our vehicles & equipment

Our fleet of overland vehicles are a mixture of Mercedes and Fords. They are specially designed expedition trucks. Each continent encounters different terrain and climate, and we adapt the trucks to suit the area we are travelling through.

In South America the truck is our home and it becomes the social club during the cold nights in the Andes and yet it is also suited to the heat of the Amazon basin. This requires a hard-sided vehicle but includes large sunroof tops - the best of both worlds.

In Africa and Asia we use inward facing seats which are more sociable. These vehicles are open sided; the roof rolls back, the sides roll up allowing for maximum visibility. 

Our vehicles are able to tackle the toughest terrain. They have great game viewing vision, but are good for desert, mud and tarmac. They are fitted with comfortable, individual fully sprung seats with headrests.

The vehicles are fully equipped with kitchens, cook tents, campstools, strong durable tents, and all other camping equipment. All you need to bring is yourself, your clothes, a sleeping bag and mat and any personal medicines. For emergencies each truck carries a comprehensive medical kit.

 

our expedition leaders
Success is due to our leaders. Unlike most other companies we have only one. Why? Because the best way of creating group cohesion is for the leader and the expedition members to work together. You are not passengers on an Encounter trip; you are expedition members being helped by a expedition leader. You are a team, it is not them and us. 

The reason we can do this is that our leaders are the best. They undergo intensive training in the UK including, mechanical instructions, equipment repairs, PCV tests and specific training in the field. They also receive training in administration, visa and embassy procedures, dealing with different cultures, and most importantly, training in group dynamics, leadership skills and expedition management.

They are NOT tour guides because you are not a tourist. They are just good fun, knowledgeable people who are dependable in a crisis.
 

our expedition backup

Our Office in the UK provides excellent back up. We can deal with any pre travel plans, helping to arrange flights and insurance and also advising on visas and vaccinations. Our operational staff work very closely with the expedition leaders on the road to ensure everything is running smoothly. We have been backing up our UK head quarters that has over 19 years of experience.
 

our financial backup

The air holidays and flights shown are ATOL Protected by the Civil Aviation Authority. Our ATOL number is 4157. ATOL Protection extends primarily to customers who book and pay in the United Kingdom. Click on the ATOL if you want to know more.