Author: The Travelling Sloth
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Southern Africa 4×4 Buyback Guide after 15000km and 9 countries
After 15,000km across nine countries, a Southern Africa 4×4 buyback can be one of the most cost-effective and flexible ways to overland the region. If you’re planning a long overland trip through Southern Africa, you’ve probably come across something called a 4×4 buyback scheme. At first glance, it sounds a bit strange – you’re not…
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San Andrés, Colombia Travel Guide: Everything to know Before Visiting
San Andres, Colombia has been described to me as either Colombia’s version of the Caribbean paradise or a popular holiday getaway frequented by locals and South Americans alike. After spending a week on the island, I can report back that both are true. The water is genuinely spectacular and some of the brightest shades of…
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Scuba Diving in San Andrés, Colombia: My Honest Experience
When I told other divers I was heading to San Andrés, Colombia, the reactions were surprisingly positive. “Apparently the diving is really good.” “The water is beautiful.” “You should definitely dive there.” And honestly, after hearing so much hype, I arrived expecting far more than I experienced underwater. To be clear – I didn’t hate…
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Birding in Mindo, Ecuador: Beginner’s Guide to the Cloud Forest
Birding in Mindo may be one of the best birding experiences you can have in South America. Have you heard that I identify as a birder now? Let’s not get that extreme but I have found a new appreciation for our feathered friends. It’s one of those things that hits you as soon as you…
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Argentina vs Brazil: Which Side of Iguazu Falls is Better?
Planning a trip to Iguazu Falls? You’ve probably tried asking which side of Iguazu Falls is better – Argentina or Brazil? You’re not alone – I did the same thing before visiting. But we managed to do both because we had the luxury of time to. Understandably, not everyone is travelling all around South America! While…
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Isla de la Plata, Ecuador: The Best Galapagos Alternative?
Isla de la Plata, Ecuador – often called the “Poor Man’s Galapagos” is one of the best budget wildlife experiences in South America. Located off the coast of Puerto López inside Machalilla National Park. This island is famous for blue-footed boobies, humpback whales, snorkeling and affordable day tours from mainland Ecuador. If you’re wondering whether…
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Jardin, Colombia Travel Guide (2026): A Quieter Alternative to Salento
After spending a month travelling around Colombia, Jardín ended up becoming one of the places we talked about long after leaving. Not because there are endless attractions or because it’s a hidden gem (honestly, it’s quite well known now), but it still feels like a real Colombian town. Locals sit in the square chatting for…
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The Budget Breakdown: How much 3 weeks overlanding in Namibia cost?
Namibia had been high on our bucket list for years and during our Southern Africa overlanding trip, we finally spent 20 days road tripping across the country. This is our complete Namibia budget breakdown including accommodation, fuel, camping, food, activities and overlanding costs. The main thing we struggled with was knowing if Namibia was expensive…