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Do You Have Enough Car Insurance?

Many people who reserve a rental car in Kenya show up to the counter with little thought given to the “what if’s” that could result from them driving a car that is not their own. You wouldn’t think of driving your own car without coverage, so take a few moments to consider how you will make sure that your rental car is covered.

Here are 3 steps to take to ensure you have adequate coverage.

  1. When you’re calling the rental car company for a quote, find out how much the coverage costs and what it covers. Their rates for insurance/coverage may be higher but they also offer the least hassle, since you may not have to file a claim on your own insurance. Many car rental companies have a couple of options, including buying down the deductible to a hundred dollars (or so, depending on where you live) or even to zero.
  2. Contact your car insurance company. They may already cover you for rental cars in certain situations. For example, if your car is in the shop, they may automatically transfer your coverage and deductible to a rental car. This is a replacement-only type of coverage because they are covering you on a different car. For an additional cost, you may be able to purchase either a temporary or ongoing rider (depending on the insurance company) to cover your rental car even if your car is not in the shop. This is considered a non-replacement-type of coverage since you will need coverage on both cars because they potentially could both be driven.
  3. Contact your credit card company or check out the Cardholder’s Agreement. Your credit card may cover you for rental car insurance. Check to see that they cover you in your specific situation. For example, there are certain cars they cover (some don’t cover trucks or SUVs) or they may not cover you depending on where you drive or how long you have the car.

Armed with this knowledge, you can make an educated estimate of what the costs are to ensure that you are fully covered on your rental car. After all, you want to have peace-of-mind when you’re on your next trip.

Know this Before Going on Self-Drive in Rwanda

Renting a self-drive car is prevalent in western countries, but in Rwanda, it is on the verge of gaining the limelight status. Having a vehicle offers a great opportunity for convenience when traveling around Rwanda. You can move at your own speed, stop anytime you want to take photos and enjoy the amazing scenery and still, you can reach to different places that can’t be accessed by public transport.

Be that as it may, putting these things in mind before hiring a self-drive car in Rwanda will save you a lot of money, time, and even a big travel headache.

  1. Reviews about the self-drive car company

Why not browse the internet and look for some reliable car rentals company before finalizing one? Car rentals market is expanding with more and more adding to the list. However, if you look at the reliability, not all car rental companies are maintaining a high-level quality. Looking for reviews and ratings before booking one is essential. You can even enquire with your friends who often hire a car for their weekend gateway.

  1. Know the insurance Policy

Most of the car rental companies in Rwanda have a comprehensive insurance cover for their Vehicle and this contains, collision damage waiver, car theft and third party. The client is advised to Know how the insurance cover will protect him/her against the liabilities in case of an accident.

  1. Valid driver’s License

Travelers must have a valid driver’s license to drive a car in Rwanda. The rental operator will request the license before he hires the car to you. Any country’s driver’s license is accepted but the international one is most preferred. It must be valid for not less than three months.

  1. Minimum age Limit

The minimum age of driving a car in Rwanda is 18 Years but hiring a car is 21 years.

  1. Ask all the details about the car

We positively didn’t deny on your familiarity about car models and how to drive them, but the things that you don’t know is, about the renting car’s mileage, oil levels, age of the vehicle, petrol or diesel vehicle, availability of road support, and more. Try asking questions about that particular car that you are going to rent and acquire all the required details.

  1. Cross the border with the rental Vehicle

Some car rental agencies in Rwanda may not allow you to cross with their vehicle to other countries and some have a list of countries where their vehicles are not allowed to go and the common countries on most car rental agencies lists include; The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Burundi, Central African Republic, South Sudan, and others. However, the list always changes according to the company.

  1. Make Sure you have all the papers you need to pick the car

On the day of picking the car from the car rental agency, they will ask for your driving permit and any other means of identification from your country of origin. Having an international driving permit/license doesn’t mean that you should not carry your driver’s license or passport, the international driver’s license is just a supplement to the passport and the driving permit this means you should have both of them.

