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Meet Lando. No, the name isn’t a clever acronym devised to avoid the Land Rover legal team, it’s named after Lando Calrissian. You know, from Star Wars, because of the character’s adventurous spirit and because of a slight resemblance. Billy Dee Williams’ square jaw aside, the fleet of 10 overland adventure vehicles introduced on the G Adventures east and Southern Africa trips in May 2016 and have been a hit.

The custom builds harness the power of a 6,7-litre Cummins diesel engine (upgraded from the original 5,9-litre mill) through its rear wheels. G Adventures decided against giving Lando 4x4 capabilities because Africa has improved its access to tourist attractions wholesale, and if the rainy season affects Lando’s ability to carry revellers to a destination the company charters local suppliers with capable vehicles to facilitate.

On board, the original 28-seat bus has been stripped to offer only 24 climatecontrolled, reclining chairs with built-in USB charging ports and Wi-fi access. Seat configuration was altered to incorporate fridges. Other customisations include a stainless steel 200-litre drinking water tank, two additional fuel tanks which extend range to around 1 500 km, LED lighting attached to a 12 V battery system, an inverter and heavily modified viewing windows, optimised for photography.

Fiddling with the rear end to accommodate two extra spare wheels has neutered Lando’s departure angle somewhat, but it doesn’t detract from the vehicle’s capabilities. The engine, for instance, was upgraded to deal with overtaking transporter trucks, which have a habit of negatively affecting travel time quite significantly. Lando is a well-considered approach to group overlanding that can get deep into the Serengeti and comfortably prowl the crowded streets of Nairobi. Camping gear caters for 22 and includes two-man tents, chairs and kitchen equipment for when the bus parks out in the open.

G Adventures is in the business of small group travel and is on the more adventurous side of that market. The tours are divided into nine categories called “travel styles”.

Classic is a generous mix of the company’s core experience values like cultural contact, uncommon experiences and insider access. National Geographic Journeys are mostly about hands-on exploration and insider access. Active caters to the thrill seekers. Family aims to be all-inclusive for the kids. You can also select local living, marine, rail or private group tours.

The most popular for Lando tours, according to fleet and equipment manager Walter Krogh, is the Yolo style for ages 18 to 39. The age limit is there to ensure everyone is eligible to participate and get full value. The pace is fast and there are a ton of optional activities to set your heart racing.

It’s glamping of the highest order and seems to fall as a midway between sophisticated exploration and Contiki madness. The G Adventures travel network extends across all continents and you can get in from about R10 000 per person. Check out gadventures.com for more information.