Overlanding
Encyclopedia
Overlanding is the self-reliant overland travel to remote destinations where the journey is the principal goal. Typically, but not exclusively, accommodated by mechanized off-road capable transport (from bicycles to trucks) where the principal form of lodging is camping; often lasting for extended lengths of time (months to years) and spanning international boundaries. Historically, "'overlanding'" is an Australian term to denote the driving of livestock
over very long distances to open up new country or to take livestock to market far from grazing grounds. Between 1906 an 1910 Alfred Canning
opened up the Canning Stock Route
.
expedition along the Silk Road
could be an early example in modern history, though he did have a defined purpose.
Overlanding in its most modern form with the use of mechanized transport began in the middle of the last century with the advent of commercially available four-wheel-drive trucks (Jeeps and Land Rovers). It is somewhat prescient that the founding company of the Jeep
was Willys-Overland Motors. In 1949, with the Land Rover
brand less than a year old, Colonel Leblanc drove his brand new 80-inch Series I Land Rover
from Great Britain to Abyssinia
.
There followed many more private journeys, and with the colonization of the African interior, groups would set out from Europe with deepest Africa as the destination. To aid in these endeavors the Automobile Association of South Africa
published a guide titled Trans-African Highways, A Route Book of the Main Trunk Roads in Africa.
The first edition appeared in 1949 and included sections on choice of vehicle, choice of starting time, petrol supplies, water, provisions, equipment, rule of the road, government officials and rest houses. The serious tone of this book gives some clue as to the magnitude of such a trip, and it was from these beginnings that overlanding developed in Europe and Africa.
In Australia overlanding was inspired to a large degree by Len Beadell
who, in the 1940s and 1950s, constructed many of the roads that opened up the Australian Outback
.
Those roads are still used today by Australian overlanders and still hold the names Len gave them; the Gunbarrel Highway
, the Connie Sue Highway
(named after his daughter), and the Anne Beadell Highway
(named after his wife).
One of the most well documented overland journeys was by Horatio Nelson Jackson
in 1903.
In the Americas overlanding was coming into its own in the 1950s as well. In 1954, Helen and Frank Schreider drove and sailed the length of the Americas from Circle
on the Arctic Circle
to Ushuaia
, Tierra del Fuego
in a sea-going ex-army jeep.
event run from 1980 to 2000 with routes crossing some intensely difficult terrain. In 2007, Overland Journal, an overlanding specific magazine, came onto the scene.
It is now quite common for groups of overlanders to organize meetings, and an annual meeting is held every Christmas at Ushuaia
. Through the use of the Internet it is much easier to find the information required for extended overland trips in foreign lands and there are several internet forums where travelers can exchange information and tips as well as coordinate planning. While some commercially built overland capable vehicles are produced,
many overlanders consider the preparation of their vehicle a paramount part of the experience. Both South Africa and Australia have significant industries based on making accessories for overland travel.
. Companies started offering overland tours to groups in large, specially equipped trucks. Mostly in Africa, these journeys could last for months, and relied heavily on the participation of the paying passengers for food preparation, food purchasing and setting up camp. The ultimate of these adventures was always the 'trans', or the complete journey from Europe to Cape Town in South Africa. Commercial overlanding has since expanded to all the continents of the world save Antarctica.
Livestock
Livestock refers to one or more domesticated animals raised in an agricultural setting to produce commodities such as food, fiber and labor. The term "livestock" as used in this article does not include poultry or farmed fish; however the inclusion of these, especially poultry, within the meaning...
over very long distances to open up new country or to take livestock to market far from grazing grounds. Between 1906 an 1910 Alfred Canning
Alfred Canning
Alfred Wernam Canning was a Western Australian government surveyor. Born at Campbellfield north of Melbourne, he started work in New South Wales as a cadet surveyor and in 1893 joined the Western Australian Department of Lands and Survey.In 1901 a royal commission resulted in Canning being...
opened up the Canning Stock Route
Canning Stock Route
The Canning Stock Route is one of the toughest and most remote tracks in the world. It runs to Halls Creek from Wiluna, both in Western Australia. With a total distance of around it is also the longest historic stock route in the world...