That means your passport, driver’s license are the common documents you need to be with when going to pick up the vehicle from the car rental agency and even if you requested the car rental agency to deliver the vehicle to your hotel, the agent will need to see them before he gives you the car keys.

  1. Read the contract thoroughly before you sign

Don’t go easy on this part. You need to study the fine prints of terms and conditions also analyze their tariffs then choose. Some companies renting a self-drive car rental by limiting the kilometers according to the number of days you are renting. Some might ask for security or caution deposit and some come with hidden charges. It all differs according to the car renting company that you choose, so look for kilometer limit, cancellation policy, fuel charges, caution deposit, types of payment accepted, process while returning and fees for the delay, you can even check for discounts and refunds.

  1. Take a better look at any damages

Take a walk around the car and also peep inside for any damages. You do not want to take up the responsibility of the last person’s reckless driving. Isn’t it? It is just going to take a few minutes to check the car for the damages. If you find any, ask the car rentals company to make a note of it on their paperwork. Why not click few pictures in your smartphone to have evidence? It helps you when you are surrendering the car and if your rental company is charging for the damage.

  1. Check for the Fuel levels

The car rentals companies deliver the car with a full tank fuel. However, while collecting the keys, ensure the fuel levels to verify whether it is on a full tank.  Some companies offer, with or without fuel package whereas some covers the fuel cost in rental charges. Whatever be the package you are using, it is better to check by yourself the fuel levels to avoid any hiccups while returning the vehicle.

Guide to Climbing Kilimanjaro Mountains

Kilimanjaro is the world’s highest free standing, snow-covered equatorial mountain. Located in North-East of Tanzania, this magnificent beast can be seen from far into Kenya and Amboseli National park.

75,000 people climb Kilimanjaro per year so it is not the most remote mountain, neither is it the most arduous, but it is certainly a test of one’s abilities with altitude sickness being the main reason for climbers not to summit. Although it has become a ‘must-do’ in on most traveller’s lists and the experience slightly busy with other climbers, we still highly recommend it for anyone with a vague interest in mountaineering.

Kilimanjaro represents a powerful life force for the local Chagga people and all those who have made their lives around this mountain, providing rich volcanic soils for agriculture and an endless source of pure spring waters.

One of the most amazing aspects of the mountain in the present day is the accessibility of its peak to climbers with no mountain climbing equipment or real previous experience of scaling such heights. Kilimanjaro is the highest mountain that regular tourists can climb, although it remains a considerable feat of human endurance!

Fuel Efficiency Tips That Save Money on a Road Trip

Top Fuel Efficiency Tips That Save Money on a Road Trip in Uganda

The price of fuel isn’t the same every day not only in Uganda but across the world while people’s incomes seem to be stagnant. There is no uniform price tag for fuel in Uganda and once you head to the remotest part of the country, do not be shocked by the new prices displayed by the petrol stations. Not to take you by surprise and avoid any incidences of you getting stuck on your road trip, we have come up with a complete list of tips to help you save money on a road trip in a rental car in Uganda.

Accelerate gently –is it your first time to drive? Did you know that the harder you press the accelerator, the more fuel your car consumes? This is true but simple; you can simply press the accelerator pedal with gentleness. Try as much as you to familiarize yourself to soft and smooth acceleration.

Use a well-maintained car – not all cars are in their better mechanical condition. If you are considering traveling to any part of Uganda for a vacation, we recommend that you embark on the road trip using a fully serviced rental car.

Maintain a constant speed when driving – while there is the likelihood of excitement hitting a road using your dream rental car, your speed limit also matters when it comes to fuel consumption. Always try to keep a constant/stable speed limit while behind the wheel.

