Our new responsive website and preparing Aminah for our trips through West Africa in 2016-2017…

Hi everybody,

It’s been quite some time since our last post – and as you can imagine a lot has been going on at Overlanding West Africa since then.

Curious to know more? Then read on to find out all the latest:

2015-16: Another Successful Season!

We’re incredibly proud to have operated another successful season between October 2015 and May 2016 throughout the West Africa region.

As you may know, we were the first overland operator to return to Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia since the Ebola outbreak came to an end. Al and some of our passengers even made an appearance on the BBC News as our Dakar to Freetown group were filmed on the golden-sand beaches of Freetown on the day Sierra Leone was officially declared ‘Ebola Free’!

Over the 7 trips we operated we were joined by 56 passengers from Canada, Norway, Germany, UK, USA, Australia, New Zealand, Sweden and the Netherlands – all of whom experienced the warmth, hospitality and friendly welcome from the people of the 14 countries (and 1 disputed territory) we travelled through.

Aminah, Al and Jason arrived back in the UK at the end of May and took some time out for a very well earned rest and a chance to catch up with life. You can see a small selection of photos from the trips at the bottom of this page which gives you a good idea of some of the amazing places our passengers got to visit.

If you like the look of what you see in the photos then please send us an Enquiry Form to book yourself onto a true overland adventure trip with us in late 2016/early 2017!

Guinea Overland Adventure Tour West Africa

Our Revamped & Responsive Website

Those of you who’ve visited our website before will notice there have been a few changes! Noting that Googles preference is for ‘mobile friendly’ and ‘responsive’ websites, Dave the Hat has spent countless hours over the past few months transferring the website content over to a new custom-made and fully responsive theme that our web hosting company devised for us.

As you can see, much of the website is exactly the same as before, except now all of the content should be ‘fully responsive’ for mobiles and tablets and make life easier for those viewing our website ‘on the go’!

We hope you like the new look and that each page loads faster than before. If you spot any errors or issues with the functionality of our website then please do send us an email to let us know – despite all the hours Hatter has put in I’m sure there are still some glitches that will need attention!

UK Turnaround For Aminah

For a couple of weeks in August 2016, Dave the Hat went up to the Drago workshop to get Aminah turned around for the upcoming 2016/17 season in West Africa. George and Charlie were, as always, incredibly generous to rent some space at their UK workshop to OWA for the work on Aminah to be completed.

To do a number of the heavier jobs on Aminah, Hatter was helped at various stages by Nick Fulford and Dave Pettsy, as well as Adam, Jemima and Sara (the 3 trainees) – all of whom played a role in helping get Aminah turned around for next season.

We want to take this opportunity to say a massive thank you to G and Charlie for lending Hatter some of their staff for a few days, as some of the jobs really do require 2 people so we truly are grateful – cheers guys!

Here are a few pictures of just some of the work that was done to Aminah over the course of the fortnight – and to such a good standard Aminah passed her MOT again first time with only 1 advisory – hoorah! (An MOT is the UK-based annual vehicle test for those that don’t know).  As you can imagine, the roads in some of the countries in West Africa do take their toll on the old girl, especially on the axles and suspension, so though a painful and tiring amount of work it’s good to get Aminah ship-shape and in good condition again for the upcoming season ahead.

Overlanding West Africa Truck 0

Replacing a rear wheel bearing and hub seal after the rear springs were taken off and rebushed

Overlanding West Africa Truck 2

A new diaphragm for the rear brake pack – which alas still leaked so an entire new pack was purchased and installed!

Overlanding West Africa Truck 3

Re-setting the valves/tappets to ensure the valve clearances were correct

Overlanding West Africa Truck 5

Front wheel bearings re-greased after new front springs fitted – with new brake linings too!

Overlanding West Africa Truck 7

Replacing the belt tensioner and swapping the pulley over

Overlanding West Africa Truck 8

While the wheel bearings were off Hatter fitted brand new brake linings on both axles

Overland Truck Africa

2 new sets of front springs ready to go on and bearings ready for fresh grease!

Overlanding West Africa Truck 10

Inflating the new tyres after the rims have been given a fresh coat of paint

West Africa Truck Overland

Dave the Hat inserting a new bush into the rear spring swinging shackle

Overlanding West Africa Truck 12

Freshly painted wheel rims with new tyres on ready to go back on the axles

Overlanding West Africa Truck 11

The front torsion bar after being repaired and rekitted – no more play!

Overlanding West Africa Truck 13

Rear brake pack repair attempt round 2!

Hatter will return to Drago in a few weeks time to finish off the interior jobs in Aminah and to ‘tart’ her up outside, whilst Al will bring the equipment and remaining tents that he has been busy cleaning whilst away.

Not long to go now before Aminah sets off for the long journey south to Senegal and the start of our first trip of the season from Dakar to Freetown!

Bookings For Trips In 2016-2017

We’re incredibly pleased that our trips are selling so well again. Each of our trips currently has an average of 12-15 passengers booked on, and fresh enquiries have been flooding in over the past 10 days so we are hopeful that most of our trips will sell out very soon.

If you want to join us then please send us an Enquiry Form and we can forward you all of the relevant booking information. Remember, we offer discounts if booking multiple trips, and it’s important to book sooner rather than later to ensure you can get all of the necessary visas in time before flying out to West Africa for the start of your trip/s with us.

Need convincing? Then check out the selection of photos below from our overland trips last season. Many thanks to passengers Alexi O’Brien, Alice Lowry, Alice Richardson and Alice Goodridge for letting us share some of their photos.

In addition, you can check out Al’s excellent OWA Travel Blog which highlights exactly why an overland adventure trip through West Africa with us is something you will never forget!

We hope you can join us for the adventure!

Dave The Hat, Al Goodridge, Jimmy C and Aminah

Overlanding West Africa

Guinea Overland Adventure Tour West Africa 3

Guinea Overland Adventure Tour West Africa 6

Sierra Leone Overland Adventure Tour West Africa 3

Burkina Faso Group Tour Overland West Africa 2

Ivory Coast Overland Adventure Tour West Africa 1

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Burkina Faso Group Tour Overland West Africa 4

Senegal-Mauritania-Morocco Tour 11

Sierra Leone Overland Adventure Tour West Africa

Senegal-Mauritania-Morocco Tour 02

Ivory Coast Overland Adventure Tour West Africa 2

Morocco Adventure Tour 02

Morocco Adventure Tour 01

Burkina Faso Group Tour Overland West Africa 3

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Guinea Overland Adventure Tour West Africa

Senegal Overland Tour West Africa 4

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Morocco Adventure Tour 09

Sierra Leone Overland Adventure Tour West Africa 2

Senegal Overland Tour West Africa 9

Ivory Coast Overland Adventure Tour West Africa

Burkina Faso Group Tour Overland West Africa

 

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Senegal Overland Tour West Africa

Senegal-Mauritania-Morocco Tour 09

Senegal-Mauritania-Morocco Tour 01