paved roads or more adventurous tracks through sandy landscapes and mangrove forests until you reach the Atlantic coast. There, you will end the day in a small lodge by the beach, with freshly grilled fish and the salty scent of the sea.
The SUV Expedition Group reaches Ghana
Welcome to Ghana. Along the South Atlantic, you drive through authentic fishing villages before heading through endless construction sites towards Accra, a tough stage that challenges you physically and mentally. In Accra, you spend the night in a simple accommodation run by "Bella" near an industrial area. Here you schedule a buffer day for maintenance or repairs, just a stone's throw from a workshop.
TransAfrica expedition through Togo and Benin - The coast of Voodoo
Let's go Voodoo: You cross Togo, the country of origin of the Voodoo religion. In Porto-Novo, the capital of Benin, you pass the Parliament building and soon reach Cotonou. There, a lodge awaits you right by the South Atlantic. While enjoying good food, you discuss the upcoming route at sunset before the jump into chaos follows the next day.
Questions about the tour itinerary?
Our tour guide is happy to answer any questions about the day-by-day route, stops, and details.
Transafrica Expedition reaches Nigeria - The gateway to hell?
At the border to Nigeria, it is said: Stay calm. In the late afternoon, you will reach Lagos, internally also known as the "Gateway to Hell." You check into a five-star hotel, where the manager organizes the complex transit. Every ten kilometers, there are checkpoints with passport and vehicle inspection. After that, the route leads through fertile farmland to sparsely populated areas up to the border to Cameroon.
The 4x4 Transafrica Expedition reaches Cameroon
In the morning, the barriers rise to Cameroon. It will be hot and humid, and a spectacular off-road passage through the mostly deforested jungle in northern Cameroon awaits. After a last night outdoors, you reach Yaoundé and treat yourself to a shower at the four-star hotel. Here, a mechanic from France is waiting to service the vehicles before the toughest off-road stages to the border of the Republic of Congo follow.
The 4x4 Transafrica expedition has reached the Republic of Congo
The barrier rises, you reach the Republic of Congo, also known as Congo-Brazzaville. In the Odzala-Kokoua National Park, one of the oldest national parks in Africa, flatland gorillas still live. With two rangers, you travel up the river by boat and after about ten kilometers come across a small gorilla population. Back at the camp, you leave a donation for the rangers after dinner.
Short sopp over in DRC "Democratic" Republic of Congo
On the opposite side of the Congo River lies Kinshasa, also referred to as "Hell City" on the tour. You cross the Congo on a direct route through the Democratic Republic of the Congo and reach the border with Angola after two days.
The Transafrica Expedition Offroad convoy crosses Angola:
You reach the coastal landscape of Angola, passing by lonely beaches and quiet fishing villages. In Luanda, the capital, you get fuel and food for the upcoming 1,700 kilometers to the Namibian border. The city is one of the most expensive in the world and combines colonial architecture with vibrant nightlife. Next, you continue along the coast to the charming port city of Lobito.
To the highlands of Angola
Your SUV journey continues into the highlands of Angola. In Lubango, you will visit the Tundavala Gorge, a spectacular viewpoint in the Serra da Leba region, offering a wide view of the landscape. Through the savanna of Angola, you will finally continue to the Namibian border.
NAMIBIA the penultimate country of the TransAfrica off-road vehicle expedition.
In Etosha National Park, you will take a game drive through the diverse wildlife. The approximately 22,000 square kilometer protected area is one of the most significant wildlife reserves in Africa. After that, it continues to Windhoek, the capital of Namibia and once the capital of German South-West Africa. Here the relaxed part of the journey begins, before you continue to the Namib-Naukluft National Park.
South Africa the last country of the TransAfrica Off-Road Vehicle Group
You cross the border into South Africa and reach Neilersdrift, the landscape along the Orange River is picturesque. Through the Swartberg region with its historic pass road, you reach the southernmost point of the expedition: the Cape of Good Hope. A toast to one of the most challenging expeditions of OVERCROSS! On the last day, you hand over the vehicles to the shipping company and celebrate the completion with a festive dinner in Cape Town.
Want a detailed description of all tour days?
Our expert will walk you through the full itinerary and answer all your questions.
PRICE
from
€ 9,899
/ person
Price Options
Expedition basic package and participation fee
€ 9,899
Additional Options
Option No.1 Co-driver in the support vehicle from OVERCROSS
€ 6,939
Option No.2 for drivers in their own off-road vehicle
€ 10,199
Option No.3 rental SUV
€ 19,499
All-IN package from PR services
€ 2,999
Trip includes
- Expedition preliminary meeting of the expedition at OVERCROSS in Tübingen
- Expedition leadership for the Africa expedition
- Online tour guide, who is connected with us via satellite tracker
- Provision of a satellite phone for emergencies from the expedition pick-up
- Travel security certificate (insolvency protection according to BGB §651r) is mandatory for all OVERCROSS trips.
- Relatives and friends receive a location and status report from OVERCROSS (upon request)
- Map material for the crossing of Africa
- Support with visa issues and possibly organization including appointment coordination with embassies in Africa
- Tour folder with travel information to prepare for the expedition
- Equipment and packing list to prepare for the expedition
- Organization for applying for the Carnet de Passage for your vehicle (no deposit/bank guarantee will be taken over by us!)
- Organization of transportation for your off-road vehicle
- Post-meeting of the expedition (upon request)
- The excellent price is to be understood as a participation fee for the expedition
- Rental cars are arranged and billed through external service providers
- No fixed services other than organization are included in the start fee
- Support for visa and border matters for independent application and border crossing
FAQS
-
When is departure and where do we meet
The start is two days before the official travel start with the tour operator OVERCROSS in Tübingen. The second meeting point is in Málaga. The third meeting point is Marrakech for participants who want to arrive earlier. -
Which off-road vehicles can I book for the TransAfrica trip with Overcross?
The following vehicles are available for the TransAfrica trip: Land Rover Defender 130 CC Optionally: Toyota Hilux. Pick up -
Do I need to modify my off-road vehicle
No, no mandatory modifications need to be made for the expedition. You will receive suggestions and solutions with the expedition info regarding what makes sense to have on or in the off-road vehicle -
Do I need off-road tires like MUD TERRAIN for the 4x4 trip?
You can mount Mud Terrain tires, but All Terrain tires are completely sufficient
OVERCROSS note on itinerary
The above travel description is a non-binding online proposal and does not represent a binding travel itinerary. We expressly reserve the right to make changes to the route, schedule, and accommodations (§ 651d BGB in conjunction with Art. 250 EGBGB). The terms and conditions of OVERCROSS apply.Terms and Conditions of OVERCROSS
Similar Adventures
offroad-travel
6 tours
Featured
Featured
Featured
Send request
How did you
hear about us?
