Camping doesn’t have to be as simple as pitching a tent by a stream anymore. There’s something to appeal to a broad range of people with many different interests. There’s glamping, where you might find yourself in an almost resort-like setting with campgrounds that provide hot showers, or you can really rough it and head into the wilderness with nothing but a bedroll and a bowie knife. Somewhere in between is where you’ll find overland camping, and it’s reserved for the most seasoned of outdoor adventurers.
Overland camping is all about self-reliance, an adventure in which the journey is more important than the destination. Overlanding is most often centered around specialized transportation designed for off-road travel. Anything from a mountain bike to a modified 4WD vehicle will work. Rugged terrain and unfamiliar territory is what beckons the overlander.
Heading off to remote spots, immersing yourself in cultures different than your own, and exploring out of the way places are other chief principals. An overland camping trip may take several days, or even a few months. Overlanding often includes international travel. Some of the skills you’ll want to cultivate for this type of camping are logistical planning (research is a key element to success), navigation without GPS, and driving safely over rough terrain.
While camping is about escaping the urban or suburban routine, overlanding is about really getting away from it all, in mind, body, and spirit. If adventure travel is what you’re after, overland camping may be just the ticket.
You’ll need an appropriately outfitted vehicle for the land portion of overlanding — an RV won’t cut it! A portable kitchen of some sort is a must, and one you can incorporate into your vehicle is ideal. Take a look at this great video that shows an innovative DIY mobile kitchen set up built by an experienced overland camper. This kitchen has everything he needs to prepare great meals for his adventure, and is a great example for you to follow!
Featured Image from Luke Bender/Unsplash
