Lost & Loaded Register
Two 4x4s and three travellers on the vast white expanse of the Makgadikgadi salt pans

The Rally

Get Lost in Africaand Loaded withExperience.

A 21-day overlanding rally across southern Africa.

The ancient dunes of Sossusvlei, the wild Zambezi, the mighty Victoria Falls, the Okavango Delta, the largest salt pans on the planet, the enigmatic Matopos Mountains, the pearly beaches of Mozambique, and all the wilderness, weirdness and fun in between.

Bring your team and come get lost.

Register your teamSee the route ↓

Dates
21 Jan – 11 Feb 2027
Ticket
A small cost per team
Length
21 days
Field
20 cars
Ages
20 to 35
Route
Cape Town to Mozambique

The big stuff

Not just a holiday. An adventure.

Six notable sights along the way. The kind most people only ever see in photos.

  • Two 4x4s and three travellers on the vast white expanse of the Makgadikgadi salt pans

    Flat, white and endless. The biggest salt pan on the planet.

    Makgadikgadi

    Botswana
  • Victoria Falls in full flood, spray rising over the gorge

    A kilometre-wide curtain of water, the smoke that thunders.

    Victoria Falls

    Zimbabwe
  • A lone figure walking the ridge of a towering red dune at Sossusvlei

    Towering red dunes above a cracked white clay pan.

    Sossusvlei

    Namibia
  • A palm-lined path leading to a tropical shoreline hut in Mozambique

    Palm-lined coast, where the bush gives way to the Indian Ocean.

    Tofo & Bazaruto

    Mozambique
  • Elephants crossing the floodplain at dusk in the Okavango Delta

    A desert that floods every year into Africa’s richest delta.

    Okavango Delta

    Botswana
  • The abandoned mansions of Kolmanskop ghost town, half swallowed by desert sand

    An old diamond town, slowly swallowed by the dunes.

    Kolmanskop

    Namibia

What it is

Not a race. A quest.

An overland adventure for people who’d rather get lost than get there first. Drive your own car from Cape Town to the Mozambican coast, off the highways wherever you can. Nobody is timing you. Curiosity is what scores. Complete the most challenges and side quests, and your team takes home the grand prize.

  • Quests, not speed

    Points come from challenges and side quests, never how fast you drive.

  • Off the tar

    Our map shows the 4x4, 2x4 and highway routes, plus the spots worth the detour.

  • Win your ticket back

    The most adventurous team wins their ticket money back.

No signal, no itinerary, just the road ahead.

Atlantic to Indian Ocean

The route.

Go your own way, or follow our tried-and-tested route, west to east, Cape Town to the Mozambican coast via Namibia, Botswana and Zimbabwe.

  1. Start · Atlantic

    South Africa

    33°55′S 18°25′E

    Cape Town (or just outside it)

  2. Country

    Namibia

    22°34′S 17°04′E
    • Fish River Canyon
    • Lüderitz
    • Sossusvlei
    • Windhoek
  3. Country

    Botswana

    19°59′S 23°25′E
    • Maun and the Okavango Delta
    • Makgadikgadi
    • Chobe
  4. Country

    Zimbabwe

    17°55′S 25°51′E
    • Victoria Falls
    • Hwange
    • Matopos
    • The Eastern Highlands
  5. Finish · Indian Ocean

    Mozambique

    19°51′S 34°50′E
    • Beira
    • Bazaruto
    • Tofo

Stops and roads may change before the start. Pick your route on the day from 4x4, 2x4 or highway.

The game

Every day has a new quest.

Every morning brings a new challenge, plus side quests worth the detour. Whoever completes the most challenges wins the grand prize. Here’s a taste:

Today's challenge

Eat a traditional meal in a rural village.

Side quest

Help somebody who has broken down on the side of the road.

Daily challenges
Short, simple tasks that connect you with the people and places along the way.
Side quests
Optional detours you can complete any time during the trip.
The prize
Points, not speed. The team with the most wins their ticket money back.
Four L&L parties
Four parties in Cape Town, Sossusvlei, the Okavango and Tofo. Braai, wine and beer included.
Big activities
Gorge swinging, dune driving, abseiling, diving and game viewing along the way.
Booklet and map
A printed booklet and map covering borders, visas, local phrases, country history, and your 4x4, 2x4 and highway routes.
On camera
A videographer travels with the group, capturing it all.

Register

Prepare for the time of your life.

Your adventure starts here. Bring your crew, bring your car and come and get properly lost. Nothing is charged today.

A small costper team

This is our first rally, a recce run. Rates may change for future rallies.

  1. 1Fill in the form. It sends straight to us, no email app needed.
  2. 2We reply with the entry terms and payment details.
  3. 3Sign, pay and start preparing your car for the road.

Your entry

Including you. Crew limits are confirmed in the entry terms.

A small cost per team. Nothing is charged when you register.

Questions

Before you sign up.

When is it?

It runs from 21 January to 11 February 2027.

Who is it for?

Adventurous 20 to 35-year-olds from anywhere in the world who would rather collect stories than souvenirs.

Do I need a 4x4?

Not necessarily. The map we provide shows a 4x4 route, a 2x4 route and the highways, so you can pick your level of adventure. Old, battered cars have made long trips across Africa before. Just make sure yours is in solid mechanical shape.

How much driving do I do per day?

It’s a route of roughly 6,000km, but some days you could find yourself driving 500km or more, some days 100km, some days nothing at all. It’s completely up to you how you split your route up. We recommend taking turns with a co-driver. Going it alone? We hope you’ve got a good playlist.

Can I buy an old car just for this?

Yes, and we love it. Buy something with character, prepare it properly, and sell it on afterwards.

How do I win my ticket back?

Points come from completing daily challenges and side quests, never from speed. The team with the most adventurous run wins their ticket money back.

Which visas and documents will I need?

It depends on your passport, but here’s what to have ready:

  • Vehicle registration document (original).
  • A police clearance certificate for your vehicle. It will save you a ton of hassle at the borders, some won’t let you through without one.
  • A police-stamped affidavit, written and confirmed by the owner, if you’re driving a rented car or someone else’s.
  • A Temporary Import Permit for your vehicle, needed entering and exiting each country. These are issued at the border post itself. Don’t try avoid getting one, it’s unlawful and honestly not worth it, trust us.
  • South African and SADC passport holders typically pay nothing for visas at these borders, though this is subject to change. EU, US, Asian, Oceania and South American passport holders should research visa entry requirements for each country on the route.
  • Any other documents you need, such as proof of permanent residency, are usually accepted as certified copies no older than three months.
Is it safe?

You drive your own car at your own risk, and every challenge is designed around curiosity, never danger. Avoid driving at night, when roads are rougher and wildlife wanders onto them. Keep your speed down and enjoy the ride, curiosity beats speed every time. Africa is often painted as riddled with danger, but in our experience the people are some of the warmest and most generous you will meet, and a smile and a bit of kindness go a long way. That said, keep your wits about you, just like anywhere else in the world. Our route avoids areas with real safety concerns, such as northern Mozambique. We also recommend travel, health and car insurance to take some of the weight off your shoulders. Before you pay we will send the entry terms, including the waiver and insurance requirements.

How do I pay?

Registering costs nothing. Once we have your details we will email the entry terms and payment details for the team fee.

What if the route changes?

Conditions in southern Africa can shift, so the route might too. The entry terms cover route changes.