Best Self-Drive Safaris in Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda & Tanzania:
Self-drive safaris across the East African region (Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, and Tanzania) are becoming more popular by the day among travelers because of the great deal of flexibility and freedom that they provide.
This provides an opportunity to explore one or more countries at your convenience and pace, while behind the wheel of a rental car. If you are a first-time traveler to the region, the thought of a self-drive safaris trip can be exciting but also frightening.
First, when you have a driver guide, there’s the benefit of having an expert pair of eyes for sighting different wildlife species, in addition to having someone experienced enough to take care of the driving, your safety, and even directions considering most remote roads in East Africa don’t have signposts.
Nonetheless, any adventurous traveler will love the idea of a self-drive safaris because it leads him/her to the essence of East Africa, which includes the freedom to uncover the hidden wonders/gems at your own pace.
Other benefits of self-drive safaris include exploring without set schedules or time limits (no one will complain about spending several hours photographing a lion pride), and saving costs (for hiring a driver).
Top Cars for Self-Drive Safaris in Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, and Tanzania;
For a successful and unforgettable self-drive safari in East Africa, it is important to have a reliable and comfortable Safari Jeep and Your Drive East Africa has some of the best cars that cater to the needs and desires of budget, midrange, and luxury travelers.
Most of these Cars come with rooftop tents, Camping gear, 4X4 mechanism, pop-up roof, and many other features.
Our fleet of Cars includes the Rooftop Tent Land Cruisers, the extended Safari Land Cruiser, the Land Cruiser V8 with a rooftop Tent, the Land Cruiser GX, the Safari Van, the Toyota Land Cruiser Prado, and the Toyota Rav 4 among others.
Where should you start your self-drive Safari in East Africa?
While it is possible to start your self-drive safari from any of the East African countries, we recommend starting in Kenya or Uganda because they are slightly cheaper for self-drive safaris.
For instance, if you start from Uganda, Rwanda will be your next destination followed by Tanzania and then Kenya where you can climax your trip with a big game safari or the Great Annual Migration in the Masai Mara National Reserve.
What you should expect to see in the different countries?
Uganda
Dubbed the “Pearl of Africa”, this country is known for offering gorilla trekking tours (in two National Parks, which shelter more than half the World’s population of mountain gorillas), chimpanzee tracking tours (in Kibale Forest National Park and other amazing places), game viewing safaris (in Murchison Falls, Queen Elizabeth, Lake Mburo, Kidepo Valley, and Kibale National Parks), adrenaline activities in Jinja.
Tanzania
Self-drive safaris in Tanzania lead to a number of destinations to enjoy several breathtaking experiences, but the unmissable ones are Great Annual Migrations in Serengeti National Park, game viewing safaris in Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Selous Game Reserve, Lake Manyara and Tarangire National Park, mountaineering adventures in Mount Kilimanjaro, wilderness camping, cultural tours, and so much more.
Kenya
Thanks to its 20 National Parks and Reserves, Kenya is another unmissable safari destination for self-drive safaris in East Africa and is known for its sweeping savannah plains dotted with lots of wildlife species.
In this country, you are offered the opportunity to experience the Wildebeest Migration in Masai Mara National Reserve, experience the extraordinary Masai warrior culture, enjoy world-class game drives in different Parks that include Amboseli, and so much more.
Rwanda
The Land of a Thousand Hills is found in the heart of Africa, and most self-drive safaris lead to Volcanoes National Park where visitors ditch their cars and get on their feet to track mountain gorillas, visit the golden monkeys, hike the Virunga Mountains or walk to the Dian Fossey Gravesite.
It is also to undertake self-drive safaris to Akagera, the only savannah National Park in Rwanda for the big five game (lions, leopards, Rhinos, Elephants, and buffaloes), Masai giraffes, antelopes, and many others.
If you are interested in chimpanzee tracking, you can get behind the wheel for a trip to Nyungwe Forest National Park.
What to carry on your self-drive safaris in Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, and Tanzania?
For any self-drive safari in Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, and Tanzania, you will need to have extra fuel in a jerrycan even when you have a backup tank because fuel stations are not found in main Towns and not remote areas.
Also carry a detailed map of the destinations to be visited, a cellphone with a local SIM Card, spare tires, a high lift jack and tire pump to help in case of a breakdown, some food, enough drinking water, a basic first aid kit, and finally a camera for photography.
Plan Your Self-Drive Safari in East Africa: