You’re on the Africa Rally Roster.  You want a team name which inspires support, charity donations, and provides a few smiles along the way…

…but the mind is blank…

What to name your crew?

Hopefully this article will inspire some team names, based on top tips from HQ, and a few previous examples.

Tip 1. Make it Personal / Reference Your Vehicle

It’s not uncommon for vehicles on Africa Rally events to already be named.  Especially if they’ve been in the family for a number of years, and either lovingly restored, or used as everything from the tractor to the school bus.  This is great fuel for uniquely special Team Names.

Our 1980 MK4 Ford Cortina has been named Tina since long before she was our recce vehicle on The Africa Rally… and given she’s always been driven by Brits in Africa, the team name Tina & The Brits always seemed appropriate.

The 1980 Ford Cortina owned by HQ and affectionally known as Tina.

We’ve also had a VW Kombi called Rio (because she dances on the sand), and because she needs to be rebuilt each year, the team name was more dramatically called Team Rio’s Revenge.

A 1976 VW Kombi, known as Rio, ready for the Africa Rally.

Let’s also not forget Team Luna’s Adventures, and Team Jagerbug’s Adventures who both completed the Africa Rally 2025 in some lovely VW Beetles.

Team Luna’s Adventures, with Luna the 1976 VW Beetle, driven by West & Shari.

Team Jagerbug’s Adventures; a beautiful 1971 VW Beetle, driven by Jed & Rory.

Through to team names which have referenced not the given name of a vehicle, but the assigned name.

Some great examples of this have been Team Austin TEN-acious, who won the Challenger Route of The Africa Rally in 2025.  They were driving a 1935 Austin 10.

Scott & Feroza in Team Austin TEN-acious at the Finish Line of The Africa Rally 2025 (Challenger Route).

We’ve also had Team Amazon Across Africa, taking the Challenger Route title in 2024, driving a 1964 Volvo Amazon.

Team Amazon Across Africa’s 1964 Volvo Amazon, driven by Kevin & Kaz.

Or perhaps Team Bush Bentley, proving you can take a 6.75 Litre V8 Bentley across Africa!

Team Bush Bentley driven by Steve & Mark, at the Finish Line of the Discovery Route of The Africa Rally 2025. They are back for more this year!

(They’re actually coming back for more on The Africa Rally 2026).

Click here to enter The Africa Rally 2026!

Tip 2. Raise a Smile

We love a team name which makes everyone smile, and don’t mind if this turns out to be a little risque either!

Over the years we’ve had Team Names proposed that include:

• Team Lost, Stuck, and One Smoking Radiator (a reference to the Guy Ritchie Film – Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels)
• Team Left, I SAID LEFT!
• Team Foxhat (say it in a Glaswegian accent)
• Team Norfolk & Chance
• Team Quick Finishers
• Team Crash Test Dummies
• Team 50 Shades of FJ (one for the Toyota fans)
• Team T-Wrecks
• …and finally Team Where’s Auld Tom?

Tip 3. A Pun or Play on Words Always Works

Who doesn’t like a clever wordplay, or an intelligent joke, contained within a Team Name.

One of the best over the years has been Team Ewe Turn from Wales!

Jack & Joe from Wales, also known as Team Ewe Turn, with their Land Rover Discovery.

However, HQ have also suggested a few yet to be used, including:

• Team Alpaca Your Bags (Alpacas in Africa!?)
• Team Tropic Like It’s Hot
• Team Keep Palm & Carry On
• Team Adios, Beaches!
• …and Team Sea You Later!

Tip 4. Consider Other Languages

When in doubt, a popular choice by loads of Africa Rally Teams over the years is to consider a Team Name in a different language.  This doesn’t have to be your local language, but can be anything – Swahili has been very popular over the last few years.

In particular a nod to Team Wajinga Wanane (Winners of Most Money Raised for Charity (International Category) during The Africa Rally 2025).

All Members of Team Wajinga Wanane at the Finish Line of the Africa Rally 2025.

Note though, that although Team Wajinga Wanane means Team Eight Fools in Swahili, it also means Eight Motorcycles / Bicycles in Chichewa which naturally caused a bit of confusion and a few jokes to be made on route.  Especially given they were in two 4x4s!

Another great one was Team Bambisana, which is not only an extremely satisfying word to say, but also translates from Zulu to mean Team Let’s Help Each Other Out.

Team Bambisana pictured; who also had the novel approach of fishing along the way to keep their food budget down.

There was then the famous Thingi – a 1974 VW Kubelwagen who won our Photo of the Rally (Challenger Route) Award in 2024, who’s team name was Team Nkosi Yum.

Team Nkosi Yum consisting of Tom & Dave (left & right of shot), driving Thingi.

This roughly translates to Team Thank You in Xhosa.

…then finally, the Winners of the Discovery Route on The Africa Rally 2024 – Team Wazee Mambo.

Jonathan and Tony from Team Wazee Mambo in their solid Bushlore rental vehicle.

This translates from Swahili to mean Team Old Gits (or similar!).

Tip 5.  When in Doubt, Alliteration. 

If all else fails then reach for the bastions of alliteration and you can’t go wrong!

This is the most popular convention when it comes to naming Africa Rally Teams, with way too many teams adopting this approach to count.

A few of the highlights though are Team Divine Drifters, who morphed into Team Flaming Flamingos part way through the rally!

Team Divine Drifters, also known as Team Flaming Flamingos, at the Finish Line of The Africa Rally 2025!

Team Two Travelling Souls, who embodied the positive spirit of the Africa Rally throughout the 2025 event…

Johansa & Ria from Team Two Travelling Souls with their Toyota Hilux.

…and Team Watling Warthogs, cleverly giving a nod to Watling Street where the team lives, while also the animal in Africa they feel the vehicle most associates with!

Team Ants in Africa also smashed it with their team name given that both father and son are Anthony – so Team Ants in Africa was perfect!

Anthony & Tony, collectively Team Ants in Africa with their trusty VW Amarok at the Finish Line of The Africa Rally 2025!

They also went on to win the award for Most Money Raised (Regional) category, during The Africa Rally 2025, raising over R100,000 for Simbonga Game Reserve.

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A final BONUS tip.  Failing all of these pieces of advice, simply choose a name that’s so difficult to pronounce it keeps everyone at HQ (as well as on the road) battling, and laughing, throughout the entire event!

There is one team which holds the undoubted crown of absolutely victory (currently at least) in this matter…

…and that’s Team FEMININOMENON!

Team FEMININOMENON, consisting of Lilian & Liana in their 1985 Toyota Cressida.

Yes that’s right, give it a go.  Can you pronounce it?

We appreciate that naming your team can sometimes be a difficult endeavour… but a brainstorming session over a couple of cold ones, while considering these five top tips is definitely our advice.  Start with the names that have raised a smile, or a laugh, amongst your group and go from there!

You only need to confirm your team name approximately 10 weeks or so before The Africa Rally begins, (so we’ve time to print merchandise), and our HQ team will be in touch via email to ensure we’ve got everything correct.

For Teams:  Please do whitelist the @africarally.com domain, and info@africarally.com to ensure there’s nothing you miss.

Not on the roster yet?  Checkout https://africarally.com/ – Click Here – drop HQ a message on info@africarally.com – or hit the “I’m Interested” button on the right hand side of this page to join the adventure!