Renting a Car in Kenya for Your Safari
These days, many travelers enjoy the freedom of designing their own safari itinerary, booking their stay online, and then renting a car for the adventure. However, when considering car rental in Kenya for your safari, it’s important to plan carefully. First, you need a reliable and suitable safari vehicle at a fair price, which can be tricky since these vehicles endure a lot of wear and tear. It’s also crucial to rent from a reputable, licensed car rental company. Keep in mind that self-drive safaris in Kenya aren’t for everyone. The paperwork can be complex, and deposits are necessary to cover potential damages, accidents, or theft. Driving standards in Kenya differ significantly from other countries, and roads can be rough away from the main highways. Getting stuck, breaking down, or having an accident isn’t unusual.
For many tourists, the best choice is to hire a safari vehicle with an experienced Driver-Guide for a small extra fee, around USD 25 per day. This option relieves you of the responsibility for any vehicle issues and provides the benefit of a knowledgeable guide, allowing you to relax and enjoy the safari experience. Also, self-drive rental cars often lack a game viewing roof, while proper safari vehicles include this feature, enhancing wildlife viewing in the national parks. Below are options for renting a vehicle with a Driver-Guide for your Masai Mara or Kenya safari.
Safari Tour Minibus ( Van )
Safari Tour Vans, also known as Safari Tour Minibuses, are the backbone of Kenya’s tourism industry. These vehicles are the top choice for many safari tourists because they offer the best value, being more budget-friendly compared to other options. Typically, these vans can seat up to 8 passengers, but for a more comfortable ride, 6 is the ideal number.
They are equipped with special safari features like pop-up roofs for game viewing, UHF radio calls, individual seats, sometimes with limited recline, and cooler boxes to keep your drinks chilled. While most safari tour vans are two-wheel drive, some models come with four-wheel drive. However, the two-wheel drive versions are generally sufficient for most roads on the Kenya safari circuit, unless you’re facing tough conditions or heading off the beaten path.
Most lodges and camps in the central Masai Mara National Reserve and surrounding areas are easily accessible using these vans. However, some conservancies outside the main reserve require 4×4 vehicles for entry.
Landcruiser Jeep 4×4
Another popular type of safari vehicle in Kenya and East Africa is the 4×4 Landcruiser Safari Jeep. These are usually Toyota Landcruiser Jeeps that have been transformed into safari vehicles. They come with pop-up roofs for amazing game viewing, special safari customization, UHF radio calls, and comfortable seating. Some even have air conditioning and electric cooler boxes. Safari Jeeps are great for off-road adventures and offer a smoother ride on rough roads, but they are more expensive to hire than safari tour vans.
These vehicles can seat anywhere from 6 to 9 passengers, depending on how many extra seats are added. There are two types of these vehicles: some have closed sides, making them perfect for highway travel, while others are open-sided, ideal for game drives within parks and reserves. The open-sided jeeps are often used in Fly-in Safaris and are usually stationed at the reserves, so they can’t be used for long trips like traveling from Nairobi to Masai Mara. Not all lodges or camps have open-sided jeeps, as some still prefer using closed vehicles even for their fly-in packages.