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Adventure travel agent Tucan Travel is on the lookout for several British truck drivers who want to spend the next year or two on an adventure of a lifetime.

Not only will they get to drive a Mercedes-Benz Actros rigid through some of the most stunning scenery that Africa or South America has to offer, but they'll also get paid for the privilege.

As you've probably guessed, this is a driving job like no other. For a start, your cargo will consist of holiday-makers and their luggage.  And instead of sleeping in the cab, you'll spend each night in either a hotel or tent.

Although Tucan Travel has bases in Peru, South Africa and Kenya, you'll spend most of the time on the road. Trips vary in length from three weeks to six months, so if you don't like nights away, this definitely isn't the role for you.

So what qualifications and skills do you need?

Well, to start with, you're going to need an HGV licence. But it's worth stressing that this is far more than just a driving job.

At the end of your eight hours you will be expected to muck-in with setting up camp. You are also going to need to be reasonably handy with a spanner, because there aren't too many Mercedes-Benz truck dealerships in the African bush.

A smattering of Spanish would be a good thing, too (if you choose to be based in South America), but not essential.

Tucan Travel's CEO Matt Gannan explains that some drivers book themselves onto a crash course before  leaving Blighty, and everyone picks up pigeon Spanish while they are out there anyway.

Other important attributes include a sense of adventure and a passion for socialising, after all you'll be living with the same group of holiday-makers for up to six months at a time.

But most important of all, you're going to need to love trucks, because you'll be doing a lot of driving in what will sometimes be challenging conditions. One thing's for certain, it's a whole lot different to just carrying baked beans around the M25, and it clearly isn't going to be everyone's cup of tea.

According to Gannan, over the past two decades, the vast majority of Tucan's drivers have been single men, under the age of 40 (although you have to be 25 years or older for insurance purposes).

So what exactly would inspire a British driver to up sticks, and move halfway around the globe? Well, for a start, there's the chance to travel, and see something of the world.

How many people get the opportunity to spend a year or two driving around Africa or South America? And according to current Tucan Travel driver Logan Griffiths (who's currently driving trucks in Africa, after having completed a full contract term of 18 months in South America), "you've got the best view in the house".

Then there's the social aspect, which will definitely appeal to some. "You'll make friends and contacts with people all over the world," says Griffiths.

Although the salary isn't great, living costs are taken care of, and many drivers find they actually save more than they did when they were back in Britain. You also get your flights paid for, assuming you don't leave before the end of your contact.

But one of the biggest draws for drivers, including Brendon Arthur (who has been driving in Africa for the past 18 months), is the adventure.

"Driving with Tucan is a blast, and there's never a dull moment," he explains. "Just beware of the road hazards, which includes the hundreds of people that use the road as a footpath, the elephants, giraffes, zebras, donkeys, goats, mangy dogs, and last but not least, the crazy African bus drivers and cyclists."

To download an application form, log on to Tucan Travel's website.