Ana Santa Maria has done several camping trips in her lifetime but none of them compare to her overland safari and camping in Southern Africa.
“I’ve done a lot of different travel styles with G and this trip still, is one of my favourites,” she said.
“For this trip in particular, it was a very unique way to experience Africa.”
For the last three years, Santa Maria has worked as a Global Purpose Specialist, aiming to help travel agents grow their role and better understand what G Adventures has to offer.
We sat down with her to ask why overland travel in Africa is a unique way to see the continent, and why she encourages travellers to step out of their comfort zone.
What’s it like travelling in the Lando (overland adventure vehicle)?
“It just seemed really neat that there was this custom overland vehicle built just for these trips. Every compartment had a purpose. We were going through some wild terrain in Southern Africa and we never got stuck. And the drivers were awesome, because they know how to drive those roads. It lived up to the expectations, I was obsessed with that vehicle. And my friend that travelled with me, she was like, ‘I don’t sleep on buses ever.’ But by day three, we’re both passed out in Lando because it’s actually really comfortable.”
What was a standout experience on your overland trip in Southern Africa?
“We went through the Okavango Delta. So you take the traditional mokoros (narrow dugout canoes), and we were very remote. I think if you’re gonna go to Botswana you have to experience the Delta, because it’s very authentic. And people are always asking me, ‘Were you not afraid?’ At no point was I scared because the guides know what they’re doing. Everybody there makes you feel really comfortable and the night sky that day, because you’re so far removed from all light pollution, you can see the Milky Way just perfectly. It was so raw, so real, so authentic, to just just be camping, very much in nature.”
What makes an overland trip different from other camping trips you’ve experienced?
“Camping with G Adventures is a lot easier. The first thing that comes to mind is the meals. Whenever I go camping, I struggle with what to eat. I never know what to cook. And even though this is participation camping and you’re helping, you don’t have to come up with what to eat. There’s also a community aspect to it. When I go camping, it’s maybe me and my friends, and it’s just our group, but that’s it. Here you’re camping with the entire group, and it just becomes a nice little community.”
How did the CEOs (Chief Experience Officers) play a part in making the tour special?
“For these types of tours, there’s two CEOs, so there’s even an extra layer of safety, I found. And the CEOs, they, they’re just a wealth of knowledge. I think our CEOs do an amazing job, but we are often supported by additional local guides that kind of provide additional support in certain areas. We did a walking safari with rhinos, and the best way for me to describe this guide was basically like Steve Irwin. He knew all their names, he knew their behaviors. He knew everything you can think about rhinos.”
Why would you encourage travellers to book an overland trip?
“It was a very unique way to experience a different side of Africa. Getting to camp in some of the national parks and the reserves, it’s just a different way to travel. And I think there’s something very unique, or very empowering about stepping out of your comfort zone, and getting to the campsite, pitching your tent and helping with your meals. It’s a different kind of bonding. It’s a different kind of community when you’re all kind of on the same boat, you’re on the same Lando. I’m very glad I did it. And I think you see so much when you’re on land.”
Read more stories like this:
9 African safari destinations for wildlife and thrills
A family’s unforgettable adventure: exploring Kruger National Park
Hot on the trail: where to go hiking in South Africa
