Ultimate 4×4 Kenya Self Drive Guide from $70 per day
Explore Kenya with confidence on your 4X4 Kenya Self Drive adventure with the right reliable car that is designed to get you anywhere in the country with ease.
Whether you are considering self drive car hire Nairobi, self drive from Masai Mara, or simply to the coast, we have that right choice of car for you to consider.
This East African country is famous for her wildlife safaris, vibrant culture and diverse landscapes that attract great numbers who leave mesmerized because of the uniqueness of the land and to explore it with, you will need an affordable self drive Kenya rental car.
Kenya self drive simply means you hiring a 4×4 vehicle and driving yourself all around Kenya, from a desired city tour on smooth roads down to the national parks on the rugged roads while adventuring.
However, before you undertake this intriguing activity, there is a plethora of things you must know so as to have a good stay in Kenya as you enjoy you game drives and other activities while staying away from trouble from law enforcers and the local community. Let us take a look at the very important things that will guide you on your 4×4 Self Drive Kenya safari.
It is important to note that everyone can self drive in Kenya but must possess the following requirements.
Top self drive Kenya requirements
Valid Driver’s License: Possession of this verifies if you are legally allowed to drive, and if in foreign country, you need to accompany your country’s license with an International Driving Permit.
Passport: This is important in verification of credentials and your legal existence in the country.
Driving age: In Kenya, the driving age is 18 years but car rental companies prefer to rent to those who are 23 years old and have at least a 2-year-driving experience.
Best vehicles to hire for self-drive in Kenya
The best and recommended vehicles for safaris in Kenya are those with 4×4, of which many have high ground clearance that helps with navigation without damaging the beneath of the vehicle. 4×4 vehicles can move with ease in national parks which become very impassable especially during the rainy season because they are slippery.
In addition most parks only allow 4×4 vehicles at the entrance.
Land Cruiser 70 Series
Toyota Hilux
Land Cruiser Prado
Safari Land Cruiser
Nissan Patrol
Land Cruiser V8/VX
Places to Visit on a Kenya self drive safari
Amboseli National Park: This is one of the most iconic parks there is in Kenya. It borders Tanzania to the south and further prides in being the only park where you can have a glance at the beautiful Mountain Kilimanjaro, creating a unique safari experience.
It is seated on an area of 392 square kilometers, endowed with different physical features such as dry lake beds, acacia woodlands and open plains among others. The park is famous for accommodating large herds of elephants, which have large tusks making them an interesting site. Besides these enormous land mammals, there are hyenas, lions, cheetahs, zebras, buffaloes among others.
The activities that can be done here include game driving, nature photography and bird watching among others.
Nairobi National Park: Seated on 117 square kilometers is the park that consists open plains, scattered acacia trees and river valleys that act as accommodation for the wildlife. This park is very unique as it is the only one in the entire world that is close to a capital.
Despite being really close to the city, visitors that visit Nairobi national park are interested in viewing wildlife such as lions, buffaloes, giraffes, hyenas and antelopes among others, accompanied by over 400 recorded bird species.
Game drives, birding and wildlife photography are the commonest activities carried out in this park.
Masaai Mara National Reserve: It is located in the southern part of Kenya, bordering Tanzania and seated on an area of 1510 square kilometers of open savannah grasslands and rolling hills, forming a larger part of the eco-system of Serengeti National Park in Tanzania.
It has a great population of wild animals with the eye-catching great wildebeest migration that involves huge number of wildebeests, gazelles and zebras move for Serengeti National Park to the Masaai Mara in search for water and pastures. This usually takes place between July and October and attracts many tourists.
Famous activities here include game drives, wildlife photography, and hot air balloons over the savannah grasslands, cultural visits to the Masai villages among others.
Mountain Kenya National Park: It is one of Kenya’s most protected areas because it surrounds Mount Kenya, which is her highest mountain. There most attractive feature here is the mountain itself which is 5199 meters above sea level.
The wildlife here includes bushbucks, elephants, leopards, monkeys, birds and many more. Tourism activities include mountain climbing and trekking on Mount Kenya, bird watching, camping and nature photography and wildlife viewing.
Lake Nakuru National park: This parks surrounds the shallow alkaline Lake Nakuru that is located in the Great Rift Valley. The park straddles on an area of 188 square kilometers, surrounded by grasslands and rocky hills that create a beautiful environment for birds and other wildlife.
Flamingos here attract a great number of tourists accompanied by other animals such as lions, leopards, buffaloes, zebras and antelopes, etc. Activities done here include bird watching, game drives, nature photography and visiting scenic view points such as Baboon Cliff which offers a good view of both the lake and park.
Tsavo National Park: It is one of Kenya’s largest national parks, covering 22,000 square kilometers. It is divided into two sections namely Tsavo East and Tsav West National park. It is characterized by lava flows, volcanic hills, rivers and natural springs. Mzima springs are the greatest tourist attraction in the western arm of the park, where visitors sight clear water coming from underground.
The commonest wildlife here are the red elephants which are called so because of the red soil in the park that hey smear themselves with. Others include lions, buffaloes, crocodiles, hippos, zebras and leopards etc.
Main activities here include; game driving, exploring scenic attraction, bird watching and nature photography.
Driving rules in Kenya
Speed limits: Kenya, like any other country has speed limits on roads such as 25-4okm/h in parks, 100km/h on highways and 50km/h in towns.
Seat belts: these are mandatory because they prevent head-on collision in events on accidents.
Drunk driving is not allowed as this is seen when your breath is tested and is above 0.08%
In National Parks: It is important to note that violation of any of these regulations can cost you an activity. These include:
No flash photography as animals can move away or attack you.
Always stay on only marked tracks
Always follow procedure as instructed by the tour guide or game ranger.
Ensure to keep a distance from wildlife.
Tips for a successful self drive Kenya safari
It is important to start game drives early in the morning or late afternoon when animal are most active.
Always respect park rule and keep a reasonable distance away from animals.
Always carry extra fuel and water in jerry cans for emergencies, especially for long distance in rural areas where filling stations are scarce.
Use GPS for proper direction and offline maps especially in remote areas where network is poor.
Always book a safari with a reputable car hire company.
Always rent 4×4 vehicle when intending to ride to remote or national park areas that are characterized by rough terrains and so, these can navigate with ease.
With this guide, it is proved that Kenya is an undoubtable place of exploration, with everything depicting the beauty there is on the land of the black man.