To all my Africa overland blog-followers, welcome back to Africa 2025 and my not-so-conventional travel blog for my overland adventures in Africa! You may recall that this blog is very light on travel logistics (in contrast to your typical travel blog) and heavy on wildlife sightings and observations of stunning landscapes, with a smattering of observations on the human cultures encountered – but noting that photos and videos of the people encountered are rare owing to a sense of respect and sensitivity for their privacy.
First, a couple of business items pertaining to this blog. If you are subscribed to my blog then you are receiving email notifications of new blog posts. If you no longer want to receive these email notifications, then simply click on the “unsubscribe” link located at the bottom of the email notification (in very small print) and you will no longer receive these automated emails. Of course, you are still free to visit my blog site at “overlandwithkmcgee.com” at any time to view any posts whether you are subscribed or not. Also, as per last year, I love to hear from you by commenting on a post, but rather than replying to you in the post (which would require you to return to that post to see my reply), I will generally respond via email directly to you and only you. Now, on to my plans for this year’s journey.
As you may recall from, my stated plan for overlanding Africa was a three-stage, three-year journey through sub-Saharan Africa. In 2023, I traveled from Cape Town South Africa north through the inlands of South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Tanzania, and Kenya, ending in Nairobi at brother Mark’s house. The trip took me a little over 4.5 months and I visited some 35 or so National Parks and Reserves. My focus was on traversing up the middle (or inlands) of south and east Africa, with a strong emphasis on seeing as much African wildlife as possible. I commented frequently on the landscapes and the people, but I devoted most of my commentary, pictures and videos to my incredible wildlife encounters. And you may recall that I traveled in my fully kitted out Toyota Land cruiser troopie, affectionately named the “green dragon”, camping along the way in the Parks and Reserves, and sometimes in very remote places well off the beaten track.
Last year, in 2024, I departed from Nairobi, Kenya with Nancy, Caitlin, Mark and Kirsten in tow and eventually returned south to Cape Town, South Africa, this time heading down the east coast of Africa, focusing on the Parks and Reserves located on or near the coast. Specifically, I toured parts of Kenya that I missed in 2023, the coastline of Tanzania, with a short excursion to Zanzibar, the safer parts of Mozambique (i.e., avoiding the northeast province), southern Malawi, Lesotho and the east coast of South Africa. My trip was a little shorter in 2024, lasting a little over 3.5 months, owing to a later start. In addition, this trip featured more landscapes and hiking, but with some wildlife parks thrown in to keep me motivated.
My journey this year begins back in Cape Town where the Green Dragon is resting comfortably in storage. After taking care of some vehicle modifications and the usual overland prep work, I will head up the west coast of South Africa through the Western Cape Province en route to Namibia, where I will be joined by Nancy for a few weeks touring northern Namibia before hooking up with our great friends Steve and Ki for 6 weeks of exploring more of Namibia, the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park in northwestern South Africa and southwestern Botswana, and then back to Cape Town and a week on the coast before calling it end to another year’s journey. Visit the 2025 Route page on this website for more details on this year’s trip, including a map showing my intended and somewhat tortuous route.
Once again, on July 2nd of this year I will be heading back to Africa and what has become “my home away from home” – at least for the time being. As I am sure you are aware by now, not much gives me more pleasure than spending time observing wildlife in Africa, especially when sharing my passion with others – this year including Nancy, Steve and Ki in person, and all of you reading this blog virtually. So, if you love what you see here in Africa, remember that the clock is ticking, as the threats to Africa’s remaining wildlife populations are increasing every year.
See you on the trail!
Looking forward to another year of following you as you move through new adventures. I sure appreciate the blog Kevin. Perhaps one day, they all become a book! Travel safely! All best, –Paul