Don’t over speed – what is the rush for when you could actually save a lot on fuel consumption? The best way to save on your fuel is by maintaining a relatively low speed. Choose a car with a good record of fuel consumption rate including vans, station wagons or trucks. These categories of rental cars have had a significant record of being fuel efficient –capable of traveling 50km/h and 80km/h. Beyond this speed limit, the more fuel they tend to consume as they take off a bit faster.

Reduce the use of air conditioning –While some of you enjoy the air conditioning, on the other hand, your fuel tank could also be doing you an injustice. You can make the best use of your AC where it is only required and always level it down otherwise the higher the level, the more it consumes your fuel.

Maintain good tyre inflation – before you take off to your preferred destination in Uganda, first, check through the tyre to be sure that the tyres are well inflated to the required pressure level. Well inflated car tyres often reduce on fuel consumption rate by 5 percent.

Keep your windows closed – while on a road trip, your windows should be closed. The windows can be kept down if you are driving at a low speed of 50km/hr.

Reduce the weight – any excess weight should be removed from the vehicle. Carry only essentials and dispose of anything from the roof rack or from your boot. What you carry in your rental car should be what you plan to use on your vacation. It shouldn’t turn to be your store otherwise the fuel consumption of a small vehicle tends to increase by about 1 percent for each 25km of weight it carries. The less the car carries when moving, the less fuel consumption it can record.

Drive less –drive your rental only when it is necessary. If you plan to go deep in the busy areas, especially hard to find parking, then you have no need to go in your rental.

Plan your road trip ahead – planning your trip early enough is important as it will help you ascertain when and where to refuel again. When in need to refuel, know the fuel stations with favorable fuel rates.

Travel Ecstasies in Lake Nakuru

Lake Nakuru is a place that is renowned for the best in Eastern African tours. Providing the best travel pleasures this is surely a famous place which provides you with ideal tour delights. With the alkaline waters, bordering the entire region it is famous for being one of the best African parks in the world.

This was in fact a bird sanctuary situated at the southern end of the lake. With the Kenyan Government supporting the world wildlife fund ventures, this slowly became a protected area and by the year 1964, it became an area that was just more than a travel spot. Nakuru town is around 4 km from the park and is the fourth largest city in this country and is not only visited by foreigners but also by the local Kenyans. They have been visiting the park in large numbers with the visitors peaking at maximum in the year 2007. This is the reason why people love coming here. With the best kind of safari experiences, Lake Nakuru Park is surely a great destination to be in and gives a great travel feeling.

 

There was earlier a lot of bird diversity here but the population is slowly dwindling due to the continuous disturbance created to all the species due to the inflow of tourists. The Government is taking steps to make sure that they are well taken care of. Lake Nakuru Park covers a land strip that lies on the eastern, northern, and western parts of the country and is full of savannah grasslands that give the best kind of visual delights. With the beautiful swamps and the trees surrounding the entire region, get to see the areas like Baboon Cliff, Lion Hill, and the lovely surroundings which more than makeup for the park experiences.

With so much to see and do Lake Nakuru is indeed an amazing travel destination.

Car Rental Tips for East Africa Visitors

Do you need wheels on your next trip in East Africa? Renting a car can give you freedom and flexibility when you’re traveling, and in most parts of East Africa it’s the only feasible way to get around. But a rental car can sometimes add complications to your trip – like trying to find the best deal or sorting out exactly which insurance options you need. Read on for our practical tips on saving money, understanding your rental agreement and avoiding problems with your car rental.

Car Rental Tips

Take a look below and see some tips you must have when renting a car.

Choosing a Vehicle
Think carefully about what kind of vehicle you’ll need. If you’re traveling with children or with a lot of gear, you may want a large sedan or SUV. If you’re simply looking to save money on rental rates and gas, you’ll want to reserve the smallest available model.

