Top Self-Drive Safari Routes in Tanzania and Best 4×4 Cars
Discover the untamed Self-Drive Safari Routes in Tanzania beyond the normal guided safaris. Tanzania is undoubtedly a favorite destination for self-drive tours. Lying in East Africa, Tanzania is vast and a single day is never enough to navigate around this spectacular destination full of endless wonders. A self-drive safari in Tanzania is a lifetime opportunity to discover what this country has to offer the world your way.
Road tripping in Tanzania is perfect using 4×4 rental cars. Regardless of your budget, there are multiple self-drive safari routes for everyone to explore and experience the best of Tanzania. Each route has something unique and worth discovering or experiencing.
Tanzania spans up to about 947,303sq.km and features many distinct attractions such as national parks, reserves, lakes, beaches, mountains, islands and others. A self-drive tour in Tanzania offers typical adventure as you explore some of these great attractions and more.
Here are the Top Self-Drive Safari Routes in Tanzania:
Arusha –Dar-es Salaam
Love long road trips? Embarking on a self-drive journey from Arusha to Dar-es-Salaam should be a must-do on your next visit to Tanzania for a holiday. This self-drive safari route allows you to explore and experience Tanzania’s coastline. Using our 4×4 self-drive rental car, the Arusha –Dar-es-Salaam road trip is a perfect bush-to-beach Tanzania safari experience.
Dar es Salaam is Tanzania’s biggest city and also the busiest port as well as commercial hub. At Dar es Salaam, expect to unearth variety of unique attractions ranging from beaches, Mbudya Island, national museum, botanical gardens, visit markets, classic restaurants and more.
Serengeti National Park self-drive from Arusha
A self-drive trip in Tanzania is never complete without a visit to Serengeti. Embark on a road trip to Serengeti starting from Arusha about 6-7 hours’ drive. Serengeti National Park is Tanzania’s premier wildlife park, most popular for its distinct attractions. This park’s boundaries stretch up to 14,763sq.km and officially, it was declared as a national park in 1951.
A self-drive safari in Serengeti allows you explore the park’s wonders. The great wildlife encounters at Serengeti National Park include witnessing millions of the wildebeest accompanied by zebras, plus other grazers. The great migration is the most dramatic experience awaiting every nature enthusiast on Tanzania safari in Serengeti National Park.
Some of the park’s iconic faunal species include African elephants, cape buffaloes, wild dogs, gazelles, elands, hyenas, lions, cheetahs, leopards, giraffes, and plenty of bird species. Other than witnessing the annual wildebeest migration, visitors can also embark on a game drive, hot air balloon experience, nature walk and more.
Lake Manyara National Park
Lake Manyara NP is one of the most accessible wildlife parks in Tanzania from Arusha city. Self-drive road trip from Arusha to Lake Manyara N/Park takes about 2-3 hours’ drive.
The key highlights of self-drive tour in Lake Manyara NP include searching for the park’s iconic attractions including the tree climbing lions while they are lazily chilling on the acacia tree branches. Explore the rest of the park’s abundant faunal species like giraffes, hippos, wildebeest, elephants, zebras, and birds like flamingos.
Arusha-Tarangire National Park
Located in the Manyara region, Tarangire National Park is one of the key areas in Tanzania shouldn’t be missed to explore on self-drive tour. This park derives its name from the scenic Tarangire River which crosses it. This 2850sq.km park is known for its abundant bird species which make it a great birding destination and also features breathtaking landscapes with beautiful baobab trees.
The different faunal species to explore on Tanzania self-drive tour in Tarangire NP include elands, zebras, gazelles, elephants, hartebeest, buffaloes, lions, and more.
Arusha-Ruaha National Park route
A self-drive to Ruaha National Park means a great opportunity for you to explore Tanzania’s biggest national park. Spanning up to 13000sq.km, Ruaha covers several game reserves like Rungwa Game Reserve and Usangu Gam Reserve plus other smaller reserves.
It takes its name from the spectacular Ruaha River, the park’s significant water source and also an ideal area to spot variety of fauna. They include wild dogs, zebras, lions, elephants, bat eared foxes, jackals, lions, leopards, and more.
The Great Rift Valley
Explore the breathtaking landscapes of Tanzania from savannas to the Great Rift Valley escarpments. This is perfect for adventure seekers on Tanzania self-drive tour. The Rift Valley area comes with great features including volcanoes, lakes, rivers and hot springs.
Some of the lakes to explore along the Great Rift Valley region include Lake Eyasi, Lake Manyara, Lake Natron, Lake Makati and Lake Tanganyika, etc. These come with unique fauna and aquatic birds.
Mahale Mountains National Park
Lying nearby the scenic shores of Lake Tanganyika, Mahale Mountains National Park is remarkably the best spot for primate visitors who desire to explore Tanzania’s chimpanzees.
The key highlight at Mahale is chimpanzee tracking and this involves active foot-walk experience via the rainforest with a local guide on lead. Besides chimpanzees, other primates can also be encountered including the red colobus monkeys, yellow baboons, and more.
Arusha-Ngorongoro Crater/Conservation Area
Set off from Arusha to the spectacular Ngorongoro crater about 3 hours’ drive. Ngorongoro is known for its abundant mammal species and include lions, leopards, buffaloes, elephants, rhinos, zebras, giraffes, hyenas, cheetahs, hippos, elands, Kobs, gazelles, and more.
Birds of Ngorongoro include hammer kops, flamingoes, herons, pelicans, European strain vultures, Kori bustards, to mention but a few.
Best time to go self-drive in Tanzania;
The dry season is the most favorite period for self-drive tours in Tanzania, a season when you stand a chance to encounter abundant faunal species and weather conditions are favorable. This is from June to September, October to early November.
Regardless of when you intend to go self-drive in Tanzania, packing well for your road trip should be a must-do. Some of the essentials to consider on your packing list including first aid kit, a pair of binoculars, valid driving permit, right clothing, insect repellent, safari hat, a camera, bottled water, toiletries and more.
Getting there for a self-drive holiday;
The best way to discover the wonders of Tanzania on a self-drive is by embarking on road trip using one of our rental fleets. Our check-list of rental cars include Land Cruiser GX, LX; Extended Safari Land Cruiser, Toyota Rav4, Land Cruiser 78 and more.