The Land Rover Freelander is not exactly the first of the venerable British brand’s 4x4s that leap to mind if you’re planning a long overland journey or competing in a rally raid. However, Solihull’s first stab at a unibody SUV in the late 1990s was relatively advanced compared to its competition, despite lacking a low-range…
XOverland Africa Series Trailer Drops February 1
The release of a new XOverland film series is always a widely anticipated event in the overland world, and their latest adventure promises to be their most ambitious to date. Clay and Rachelle Croft, and the rest of the team dropped a handful of teaser trailers for the new series in the last couple of…
Expedition Portal Staff’s Favorite Trips of 2023
With international tourism reaching over 90 percent of pre-pandemic levels by the end of the year, 2023 marked an enthusiastic and eager return to the travel scene for many of us, both domestically and internationally. Overland Journal publisher and co-founder Scott Brady began his much-anticipated long-axis Trans-Africa continental crossing in the capable Ineos Grenadier, while…
CABDR-North Video Released
Backcountry Discovery Routes (BDR) is about to announce the layout of their latest creation, the Northern California BDR, or CABDR-North. The new route completes a continuous BDR from Mexico to Canada. The reveal happens on Saturday, February 17, when their feature-length film premieres in Sacramento, California. Meantime, whet your curiosity on the trailer. Watch as…
This Father-Daughter Team is Taking on the Dakar Classic :: Video of the Week
The Dakar Rally wraps up this week as competitors head toward the finish line today in Yanbu, Saudi Arabia. If all goes well, spectators will witness a 3.2-liter 1986 Porsche 911, piloted by 21-year-old Puck Klaassen, crossing the line. She and her father, Sebastiaan, 53, teamed up at the last minute to compete in the…
It is Time You learned About Johan Badenhorst and the Voetspore Adventures
In the realm of modern overland exploration, South Africa boasts two notable, gray-bearded figures who have significantly contributed to the field. The first is Kingsley Holgate, a revered English and Zulu-speaking adventurer (soon to be interviewed by our publisher, Scott Brady), known for his extensive travels across Africa with Land Rovers, his dedication to improving…
Crossing the Simpson Desert in the Footsteps of a Legend
I wake with a splitting headache, my body hurts all over, and I feel disconnected from reality. It takes a full 20 minutes to overcome heavy lethargy before I can crawl out of the swag and confirm Katie feels no better. With nets over our heads to block the unrelenting blowflies, we only feel worse…
Transglobal Car Expedition Sets Off From New York
On January 9th, the Transglobal Car Expedition set off from a rainy New York City on an extraordinary 18-month adventure—the first wheeled surface circumnavigation of the Earth through both geographic poles. Utilizing three different types of off-road vehicles, a team comprised of some of the world’s best polar explorers will attempt a journey that combines…
Rebelle Rally Registration Returns
The 2024 edition of the Rebelle Rally may be 10 months away, but Rebelle Rally registration for this year is open now. Don’t think you can dilly-dally, however, since slots are assigned on a first-come, first-serve basis. If you’re looking to round out that list of New Year’s resolutions, there’s no better time than the…
Potjie2Pint’s Land Rover Defender 130 : Feature Vehicle
In 2012, Marjan (a skilled Dutch chef) and her partner, Patricia (an astute Belgian financial business analyst), embarked on a transformative journey. They relocated from Europe to the sublime coastal town of Hermanus, South Africa, with a dream to infuse a touch of Belgium into their new surroundings. Their entrepreneurial spirit led to establishing a…
XOverland Season Six Africa Teaser :: Video
Southern Africa is one of those true dream destinations for overlanders worldwide—I should know—I lived in Botswana for two years and traveled to a dozen different countries across the continent. No matter how much of Africa I saw, I was always inevitably drawn back again and again to the deserts and wildlife sanctuaries of Botswana…
Peak Evolution Sets Solar EV Altitude World Record
The Swiss Peak Evolution team recently set a new world record for the highest elevation achieved in a solar-powered electric vehicle by driving up to 21,325 feet (6,500 meters). The current land vehicle altitude record is held by French race driver Romain Dumas (three-time 24-hour Le Mans winner), driving an off-road adapted Porsche 911 powered…
Wim Dussel’s 1950s Photo Collection Brings Global Scooter Travel To Life
Photography by Wim Dussel (1920-2004), courtesy of the International Institute of Social History Dutch photojournalist Wim Dussel had a gift for capturing the simple moments of everyday life, revealing their true beauty. He gravitated toward markets, schools, streets, and the daily hustle and bustle of work—scenes so ordinary that, as travelers, we often don’t bother…
2023 Overlanders of the Year :: Mali Mish
Dan and Marlene, along with their three children, Ava, Mila, and Luka, travel the world in their 170 Mercedes Sprinter van. The journey began 16 years ago when the couple chose to bundle up 10-month-old Ava and hit the road, towing a 25-foot Airstream as their first casa on wheels. Epiphanies came in waves on…
10 Things to Know About Overlanding Spain
Photography by Richard Giordano It might sound cliché, but Spain is truly a country with something for everyone. An easy jumping-off point to France and Portugal, Northern Africa, the British Isles, or beyond, Spain’s convenient location makes it accessible for most overlanders traveling in Europe. While milder wintertime temperatures provide an escape for those from…
Man and Machine in Nature’s Remotest Landscapes :: Rock Crawling Georgia
“Arie, Arie!” the man called out to Coen, and “Harie, Harie!” to Nico, motioning both to join his party. However, Coen remained in the front seat of the Land Cruiser, engrossed in a phone call, while Nico was wrapping up tasks in his vehicle. The fact that Joska and I were sitting next to the…
Torbjorn Pedersen Visited Every Country on Earth Without Getting on an Airplane
Torbjorn Pedersen has done something remarkable. After ten years of some of the most grueling travel imaginable, he has successfully visited every country on earth—never once stepping foot on an airplane. The Dane’s advice for would-be globetrotters looking to recreate his feat? “Don’t do it.” From a brush with death at the hands of wayward…
Soft-shell Rooftop Tent :: Buyers Guide
Soft-shell rooftop tents have a long history, dating back almost as far as the invention of vehicles to which they could be attached. The concept of a canvas roof tent may have been inspired by the covered wagons that played a crucial role in trade and travel for centuries. There’s something undeniably charming about a…
Taking the Slow Road From Arizona to Oregon
Photos by Eva Rupert and Bill Dragoo Traveling by motorcycle during the summer months is a game of chance for those of us who live in the desert. The days are hot, and the storms seem to come out of nowhere. We plot our routes through the high country whenever possible, pack our rain gear…
Rooftop Tent Skills — Buy, Bolt-on, and Bug Out
In this age of hyperbuilt and overcomplicated overland vehicle builds, it is all too easy to forget that, above all else, your build should be affordable, practical, and straightforward. The rooftop tent (RTT) is not a new invention; we have all seen the images of overland vehicles built in the early 20th century equipped with…