Booking Your Car: Rent the right car for you

How long will you be renting? If it’s for less than a week, you’ll probably do best with a major rental company, such as Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Hertz, National or Thrifty. For rentals of a week or longer, you may get better rates from local companies, particularly auto dealers. Remember, however, to be wary of local companies if you plan to drive a lot; if you break down or get into an accident, they usually lack the support services of the majors.
To lower your rate, ask about discounts for any major national organizations, frequent flier programs and credit card programs to which you may belong. They’ll frequently offer deals on car rentals. Those offered through AAA can be very good. If you’re employed by a company that frequently rents cars, they may have a negotiated rate. Make sure to check.

The True Cost of Car Rentals
Buyer beware: The rate you see advertised in big print may become so inflated with state and local taxes, airport surcharges, additional driver fees, insurance, gasoline bills and drop-off charges that you end up paying more than double what you expected. Learn more about these extra charges in Car Rental Hidden Costs.

At Pickup Time
If your first drive will be from an airport to a hotel for the night, why not take a shuttle van to the hotel instead? Doing this may save you the price of a day’s rental. Even if you must drive the same day your flight lands, you may not have to get the car at the airport. By picking it up downtown, you can often avoid hefty airport surcharges.

Returning Your Car
Be wary of prepaid gasoline plans. Always fill the tank yourself before returning the vehicle so that you’re only paying for the amount of gas you actually used. Try to avoid the gas stations right near the airport where you’re dropping off your car — the prices tend to be highest there. Instead, fill up a few miles away. Even better: Enquire about the location of gas stations in the area you are to visit before your trip.
Did you like those car rental tips? Click on Comments to leave your comment and also share with us your car rental tips.

Before Traveling information

Before Traveling is a web tour to persons who like to travel abroad. We are writers of travel tips, travel guides. You can also find lots of travel packages and videos. Turn your trip or travel into a very special moment with your friends and family! Travelling some times may be difficult. We are here to help you. Before you travel, its the first place you need to go, B4Traveling.com!

Group Tours – Why Adventure East Africa in a Group?

Group travel is one of the best ways to adventure East Africa. If you are a budget minded traveler, planning a group adventure can be the best option to see more for less. Whether you are looking to gorilla trekking in Rwanda and Uganda or looking for a big five safari, traveling in a group will bring your trip costs lower!

Traveling as a group has a number of befits as the following below tries to explain

Discounted rates: The more big the group is, the lesser amount charged, so this is a great advantage of traveling as a group transport, accommodation, and food cost will all be shared by everyone hence ending up economizing the costs and the saved money can be used to do something else. Most hotels, guest houses and airline companies offer group rates and special discounts for the lowest price possible. Even in national parks and other tourist attraction, they offer a discount on big groups, and tour companies too offer a price quote based on the number of people traveling. So don’t miss chance of traveling as a group

Socializing: Group tour is the best way to connect with your friends and family, it offers the best time to relate and interact with your friends who have lost for a long period of time. Not only that but you can even connect more to new friend whom you share similar interests and experiences. Remember when on a safari you can share a of lot stories during the camp fire which sometimes brings you memories of the past. We hire group vehicles which can take from 8-26 people including ranging from a van, supper custom, and land cruiser to a coaster which can carry up to 26 people

Comforts Preparation of the trip: Traveling as a group eases decision making as numerous ideas will be brought in and suggestions from participating members. As a group you can sit down and discuss on the number of issue that can make your safari a memorable one like issue of transportation, accommodation, tour company to use among others, which is sometimes very herd if you’re travelling alone or two members which would be a lot more stressing.

Safer & Convenient: Also traveling as a group gives you security especially if you are travelling in a foreign country. Even if you get a problems on the way like break down you can rely on other members to find a solution or collective effort to solve the issue at hand.

Those among other can give you the best while on safari tour, just book with us we will arrange for you a well-organized safari referring to you interest.

Top Attractions to Explore by Car in Tanzania

Are you thinking about the finest places in Tanzania for your upcoming Tanzania Safari? We are here to give you some chilling information about Tanzania and its major tourist attractions. As a home for the snow-crested Mt. Kilimanjaro, the tallest mountain of Africa, Tanzania is famous for its natural and ecological diversity. The country is most famous for its tourism and agricultural activities. The national parks, game reserves, conservation areas, Mountains, beaches, and lakes are the major Tanzania Tourist Attractions for foreign tourists.

Not only Tanzania Destinations, but the wildlife activities like Great wildebeest migration also attract many natural enthusiastic and wildlife photographers.

The most popular places to visit in Tanzania

The Serengeti- Iconic Wildlife Hotspot

Having the oldest ecosystem on this planet, Serengeti National Park is very delightful for its flora and fauna with the natural diversity and biodiversity.

The Great Wildebeest Migration in this park and around the larger serener area shows the game of the ecosystem of Tanzania. After the calving season of January and February, herds of wildebeests start the migration from March. During May, the migration heads towards the western corridors. The great migration gathers in one place and is joined by herds of zebras, cape buffalos, gazelles, etc. to start the migration.

After crossing the Grumeti River in July, the migration moves to the north. From August to October, they cross the Mara River and enter the Masai Mara national park of Kenya. In November and December, the migration crosses the northeastern Serengeti and move towards the southern Serengeti. You can see the largest and most diverse prey and predator encounter in migration which shows the lifecycle of the Tanzania ecosystem. This is the most beautiful and impressive event that attracts many tourists from every corner of the world.

Mostly famous for the African big five, the Serengeti national park has the highest concentration of lions all over the world. You can see the wildlife diversity because not only for the land mammals but also for 500 bird species.

This park is listed as a UNESCO Heritage Site because of its biodiversity and most wonderful ecosystem.

Ngorongoro Crater- The most dramatic of Landscapes

As famous for the earliest human fossils of 3 million years ago, the Ngorongoro Crater was once a volcano and now is the largest intact caldera in the world.

Now, the crater is a wide highland area with 600 m deep of focal point. The beauty of wildlife diversity in the crater will take your breath away. The crater is the place, where every year the great wildebeest migration starts after calving.

Most importantly, OI Doinyo Lengai, only volcano that erupts carbonate lava, is located in this park. The dramatic highlands males it most unique and the area Oldupai Gorge, is famous for the proof of earliest human fossils.

Arusha- The tourism capital of Northern Tanzania

The Arusha city, near Arusha national park, makes the place accessible and famous Tanzania Tourist Attraction in Tanzania. The Mt. Meru of Arusha National Park is for the hikers to warm up before hiking for Mt. Kilimanjaro.

However, the Arusha city is one of the Tanzania Destinations that describe many things about Tanzania’s history, culture, and economy. Arusha’s highland is made for tourists to relax before starting or ending your Tanzania Safari.

As a major international diplomatic hub, it is the capital of East African community (EAC). Every year, the city hosts the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda Genocide.

Arusha city is the only city where you can communicate in English with the local people if you don’t know the Kiswahili language.

It is a multicultural city having mixed backgrounds like Indigenous Bantu, Arab-Tanzanian, Indian-Tanzanian, and white European and Americans.

Mount Kilimanjaro- The towering peak of Africa

As the “roof of Arica”, Mt. Kilimanjaro is the highest mountain peak with an altitude of 20,000 ft. It was made up of three volcanoes namely, Mawenzi, Shira, and Kibo. During the trekking, you can face five ecological zones such as tropical rain forest, cultivation, Heather-moorland, Alpine desert, and summit climate zones. There are 7 routes to reach at the summit. The Umbwe route is the most difficult and the Marangu Route is the easiest route for the summit.

Tarangire National Park

One of the most unique and best safaris in Tanzania, Tarangire National Park is a must visit. This park is best known for the largest elephant population in the entire world. If you plan to visit Tarangire National Park, you will see the magnificent animals in all their glory.

