Is it Possible Self Drive Safari in Tanzania? Self Drive East Africa.

Tanzania is home to some of Africa’s most famous national parks and natural attractions, including majestic Mount Kilimanjaro. Consequently, the most popular things to do in Tanzania and the reason many people visit the country, are the safaris and wildlife-related adventures. Off Road adventures are available for travelers that wish to explore Kenya , Tanzania , Uganda at discounted prices in Landcruiser with rooftop tent.

Tanzania is a feast for the senses. It is unparalleled for its natural beauty, unique wildlife viewing, and rich culture. The landscape is shaped by extremes. Where mountains, lakes, grasslands, and rain forests are not uncommon to see within the same area. Also safaris in Tanzania are some of the best in the world, with most of them never going without seeing one of the “Big 5” of game animals: lions, leopards, rhinoceros’, elephants, and buffalo.

Self Drive Tours in Tanzania

Self-drive is now the most inquired package that the visitors only require to hire a car and do the rest safari on their own without being guided.

In Tanzania National Parks, self-drive is allowed and guaranteed throughout the year. Self-drive is superb to the tourist who really need the real adventure in the safari because no one will be there to guide you on where you should be, what to do, what to watch and so many things can be done in self-drive rather than in guided safari tour.

In the National Parks and other conversations areas in Tanzania, self-drive is being operated and the tourist has to prepare some essential information/ tips that can be very helpful during the trip so as to avoid some misfortunes and keep their trip a very pleasant and memorable trip ever.

1. Rent a car from a trustworthy company

In Tanzania, there are Tanzania safari companies that offer car rental services for self-drive to foreigners and some don’t. It’s important to look for a good company that provides cars with good standards that will suit your trip with no problems. We offer the best self-drive services that include cars of standard quality, can help in planning for your tour itinerary, and prepare bookings for your accommodations at a better rate compared to the one you’ll be offered when you book directly. The rental cars are 4WD with a pop-up rooftop.

2. Recharge your credit cards

It is worth to have enough balance in your bank accounts, especially when some of your services are not paid yet like the Park entrance fees, Campsites, food and water and other extra stuffs. The credit card must be VISA or MASTERCARD, This can help you to access the bank services anywhere in the country. Enough balance will allow you to do other extra activities that have not to be included in your tour itinerary like Air balloons, Some of the drinks, and other extra stuff that you might need to buy.

3. International Driver’s license / International Driving Permit

An international driving license will help a tourist get access to hire a car for self-drive and a permit of descending into the Tanzania National Parks and other Conservation Sites like the Controlled areas and Game Reserves.

International Driving Permit (IDP) is a legal document that validates your license internationally and can allow you drive in foreign country, it can acquire from the destination or a country that the tourist is coming from. IDP can be helpful if one has no an International Driving Licence and It is valid for 12 months. IDP and International Driving license are very crucial for this package because you will be the driver.

4. Mechanic skills & Navigational skills

A tourist that enquires for a self-drive package is very important to have some necessary skills like mechanic skills and Navigational skills. In your trip no one will accompany you, having these skills will help. You should have understood on the basic mechanic, when the car has some small problem one can be able to fix rather than waiting for a Mechanic that might take some time to arrive, also having some necessary tools to fix any minor breakdown. Navigation Skills can help you take the exact route of your trip, having the navigational skills like the use of Global Positioning System (GPS), use of Compass, Magnetic Declination/variation and maps this can save you determine the right direction.

5. Health and Safety

Before embarking your safari it’s important to be assured that you are in good condition. Never forget to take your basic medications and the first Aid Kit with all necessary tools that can help you treat yourself with minor treats or injuries like scrapes and cuts. Also the correspondent company needs to prepare you medical insurance before you take your trip, This will help you get the medical assistance anytime you need and anywhere around your trip destination.

6. Accommodation

The self-driving package can be provided with extra services which are very crucial during the trip, whereby some services can be prepared by the company that hosts you, they can be responsible for booking and preparing the whole schedule. Accommodation services can be booked prior to commencement of the safari whereby it can be lodges campsites or mobile tents depending on your choice. Having prior arrangements on accommodation can help you not be stressed about where you can have rest after the safari. All process of accommodation services can be well reserved for the company.

Advantages and disadvantages of self-drive tours

In the overviews below we have listed the advantages and disadvantages that are in self-driving.

Pros of self-drive safaris in Tanzania

• On self-drive camping tours (more so than on self-drive lodge tours) you are more flexible and can plan much better according to your own interests compared to guided group tours: Do I want to see more birds or more elephants? Do I want to watch the lions for 3 minutes or 3 hours? Do I want to stay in this national park one day longer or not? (Note that this is also possible on guided private camping safaris to a large extend.)
• You are not traveling with strangers as you would be on some guided safari, and you do not have to accommodate anyone. (However, on a private safari you only have to deal with the guide.)
• Self-drive trips can be more adventurous, especially when you are completely alone somewhere without any other people around (even without a guide).
• There will likely be more surprises (not only positive, but also negative).
• There is a tendency for more encounters with locals in situations where the guide would otherwise sort things out for you.

Cons of self-drive safaris in Tanzania

• Rental cars are often very expensive, and some companies even prohibit driving into the Serengeti. Caution is also advised with flat-rate fees per kilometer, which can become very costly after exceeding the included free kilometers.
• Land Cruisers with a pop-up roof hatch are even more expensive.
• You need to plan the entire tour and route yourself.
• In some cases, there are badly signposted private campsites; a GPS is absolutely essential, and it is advisable to enter the coordinates beforehand. However, there are not always clear coordinates, which makes campsites even more difficult to find.
• Timing and scheduling are often difficult (routes take longer than planned).
• You’ll need to focus on the road at all times because of the speed bumps, the speed limits and the many police checks. Also because of the often-inconsiderate driving style of others (especially trucks and buses).
• Small and honest mistakes simply based on lack of knowledge or inexperience can cost more time and money (e.g. if gate times are not adhered to, or the 24-hour rule of admission tickets is misinterpreted, or you misjudge the need or forget to refuel).
• You can lose time at the gates if the payment or code selection technology does not work and you’re not sure how to sort it out and who to talk to in order to resolve the issue.
• Spots when waiting in the queue at the gate are sometimes hotly contested.
• On camping tours, you have to cook your own food.
• The roads can be in terrible condition, depending on region and season, and you may be rather reluctant to drive them yourself.
• You definitely need to be extremely flexible any day and any time.
• Spotting wildlife is more often than not left to chance and likely less successful than with a guide. (That is why guides are often asked about travel suggestions.)
• Costs per person and care are more expensive than when traveling in a group. Some travelers therefore choose to skip the Ngorongoro Crater which is a shame as it’s one of the main attractions.
• You might be hoping to save some money by driving yourself; however, more often than not this is not the case and on the contrary, in many cases a guided tour would have been cheaper or at least not more expensive.

Conclusion

Self-drive safaris in Tanzania are some of the most exciting opportunities you can imagine encountering wilderness and wildlife. A visit here is definitely worthwhile. We are happy to answer any questions you may have.