Oasis Overland

I highly recommend traveling with Oasis Overland. I did a 75 day trip through Africa with them in 2017 and I had an amazing time. From Victoria Falls, the Serengeti, and Great Zimbabwe, I got to see so many once-in-a-lifetime places in a much shorter time period than I would have been able to navigate on my own. The guide and driver were great and I always felt like all situations were handled well as things came up (like there was coup in Zimbabwe while we were there). The bus was comfortable enough and it was very conducive to socializing with other travelers. The group I traveled with was a good mix of nationalities and ages so everyone could find people to hang out with. I think Oasis does a good job of providing a mix of planned activities and free time and offers a good selection of excursions in the places we stopped.

I had high hopes for this trip, and while there were some memorable moments, the experience was ultimately overshadowed by how a serious situation was handled. Partway through, I was unexpectedly removed from the group without being given any clear explanation or chance to respond. Allegations were made that I believe were unfounded, and requests for clarification or evidence were repeatedly denied. A refund was offered and accepted — but only to resolve the financial side. My concerns about the conduct of a staff member were also never properly addressed. I raised them at the time and after the trip, but never received a meaningful outcome or update. Unfortunately, the lack of transparency and fairness left a lasting impression. I would advise future travellers to ask clear questions about how complaints are handled before booking. 03/10/25: Thank you for your response. You mentioned “other reasons” (aside from the alleged written feedback) for my removal but never provided any specifics or evidence, despite my repeated requests. That lack of clarity meant I had no genuine justification to understand or respond to your decision. My complaint about a staff member was a safeguarding issue that should have been addressed at the time, not deferred to a post-trip review. And while you suggest the consensus was positive, another traveller also left early because of the tour leader, which shows this was not an isolated concern. I do have some good memories of the places we visited, but the way these matters were handled remains the reason I cannot recommend this experience.

I've been on 3 trips with Oasis, the Silk Road and 2 in Africa, about 33 weeks in total, and planning on another now that covid restrictions aren't preventing it. I find the trips are organized so that you get to see the highlights along those routes, and you're travelling with people a mix of nationality and age so a solo traveler like me isn't alone. These trips are great value, would not have had such a terrific range of experiences otherwise.

If you like adventure travel, daily camping with the odd brick and mortar accommodation, moving daily from one place to another often off the beaten track, getting as close as possible to locals, in the company of like-minded fellow travelers, and at reasonable prices, then this is the travel company for you.

I can't recommend Oasis enough. I have done two trips with them to Africa (Victoria Falls to Cape Town in 2013 and Nairobi to Vic Falls in 2017). The first trip was my first real travelling experience so I picked a shorter one but it just meant I had to go back for more a few years later because I loved it so much. The trips were well organised and went to amazing places with a good mix of structure and freedom, and it never felt like we were rushed even though a lot was packed into the time. The tour leader and driver looked after us well. I was lucky that the groups I was with were great too, because that can have such an impact.