The best time to visit Tarangire is during the summers. The dry season pulls all the animals to the Tarangire River. You can spot elephants, lions, giraffes, and zebras among other animals on the river banks.

Lake Manyara National Park

The real fun of visiting Lake Manyara National Park is during the monsoon season. The park is in its full glory with plenty of flamingos and wallowing hippos. The park as its own charm owing to the trees with thick, hanging roots. It is also the only place where you will spot lions perched on trees.

Another reason to visit the park is the abundance of birds in the area. The park also offers canoe safaris for those who want to see the wildlife up close and personal. They also have night safaris which add a lot of thrill to the adventure. Head here to feel an adrenaline rush that you will never forget.

Ruaha National Park

In 2008 Ruaha National Park became Tanzania’s largest park. It is home to large herds of buffalo and gazelle, and has one of the largest concentrations of elephants in Tanzania. The Great Ruaha River is the main feature of Ruaha National Park, providing magnificent wildlife viewing on the banks. The river also provides much of the electricity to Tanzania through a hydroelectric dam at Kidatu.

Ruaha National Park is the least accessible park in Tanzania and as a result the landscape remains relatively untouched. Birdwatcher’s can enjoy over 400 species of bird that are not found in northern Tanzania, and the river, spectacular gorges, and majestic trees are especially appealing to photographers.

Gombe Stream National Park

Gombe National Park, also sometimes called Gombe Stream National Park, is primarily for those who want to get a little off the beaten track and see chimpanzees. This is one of the smallest national parks in Tanzania and is famous for the work of Jane Goodall. This British researcher arrived in 1960 to study the wild chimpanzees and her work turned into what would become the longest running behavioral research program of its kind in the world.

Guided walks take visitors into the forest to observe chimps in the wild. Many species of primates and mammals live in the park. Over 200 bird species have been recorded in the tropical forest, including barbets, starlings, sunbirds, crowned eagle, kingfishers and the palm-nut vulture.

Hiking and swimming are other popular activities; a trail leads into the forest to a waterfall in the valley.

Stone Town -The heart of Zanzibar Life

Zanzibar is an island including Pemba and Mafia Island with other small islands. Most tourists come here to know about the ancient trade and tribe of the Stone Age. The Zanzibar city monuments and museums say about the stone age of Tanzania, you need to visit the Zanzibar, the town of Swahili tribe people of Tanzania. This island gives the proof of ancient history and culture of the Stone Age.

Zanzibar- Water Sports Paradise

Zanzibar beach is not only famous for enjoying and relaxing, it is also famous for the water sports activities like snorkeling, scuba diving, swimming, parasailing, water skiing, wakeboarding, and Kite-boarding. You can find more than 450 species of fish in Zanzibar.

Conclusion

During your Tanzania Safari Tours, you must visit the premiere Tanzania Destinations to enjoy Tanzania’s wildlife, ecosystem, culture, and tradition of Tanzania. The Tanzania Tourist Attractions are enough to make your moment memorable with a lot of experience.

Car Rental and Border Crossing in East Africa

Every individual has a reason as to why they hire vehicles, especially those that wish to travel up country or those wishing to travel to other countries on the road. Not every person that wants to travel has a vehicle but that factor shouldn’t hold you back, car hire companies are there for such people.

Let’s talk to those people to wish to travel East Africa with a rented car, and if you’re asking yourself whether it is possible to cross the border with a rented car.

If you want to drive a rental car from one country to another, most car rental companies charge you an additional fee for crossing the border, to cover cross border insurance fees, regional taxes, etc. This additional fee also covers the extra insurance needed when you’re driving in a different country from where you hired the vehicle.

However, some rental companies don’t charge the cross border fees but they get you papers for crossing the border and even advise you on where to buy the insurance needed to drive in any country you wish to visit.

Can I cross to another country with a car rental from Kenya?

