Jobs help you to survive, and adventure helps you to live and experience the many realities of life. It fills your soul with thrill, excitement, and uninhibited happiness.
While you’ll find a bunch of soul-satisfying adventure sports, one activity that continues to be unmatched is Overlanding. Overlanding experiences are always unique, and they offer an opportunity to embark on new, unexplored terrains.
So, if you enjoy road trips and everything that comes with it, here’s everything you wanted to know about Overlanding.
Why Overlanding?
Overlanding is a one-of-a-kind experience that involves plenty of planning and even more adventure. At its very essence, you get an opportunity to charter new territories over no pre-decided timeline. And that alone is the allure of Overlanding. The sport is excellent for anyone who enjoys traveling and living in nature.
While the concept is new, more individuals are starting and participating in it because of fun, thrill, and most importantly, adrenaline! The biggest highlight of this sport is the degree of planning it involves. Unlike camping tours that can be arranged in a few minutes or hours, Overlanding requires meticulous detailing about the terrains your will charter, the food and toiletries you will need, the kind of gear that will make your journey comfortable.
With that said, why should you try Overlanding? Does it have any other benefit than just meeting the adrenaline quotient? Let’s find out.
5 Reasons People Want to Experience Overlanding
Overlanding is one of those activities that leave you with lasting adventures and a wonderful group of friends. Most people are starting to overland because of a healthy income and quick credit access. Because of the same reasons, they are exploring a variety of Overlanding vehicles and considering all possibilities. But what exact reasons motivate people to overland? Why is the activity getting increasingly popular? Read on, to learn why.
1. Unmatched Adventure
One of the biggest highlights of Overlanding is perhaps the kind of adventure it offers. Every time you embark on an Overlanding journey, every step and turn will get adventurous. Unlike any other sport or activity, you get an opportunity to soak the last bits of the amazing journeys you have undertaken.
Another defining benefit of the sport is the local experience it comes to offer. When you start a trip and gradually move between places, you meet several people from all walks of life. Just a random banter with these folks will light up your day. What’s more, you will also get a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to live with the locals of your traveled terrains. Meet and interact, experience an entirely new lifestyle, soak the many signs and sounds, and check out the lip-smacking local cuisine for a fulfilling Overlanding experience.
2. Stronger Bonds
Another major benefit of Overlanding is that it lets you establish new bonds and start friendships you had never imagined. The joy and sheer excitement of chartering the road will keep you hooked and as you experience some beautiful sights and sounds, you will evolve as a family.
You will forge new bonds, collaborate, share memories, and embark on your adventure. By the end of your expedition, you will be rich with beautiful memories that will last you an entire lifetime. What’s more, you might even find Overlanding buddies with who you regularly connect and travel.
3. Independence
A key highlight of Overlanding is the independent experiences it offers. This is even better if you are traveling with kids. Because the entire journey is mostly independent, you will be left without any support to fend for yourself.
Over time, you will realize you can do many things that you never imagined! You will feel utilized and get an exciting opportunity to learn new experiences and hobbies. If you are traveling with kids, you might want to get them equally involved. Ask them to perform a range of small tasks and every time they complete it, praise them for their tenacity. This way, they will learn new things and also foster a new type of confidence.
4. See and Be Things
Overlanding journeys are all about chartering new terrains and traveling to a host of different places. As you travel along, you keep ticking out the names in your bucket list. Over time, you will find some places that you had never thought imagined! Your list of activities will keep growing and you will also get a rare opportunity to connect with wildlife species. As you trek across the most arduous terrains and participate in local barters, you will find a new slice of life that is no less exciting than the one you already have.
The experiences are overwhelmingly exciting, and the joy is unmatched!
5. Transformative Experiences
Camping trips or trekking are fairly shorter trips that do not leave much room for thought. But as you drive across a remote city or country, you will automatically adapt to the new kind of lifestyle. Your versatility will improve and continue to last even when the experience is complete.
By the end of your Overlanding tour, your thought process will be much mature and you, as a person, will be flexible and easy-going. This will not just help you during the trip but stay with you over your lifetime. That is why more individuals are choosing this activity as opposed to easier sports like camping and hiking.
What is the Ideal Overlanding Vehicle?
Now that you are familiar with the many benefits of Overlanding, you’re probably looking for the right vehicle for your trip. Currently, many vehicles qualify as excellent overlanding gear. So, whether you have an SUV, a large truck, a dedicated motorcycle, or a full-blown van- either can be used as your overlanding gear.
In addition to getting a proper and fully packed vehicle, you also need an Overlanding rig for the trip. For the uninitiated, this is an excellent tool to help you meet and finally reach your required destination. As with your other Overlanding gear, the vehicle will offer a chance to connect with the wilderness around.
When heading for your first Overlanding trip, you should also pack ample water, a soli first-aid kit, plenty of food, gears, a bunch of utility jugs, multiple spares, items related to toiletry, and supplies you would need for camping.
What Do You Need for Overlanding?
Because we already discussed the basics in the previous sections, here we will discuss some additional items that will make your Overlanding tour even more fulfilling.
First, you would need proper truck armor if you are using a truck. This includes everything from skids, slides, guards, and bumpers among others.
Next, you would need proper and spacious cargo storage. Secure all your heavy products with proper straps (one or multiple as needed), and check your roof racks and ensure they are stable and well balanced.
The third pointer to consider is the fuel quotient. The key is to stock up on fuel so that you always have ample fuel reserve all the time. If you are using the in-built fuel in your car, try to ascertain how long it is likely to last. Do this math even before you embark on your adventure.
The fourth and final thing to consider is to take plenty of old-school maps. Because you are traveling in arduous terrains, you may not always get mobile connectivity. So, our usual savior Google-maps is no longer an option, The solution? Take older paper-based maps instead. If you don’t know how to read a map, learn it before you head out. This will keep you out of tricky situations and always ensure you are on the correct terrain.
Once you bear the mentioned factors in mind, you will be a step closer to reaching your coveted destination.
Bottom Line
If you’re looking to be successful in Overlanding, you first need to be self-reliant and develop a similar mindset. When outdoors, you need to follow the survival mode, addressing all your journey-specific requirements independently. Additionally, you also need to withstand extreme climate and environmental conditions, wild creatures, and rugged terrain.
Your hygiene will be amiss because you will travel without any external support and depending on the situation you may need to survive without showering. Other times, your primary food sources would be energy bars, crisps, and coffee. In case you are comfortable surviving in the said conditions, you might want to pack your bags right away!
Remember, if you enjoy the comforts of showering, eating tacos, or connecting with your loved ones on a trip, then Overlanding might not be for you. But if you enjoy the sheer thrill of traveling, you would certainly love the sport.
One of the defining points of this activity is that it offers you the kind of solitude you need. What’s more, you also get a broader insight into the many workings of life and you get an equally rich insight into the other types of culture.
When you continuously explore in the vehicle, you also inadvertently boost your mental stability, survival instincts, and the usual, resilience. You get a chance to connect with the natural world and the experience is innately satisfying.
