Food

So you're booked on that overland truck; you've packed the torch, the Swiss army penknife and your mossie repellent - but what about the cookbook?

Never mind coming face to face with a lion - the most daunting prospect for most overland passengers is having to cook for 20 hungry people.

But in reality it's not that difficult and you'll soon discover culinary skills you never knew you had.

You will be put in a team and everyone will take turns cooking and shopping on a roster system - this way you won't be wholly responsible for the group's diet!

What's more, creating a meal together is a great way to get to know your fellow travellers.

Your crew will be on hand to advise - they are more experienced with prices and know the best places to find food, and while they know everyone can manage spaghetti bolognaise - they don't want it every night!

After a couple of attempts, you'll be able to control the heat on an open fire as smoothly as the gas oven at home.

In no time at all you'll discover that there's nothing that can't be cooked on a fire - bake it, fry it, BBQ it, roast it, or put it on a stick and toast it.

All overland trucks do a 'bulk buy' before setting off - dry and tinned goods, spices, sauces, and a couple of meals that can be whipped up when no fresh produce is available - love that tuna!

Otherwise fresh vegetables, fruit and meat are bought along the way and it will be up to you - and your fellow travellers - to scour the local markets, deal with strange currencies and haggle with animated vendors - all part of the overland experience.

If cooking on your own seems a daunting task, then choose an overland tour that has a safari cook.

These are usually experienced Kenyan or Zimbabwean cooks who will not only make you delicious western food, but also introduce you to the local cuisine.

Everybody takes turns in helping him or her out with carrying the shopping, chopping up vegetables and washing up.

You may even get an extra half hour in bed in the morning as the cook is the first one up to light the fire and prepare breakfast.

You'll be pleasantly surprised at the quality of food and you'll get three square meals a day conjured up from the freshest of produce. Contrary to popular opinion, most people tend to put weight on during an overland tour!

A final note: please tell your cook or tour guide at the beginning of the trip if you have any special dietary requirements, allergies or intolerances.

This does not include 'I don't like mushrooms'. We need to know if 'mushrooms' (for instance) will make you ill, or if you cannot eat them for religious reasons.

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