It’s worth doing your research on the climate of the areas you are travelling to so that you know what to expect and what sort of clothing you should take. 

People often describe their first solo trip as an almost religious experience - to take in new surroundings unfiltered by the prejudices, tastes, or preferences of a travelling companion can be heady stuff. 

It’s no secret that taking on Africa in the form of an overland safari is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. The rewards are rich and varied; endless horizons, unspoilt bushveld, truly wild places and truly wild animals. 

The big question is, are overland tours expensive? Some say overlanding is among the cheapest ways to visit Africa, and provides a great introduction to the continent for first-timers, while others strongly disagree. 

At Encounters Travel, our adventure overland tours take in many of destinations cultural, scenic and wildlife highlights - often travelling through several countries to give you a truly in-depth experience. 

Jordan is safe and hospitable, however, it suffers guilt by association due to its location in the Middle East. Travellers who take the time to discover and explore this peaceful and friendly nation are rewarded with a warm welcome from locals.

The question here though isn’t whether or not you should visit Egypt but rather is it safe to visit? The short answer: Yes, Egypt is safe! However, for the long answer, carry on reading.  

April is one of the most popular months to visit Jordan - and with good reason - the weather is pleasant, and the semi-arid hills of northern Jordan burst into magnificent, knee-high bloom.

If you’re heading to the Middle East on a Jordan adventure, you’ll need to know what to pack and how to pack – we thought we’d help you out and take the guesswork out of things with our Jordan packing checklist.

We asked a few of our Encounters travellers to share at least one of their best and most memorable travel photos from their January trip – tours ranging from Incredible India, Jordan on a Shoestring, Pharaonic Encounters, and more.