.
History
While expedition is defined as a journey with a purpose, overlanding sees the journey as the purpose. With that criterion, overlanding most likely started before modern humans came onto the scene. Marco Polo'sMarco Polo
Marco Polo was a Venetian merchant traveler from the Venetian Republic whose travels are recorded in Il Milione, a book which did much to introduce Europeans to Central Asia and China. He learned about trading whilst his father and uncle, Niccolò and Maffeo, travelled through Asia and apparently...
expedition along the Silk Road
Silk Road
The Silk Road or Silk Route refers to a historical network of interlinking trade routes across the Afro-Eurasian landmass that connected East, South, and Western Asia with the Mediterranean and European world, as well as parts of North and East Africa...
could be an early example in modern history, though he did have a defined purpose.
Overlanding in its most modern form with the use of mechanized transport began in the middle of the last century with the advent of commercially available four-wheel-drive trucks (Jeeps and Land Rovers). It is somewhat prescient that the founding company of the Jeep
Jeep
Jeep is an automobile marque of Chrysler . The first Willys Jeeps were produced in 1941 with the first civilian models in 1945, making it the oldest off-road vehicle and sport utility vehicle brand. It inspired a number of other light utility vehicles, such as the Land Rover which is the second...
was Willys-Overland Motors. In 1949, with the Land Rover
Land Rover
Land Rover is a British car manufacturer with its headquarters in Gaydon, Warwickshire, United Kingdom which specialises in four-wheel-drive vehicles. It is owned by the Indian company Tata Motors, forming part of their Jaguar Land Rover group...
brand less than a year old, Colonel Leblanc drove his brand new 80-inch Series I Land Rover
Land Rover Series
The Land Rover Series I, II, and III are off-road vehicles produced by the British manufacturer Land Rover that were inspired by the US-built Willys Jeep...
from Great Britain to Abyssinia
Ethiopia
Ethiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...
.
There followed many more private journeys, and with the colonization of the African interior, groups would set out from Europe with deepest Africa as the destination. To aid in these endeavors the Automobile Association of South Africa
Automobile Association of South Africa
The Automobile Association of South Africa, often abbreviated AA has been operating in South Africa since 1930. It is a non-profit organisation providing services to its Members such as roadside assistance, technical and motor-related legal advice...
published a guide titled Trans-African Highways, A Route Book of the Main Trunk Roads in Africa.
The first edition appeared in 1949 and included sections on choice of vehicle, choice of starting time, petrol supplies, water, provisions, equipment, rule of the road, government officials and rest houses. The serious tone of this book gives some clue as to the magnitude of such a trip, and it was from these beginnings that overlanding developed in Europe and Africa.
In Australia overlanding was inspired to a large degree by Len Beadell
Len Beadell
Leonard Beadell OAM BEM FIEMS was a surveyor, roadbuilder , bushman, artist and author, responsible for opening up the last remaining isolated desert areas of central Australia from 1947 to 1963. Len is sometimes called "the last true Australian explorer"...
who, in the 1940s and 1950s, constructed many of the roads that opened up the Australian Outback
Outback
The Outback is the vast, remote, arid area of Australia, term colloquially can refer to any lands outside the main urban areas. The term "the outback" is generally used to refer to locations that are comparatively more remote than those areas named "the bush".-Overview:The outback is home to a...
.
Those roads are still used today by Australian overlanders and still hold the names Len gave them; the Gunbarrel Highway
Gunbarrel Highway
The Gunbarrel Highway is an isolated desert track in the Northern Territory, South Australia and Western Australia. It consists of about of washaways, heavy corrugations, stone, sand and flood plains...
, the Connie Sue Highway
Connie Sue Highway
The Connie Sue Highway is an outback road that runs from Rawlinna on the Trans-Australian Railway to the Aboriginal community of Warburton on the Great Central Road. Approximately long and running north-south, it lies entirely in the state of Western Australia and crosses the Nullarbor Plain and...
(named after his daughter), and the Anne Beadell Highway
Anne Beadell Highway
The Anne Beadell Highway is an outback unsealed track linking Coober Pedy, South Australia, and Laverton, Western Australia. The track was surveyed and built by Len Beadell, Australian surveyor, who named it after his wife. -Overview:...
(named after his wife).
One of the most well documented overland journeys was by Horatio Nelson Jackson
Horatio Nelson Jackson
Horatio Nelson Jackson was a physician and automobile pioneer. In 1903, he and driving partner Sewall K. Crocker became the first people to drive an automobile across the United States.-Early life and medical career:...
in 1903.
In the Americas overlanding was coming into its own in the 1950s as well. In 1954, Helen and Frank Schreider drove and sailed the length of the Americas from Circle
Circle, Alaska
Circle is a census-designated place in Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area, Alaska, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 100....
on the Arctic Circle
Arctic Circle
The Arctic Circle is one of the five major circles of latitude that mark maps of the Earth. For Epoch 2011, it is the parallel of latitude that runs north of the Equator....
to Ushuaia
Ushuaia
Ushuaia may refer to the following:*Ushuaia, a city in Argentina.**Ushuaia Department, an administrative division**Ushuaia River**Ushuaia International Airport**Colegio Nacional de Ushuaia, National School of Ushuaia....
, Tierra del Fuego
Tierra del Fuego
Tierra del Fuego is an archipelago off the southernmost tip of the South American mainland, across the Strait of Magellan. The archipelago consists of a main island Isla Grande de Tierra del Fuego divided between Chile and Argentina with an area of , and a group of smaller islands including Cape...
in a sea-going ex-army jeep.
Modern overlanding
Overlanding has increased in the past couple of decades, and is getting ever more popular in large part influenced by the Camel TrophyCamel Trophy
The Camel Trophy was a vehicle oriented competition that was held between 1980 and 2000, and was best known for its use of Land Rover vehicles over challenging terrain.- The Events :...
event run from 1980 to 2000 with routes crossing some intensely difficult terrain. In 2007, Overland Journal, an overlanding specific magazine, came onto the scene.
It is now quite common for groups of overlanders to organize meetings, and an annual meeting is held every Christmas at Ushuaia
Ushuaia
Ushuaia may refer to the following:*Ushuaia, a city in Argentina.**Ushuaia Department, an administrative division**Ushuaia River**Ushuaia International Airport**Colegio Nacional de Ushuaia, National School of Ushuaia....
. Through the use of the Internet it is much easier to find the information required for extended overland trips in foreign lands and there are several internet forums where travelers can exchange information and tips as well as coordinate planning. While some commercially built overland capable vehicles are produced,
many overlanders consider the preparation of their vehicle a paramount part of the experience. Both South Africa and Australia have significant industries based on making accessories for overland travel.
Commercial overlanding
The late 1960s saw the advent of commercial overland travelOverland travel
Overland travel or overlanding refers to an "overland journey" - perhaps originating with Marco Polo's first overland expedition in the 13th century from Venice to the Chinese court of Kublai Khan. Today overlanding is a form of extended adventure holiday, embarking on a long journey, often in a...
. Companies started offering overland tours to groups in large, specially equipped trucks. Mostly in Africa, these journeys could last for months, and relied heavily on the participation of the paying passengers for food preparation, food purchasing and setting up camp. The ultimate of these adventures was always the 'trans', or the complete journey from Europe to Cape Town in South Africa. Commercial overlanding has since expanded to all the continents of the world save Antarctica.
External links
- The Overlander - A free resource for anyone planning their next overlanding adventure! Share experiences, get the facts first hand, trade your kit and find equipment from around the globe.
- Africa Overland (.net) - A large collection of overlander websites and trip reports (not limited to Africa).
- Expedition Portal - A forum where overlanders can exchange information. More oriented towards 4-wheeled travel.
- Horizons Unlimited - Where overlanders can exchange information. Heavily oriented towards motorcycle based overlanding
- Overlanding Community - News views and advice on commercial overlanding companies and trips from around the world
- Overland Journey - Overland TV, trip reports, news, blogs, and the largest collection of Overland Links on the net.
- Overland Journal - The publication for environmentally responsible, worldwide vehicle-supported expedition and adventure travel.