Countries offer different experiences and sometimes travellers are interested in exploring more than one country in a single safari. The question now is, “can I cross to another country with a car rental from Kenya?” The answer is yes, although some extra costs may be applied and these cover border crossing fees, national taxes, extra insurance fees and many other fees. With chauffeur-driven or guided drives, all these costs will be calculated beforehand and included in the overall cost of hiring the car.

Travellers are required to provide honest information on the destinations to be visited, especially if planning to cross borders. This is important because withholding information means paying insurance covers in case of uncertainties will not be made possible. With the correct information, the rental Company will provide the right documents and insure the car before you eventually cross the border to another country.

If you withhold information and unavoidable circumstances such as theft, accident or car damages happen in a foreign country, you will have to meet all the costs to the Car rental Company. Given the political instability in some countries especially South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Somalia, crossing borders are limited to only relatively secure countries.  It is therefore important to first undertake research on the destinations you are planning to visit to avoid unexpected attacks during your safari.

Important requirements for renting a car and crossing to another country

Travel documents (Valid passport and Visas)

The travel documents required of travellers before crossing to another country are valid passports and Visas. It is important to first check with Rwandan immigration websites for information pertaining visa requirements, based on your country of origin. You can book for the East African Tourist Visa (at $100) allowing you to visit Uganda, Rwanda and Kenya with a single visa. Additionally, citizens from East African community member States don’t require Visas to visit Kenya, Uganda or Rwanda during the cross-border safari.  However, a Ugandan passport or National Identity Card is required for drivers planning to cross borders of East African countries.

National or International driver’s permit

You can cross to another with a car rental from Uganda when you possess an International Driver’s permit. If you have a local driver’s license (especially from any of the East African countries), it can be recognized in the member States. For instance, a valid Ugandan driver’s license is recognized in the neighboring countries of Kenya, Rwanda and Tanzania.

Letter of Authority from the Car rental Company

Another important requirement for crossing to another country with a car rental from Uganda is a letter of Authority provided by the Car rental Company. This is a proof of consent or Authorization.

Vehicle registration

For a car to be allowed to cross the border from Uganda, it has to be certified and registered with documents being required at the border crossing offices. The vehicle registration or license papers should be accompanied by the Company’s letter of Authority to cross the border. Both vehicle license papers and letter of Authority must be signed by the Car (Company) owner.

COMESA Sticker

Travellers with rental cars from Uganda and planning to cross borders to other countries should bear COMESA Stickers that clearly indicate that they are foreign vehicles.

In conclusion, it is possible to cross another country with a rental car from Uganda but travellers/drivers are required to present travel documents that include valid passport and visas, COMESA Sticker, letter of Authority from the rental Company or Vehicle owner, vehicle registration or license papers and the National or International Driver’s license allowing you to cross borders to another country.

Conclusion

Thinking of traveling to any destination this season for a vacation, business or safari and still searching for the ideal transportation means to get you around. Even though it requires you to cross the border, just get a vehicle from your preferred rental company Kenya car rental.

Guide to Self Drive in Tanzania

Choosing the right Tanzania self-drive rental for your road trip can save you a lot. Hiring a rental car for a self-drive Tanzania is the wisest choice to make. Not only does come with the most flexible road trip, making stopovers at your own wish and choosing which tourist sites to visit but also assures you of total privacy while on road trip. Today, self-drive trips have become more famous than ever before and undoubtedly.

However, driving yourself in unfamiliar routes on self-drive tour is something that is so intimidating if you are a first-time traveler on Tanzania safari. But with introduction of the Global Positioning System (GPS), there is no need to worry about venturing into unfamiliar routes. It is a matter of you setting your current location and destination point, and then you keep following the routing as your GPS directs you.

Below are the guides for self-drive

Rent a four wheel drive

Tanzania might have great asphalted main roads, but the real adventure starts when you take a turn towards the smaller roads and safaris. So, if you plan on having the same vehicle for your entire self-drive Tanzania experience, you must rent a 4×4.

