Self Drive Tanzania: Reliable 4x4 Self-Drive Cars & Safaris
Plan your Self Drive Tanzania with the leading self-drive car rental company East Africa for your adventure in Tanzania.
Self-driving at your own pace and time is the perfect way to experience the beauty and rich wildlife of Serengeti. Get the opportunity to take the less traveled road by hiring one of our comfortable safari vehicles to enjoy your own adventure at whatever your budget.
Self-Drive Safaris Tanzania
Tanzania is known for its exceptional wildlife and mountain World which has made it a popular destination among International travelers. Thanks to its unbeaten beauty, many travelers wonder whether it is possible to explore the sights of this country without a driver/guide.
The good news is that it is very possible. Expect flexibility in planning your self drive Tanzania trip, you will enjoy privacy (not traveling with strangers), more adventurous as you get to discover new places on your own thus more surprises.
Self drive Tanzania is about experiencing outback adventures, magical coastline routes, and verdant landscapes, thus making it every traveler’s dream come true.
Best Cars for Self Drive Tanzania
Perfect Vehicles for Self drive Tanzania: Our extensive fleet is perfect for self-drive expeditions in Tanzania- sturdy vehicles perfect for the bush and even exploring outback places. Here are the perfect options to rent for your self-drive trip in Tanzania;
The rooftop Tent Land Cruisers
Are you planning to add Camping to your self-drive Tanzania trip? Choose our ultimate all-terrain Camping vehicle- the rooftop Tent Land Cruiser. It has a large storage space for your Camping gear, built-in drawers, and customized space for a mini-fridge, gas cooker, and others. Thanks to its 4 window seats, it is perfect for game drives.
Land Cruiser TX/TZ
Discover Tanzania’s rugged terrain with the Land Cruiser TX, a perfect blend of durability and comfort. Equipped with a robust engine and a spacious interior, this vehicle offers a smooth and reliable journey across challenging landscapes, making it ideal for your adventurous self-drive safari.
Land Cruiser Box Model
Navigate the wilds of Tanzania in the sturdy Land Cruiser Box Model. Renowned for its off-road prowess and spacious cargo area, this vehicle is a safari classic. It’s the go-to choice for tackling rough terrains with confidence and ensuring a safe, dependable self drive Tanzania experience.
The extended Safari Land Cruiser
This is our all-time safari classic with a pop-up roof hence no wildlife will remain unnoticed from its viewpoint. This vehicle has 6 window seats (thus a seating capacity of 7-8 passengers) and if you choose to go Camping, then the last row can be preserved for Camping gear and personal luggage. This four-wheel drive vehicle also boasts a roof rack, etc.
Toyota Hiace
Ideal for group adventures, the Toyota Hiace combines space and comfort. This vehicle offers smooth travel with ample room for passengers and luggage, perfect for family trips or group tours. Whether exploring cityscapes or remote trails, the Hiace ensures a comfortable and efficient journey.
Land Cruiser GX Manual
Experience the raw power and control of the Land Cruiser GX Manual. Designed for enthusiasts who prefer a hands-on driving experience, this manual transmission vehicle offers unmatched reliability and capability in Tanzania Serengeti terrains. Its manual control system make it perfect for self drive Tanzania.
Top Self Drive Safari Routes in Tanzania:
Self-drive safaris in Tanzania is great immersion into Africa’s true wilderness. Located in East Africa, Tanzania is not only popular for its most rewarding guided safaris but also enriching self-drive tours. A self drive Tanzania safari is a perfect way for you to create your own adventure, have a story to share.
There are plenty of self-drive safari routes in Tanzania worth exploring by any enthusiastic self-drive traveler. Each route leads you to Tanzania’s diverse destinations where you are guaranteed of exceptional encounters including witnessing the world’s spectacle –the Great Migration in the popular Serengeti National Park.
The Northern Safari Circuit
The Northern Safari/Tourist Circuit is by far the most favorite route anyone on Tanzania safari shouldn’t miss to explore. It is perhaps Tanzania’s most endowed region when it comes to biodiversity and also enriching wildlife safari experiences. Think of the big five game, wildebeest migration, birding, etc and think not beyond the Northern circuit in Tanzania.
Self drive Tanzania safaris to the Northern tourist circuit involves exploring iconic destinations such as Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Crater or Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Lake Manyara National Park, Tarangire National Park, Oldvuvai Gorge, and others.
A self-drive tour to any of these destinations guarantee nature enthusiasts the off-beaten wilderness experiences.
Ngorongoro Crater/Conservation Area
The Ngorongoro Conservation Area is one of the endowed protected areas in Tanzania and Africa at large. Known for its breathtaking volcano feature –the Ngorongoro Crater also the world’s natural wonder, Ngorongoro Conservation Area is known for its biodiverse fauna. The different faunal species in Ngorongoro include spotted hyenas, wildebeest, elephants, jackals, hippos, black rhinos, elands, Kobs, hippos and diverse birds including augur buzzard, Kori bustard, red and yellow barbet, rufous tailed weaver birds. Other birds include the greater flamingos, Egyptian vultures, capped wheatear, fan-tailed widowbird, rosy-throated long claw, Jackson’s widowbird, rufous chatterer, Hildebrandt’s francolins, to mention but a few. Top things to do in Ngorongoro include picnicking, photography safaris, birding, game drives, exploring the Maasai community, nature walks and more.
The Southern Safari Circuit.
Explore the Southern safari circuit destinations, experience the remotest part of Tanzania like a local.
Key destinations that make up the Southern safari circuit include Ruaha National Park, Mikumi National Park, Selous Game Reserve and Udzungwa Mountains National Park.
Selous Game Reserve
Currently popular as Nyerere National Park –this protected area lies in the Southern side of Tanzania. It consists of diverse wildlife to see in Selous/Nyerere protected area include cape buffaloes National Park, zebras, hippos, elephants, black rhinos, crocodiles, wildebeest and more. Self-drive tours in Tanzania are best done using a 4×4 safari vehicle. Check out some of our comfortable rental cars suitable for your self-drive trips. We have the best 4×4 Toyota Land Cruiser, Toyota Rav4 rental, 4×4 Land Cruiser V8, and others. These are available for booking at the most affordable rates.
Serengeti National Park
Serengeti National Park is Tanzania’s premier wildlife safari destination. This vast savanna and world heritage site boasts of its abundant wildlife, birds and other unique species. Spanning over 14763sq.km, Serengeti lies along the Eastern Mara region and Northeaster Simiyu region. The park is largely comprised of virgin savanna and holds all the big five game members –African lions, bush elephants, leopards, rhinos, and buffaloes. Other common wildlife species to see in Serengeti National Park include the grant’s gazelles, zebras, elands, impalas, topis, Kongoni, long-neck giraffe, hippos, crocodiles, cheetahs and plenty of birds such as the rufous-tailed weaver bird, painted-snipe, and others. Top activities to do in Serengeti include birding, game drives, hot air balloon safaris, nature/bush walks, watching the great wildebeest migration, and visit the nearby local communities.
Lake Manyara National Park Tanzania
Known for its unique tree climbing lions, Lake Manyara National Park is notably one of the ideal self-drive safari destinations you should consider paying a visit to.
The different species in Lake Manyara Park include zebras, warthogs, elephants, hippos, cheetahs, giraffes, hyenas, genets, bushbucks, buffaloes, and several bird species.
Birds in Lake Manyara Park include the pink-backed pelicans, silvery-cheeked hornbills, black-necked grebe, little grebe, crowned hornbill, crowned eagle, black heron, and many more.
Tarangire National Park
Visit Tarangire National Park, Tanzania’s 6th biggest National Park spanning over 2600sq.km.
The park is most popular for its huge concentration of elephants and other faunal species such as buffaloes, zebras, giraffes, hippos, hyenas, warthogs, hartebeests, warthogs, and birds such as yellow-necked spur fowl, black headed heron, superb starling, bush shrike, speckled pigeon, little grebe to mention but a few.