The roads can get extremely bumpy in Tanzania and you don’t want to waste time being stuck in a ditch in the middle of a national park. It will not only cost you a lot of money (they charge a hefty fee to get someone to pull you out in a national park), you’ll also be wasting a lot of time since they might need some time to get to you.

Opt for a car with roof tent

The best way to travel to Tanzania on a budget is by renting a car with a roof tent. The tent on our car was very comfy and there are numerous campgrounds all over the country ranging from basic bush campsites inside the parks to private campgrounds operated by lodge owners, enabling you to stay at a secured site with good amenities whilst sleeping for a dime.

Wild camping is uncommon. If you decide to camp in a national park, there will be park staff setting up a campfire for you to prevent animals from approaching the tent or vehicle (included in the camping price).

Carry a valid driving license

A valid driving license and identification must be carried and presented to the company or delivery person. Failure to present such important documents means low chances of you getting a car for yourself.

Conduct thorough check on the car rental

Before you start your road trip in Tanzania self-drive car, cross-checking your rental car is very important. All the dents, the current state of air conditioner, damages of the car should be taken note of and you can inquire even about its past mechanical issues.

Pack snacks and water

I know you’re perfectly capable of planning your meals, but we definitely weren’t. Once you stray off the main roads and into the parks, you won’t find a single shop that sells water or food. Many hours can pass in between meals if you don’t plan accordingly, so make sure you plan hearty snacks. We took cereal bars with us (2/day per person) and bought at least 3L of water in the mornings to have throughout the day.

Bring good camera equipment

One of the best things about doing a self-drive in Tanzania is the opportunity to blend in, and not be part of a bigger group of tourists, both in the cities as well as safaris. Your trip to Tanzania will definitely benefit from a good zoom lens.

If you are traveling to Tanzania to take amazing photos of animals, then I would say something up to 600mm would be your best bet but those tend to cost a pretty penny, so also have a look if your local photo shop or website loans lenses.

Know the road rules

Besides the information, the company you rent from will provide you with; make sure you read up on road rules before you sit in the car! The driving speed limit on the Tanzania non-urban roads 80 km/hour and on urban roads, you’ll have to maintain a speed of 50 km/hour.

On gravel roads, you will be driving at an average of 30km/hour. If you are trying to estimate your travel itinerary with Google Maps, increase the suggested travel time by 30%. Don’t map out your entire day route, because Google Maps will look for the shortest route and those are likely to be in a very bad state. Instead, break it up into only looking at getting from point A to point B.

Tip: make sure the company you rent from has comprehensive car insurance, that way there is less possibility for expensive, unexpected costs.

Road tripping in Tanzania is safe

Since most Tanzanians speak good English, they will also go out of their way to try and help you in case of an accident. Main roads outside the city are wide, asphalted and safe.

Get ready for an ‘African massage’

I’ve mentioned how safe the main roads are above. And while main motorways are safe and comfortable to drive on, you will definitely experience something totally different once you drive off of them. Get ready to experience the ‘African ‘massage’ the moment you get off that asphalt.

We have never experienced a road as bumpy as the one going through Serengeti NP. But the experience was so much fun, we saw hippos, elephants, baboons and so many more animals by this road. This is what makes a drive through the non-asphalted roads so much better the animals are not scared to approach them because you can’t drive fast there.

The size of the rental car

The number of people you plan to get on the road with and luggage size should be put into consideration. This should guide you when deciding which self-drive car rental to book. A Toyota land cruiser is ideal for a group of 4-5pax on self-drive Tanzania or you can hire a Mini Van or slightly larger rental depending on the number of people and cargo.

Conclusion

Renting a self-drive car in Tanzania has become a common practice with many rental companies widely available in most main towns. This presents you opportunity to make a choice suitable for your self-drive tour. Contact Car Rental Tanzania for better services that will make your trip memorable.