Key exciting things to enjoy in Tarangire National Park include game drives (day and night), birding, hot air balloon tours and nature walks.
Ruaha National Park
Ruaha National Park is notably a wildlife haven, an excellent spot where huge concentrations of elephants live.
The park’s diverse landscape also encompasses species such as leopards, lions, cheetahs and an estimate of more than 570 species of birds.
Best Time for self-drive in Tanzania?
When to Go on a Tanzania Self Drive Safari?
Tanzania is an all year round destination and offers the best of guided and self drive Tanzania tours. The best time to travel to Tanzania for a holiday is around the dry season when there is low or no rains thus making it easier to navigate through the different paths to and from your destinations.
The dry months in Tanzania occur from June, July, August, September and October –these are regarded as the long dry months of the year. But note that even during these dry months, temperatures differ depending on the location and altitude. The sky can be clear and generally, the weather is sunny and they are preferred months of the year to enjoy Tanzania safari –self-drive or guided game safaris.
Useful Tips to Self Drive Tanzania:
- Do not drive at night/dark in Tanzania –get to your destination early enough.
- Observe the set regulations or traffic road rules
- Understand the pickup and drop off terms and conditions of your car hire company.
- Book your self-drive vehicle in advance.
- Plan your self-drive tour with the local tour company or operator in Tanzania
- Choose the best car that suits your self-drive desires.
Places to visit during Self-drive Tanzania
Tanzania is large with over 22 National Parks and about 32 Game Reserve, and this gives you a picture of the different options of self drive Tanzania you are likely to enjoy. However, self-drive goes beyond the National Parks and Reserves. Therefore, the unmissable places to visit during self-drive Tanzania include;
Tarangire National Park
This Protected Area is the 6th largest Park and one of the most stunning places in the country, both in dry and wet seasons. The largest herds of elephants in Tanzania are found here. Additionally, expect to see lots of Thomson’s gazelles, lions, Masai giraffes, zebras, Coke’s hartebeests, wildebeests, lesser and greater kudus, elands, Bohor reedbucks, Cape buffaloes, and many others.
Ngorongoro Conservation Area
Ngorongoro is a vast and untouched area is one of the most beautiful and unmissable places in Tanzania, and your self-drive trip would be incomplete without it. Its vast highland savannah, and woodlands make it easy to undertake your drive with options of spotting wildebeests, Wild hunting dogs, Black Rhinos, Grant and Thompson gazelles, Golden cats, lions, elephants, buffaloes, Hippos, leopards, zebras, to mention but a few.
Selous Game Reserve
Set in the southern side of the country and far from the madding crowds, a self-drive in Selous Game Reserve is the best decision you will ever take. It is exciting to know that this is the largest Game Reserve in Africa with over 54,600 square kilometers to its name thus unmissable if you expect undisturbed wildlife viewing experiences. Expect to see one of the highest concentrations of zebras, waterbucks, impalas, Lichtenstein’s hartebeests, bushbucks, leopards, hyenas, wildebeests, elands, Hippos, buffaloes, lions, African wild dogs, Sable antelopes, crocodiles, and many others.
Serengeti National Park
Serengeti is undeniably one of the most popular safari destinations in Africa, thanks to the high population of Big Five animals and the Great Migration. Serengeti National Park is known as one of the “Birthplaces of safaris” with over 500 cheetahs, 4000 lions, 1000 leopards, elephants, Buffaloes, Rhinos, Hippos, Masai giraffes, wildebeests, zebras, gazelles, and over 500 bird species.
Lake Manyara National Park
Named after the country’s most famous Lake, this National Park is known for its flamboyance of flamingos gathered around the stunning watering hole, as well as over 400 bird species. This Protected Area is also known for its tree-climbing lions (unique lions that are only found in two places- here and in Uganda’s Queen Elizabeth National Park). Other animals to see here are Masai giraffes, zebras, impalas, Hippos, and many others.