Top 5 Best Destinations For A Self-Drive Safari In Africa : A self-drive African safari gives you a sense of freedom, adventure, and discovery that a conventional guided tour simply cannot. The rush of traveling on open roads in search of rare wildlife and well-known natural wonders is unmatched. Get in touch with us at Focus East Africa tours to browse our selection of self-drive tours to realize your safari dreams if you want to explore Africa independently and at your own pace.
Self-drive safaris are, in many ways, the best kind of safari to explore a nation or national park. A self-drive safari allows you to explore the African wilderness on your own without the help of a guide, a driver, or other tourists. Here are our top 5 picks for the best African safari countries for the best self-drive safari:
TANZANIA
The Tanzania country is one of the self-drive safari destination which is situated in Eastern Africa. The nation is home to a wide variety of wildlife. 38% of its land has been designated for the conservation of its wildlife, including both plants and animals. The best and most frequently recognized travel destination in the world is Tanzania. Tanzania is home to dense forests, mountains, 32 controlled areas, more than 30 reserved areas, and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. All of these are natural resources that have been used to create popular tourist destinations throughout the year.
Tanzania is one of the best countries where one can drive independently in the majority of its locations. The tourist only needs to pay the entrance fee for parks and other conservation areas, rent a car, and make reservations for necessities like lodging.
Arusha, Mwanza, Dar es Salaam, and other towns and cities in Tanzania, as well as islands and beaches in Zanzibar, cultural sites like Maasai Bomas, museums, and curio shops, as well as traveling to rural areas all over the country, are all accessible by self-drive.
SOUTH AFRICA
South Africa is regarded as the ideal location for travelers who want to self-drive to various tourist destinations. South Africa offers visitors a wide range of attractions, including wildlife, urban leisure, cultural experiences, and beaches. Once at the airport, one can immediately begin their adventure. Self-drive activities are permitted in every National Park in South Africa, including Cango Caves, one of the seven natural wonders of the world, Mpumalanga, Kruger, and all the tourist destinations like cultural sites and islands. For those wishing to explore South Africa’s urban areas, self-driving in cities like Pretoria, Johannesburg, and Cape Town has proven to be the best option.
KENYA
Kenya is another excellent choice for self-drive safari vacations. Having an adventurous experience in Kenya at your own pace is amazing, but it must be done with extreme caution, especially in urban areas. Visiting the country’s natural attractions, such as the Maasai Mara Reserve, Lake Nakuru, Amboseli Park, and numerous wildlife conservation areas. It is astonishing how much you can enjoy the sand and surf at Mombasa, Malindi, and Watamu beaches on your own while still getting to enjoy Swahili food and seafood. Self-driving can also entail visiting Kenya’s cultural landmarks, such as the Maasai societies, where you can get a taste of Maasai cuisine, attire, and other traditional customs. In Kenya, you can self-drive to cultural sites, the Indian Coast, and the bush.
ZIMBABWE
Zimbabwe is the next-best place to go when taking a self-drive vacation. One of Africa’s undiscovered, adventurous destinations is Zimbabwe. The nation is home to numerous natural and cultural tourist destinations, including Victoria Falls and wildlife-friendly locations like National Parks and Natural Reserves. The traveler is free to switch between destinations. The Boma restaurant offers the best cuisine and Zambezi lifestyle experiences for visitors who want to experience a remote way of life, and canoeing on Lake Zambezi is the best way to explore the Zambezi region. Zimbabwe is one of the African nations where the populace and surroundings are more welcoming to guests and tourists.
UGANDA
Uganda is another best African safari country for a self-drive safari experience. Uganda is one of the best locations in Africa with a high concentration of apes, and tourists can easily observe gorillas and chimpanzees from a variety of national parks in Uganda. Self-driving is possible in urban areas like Kampala as well as in the wild. Uganda is one of the best places to go on a self-drive vacation, with amazing activities like game drives, trekking, and cultural experiences thanks to the breathtaking landscape, distinctive culture, and wildlife.
If the traveler has made the wise decision to make advance arrangements for taking care of some services, such as booking good cars, particularly 4WD with pop-up roof cars that can make them have easy access to the tourism destinations like the wildlife sites and good sightseeing of the attraction, self-drive trips will be more relaxed and peaceful. The fact that they have reserved their lodging and prepared their itinerary will also increase their enjoyment because they will be more certain of their location as they travel and will be able to relax when they know where they will be eating, sleeping, and resting after their adventures and long game drives.
WHY SHOULD YOU TAKE A SELF-DRIVE SAFARI?
Here are advantages of a self-drive safari tour:
You are in complete control of how you spend your time and where you go. This implies that you are not required to adhere to a rigid daily schedule and can stop by a bar to enjoy a picnic and watch a game.
Due to the absence of a guide or driver, self-drive safaris are significantly less expensive than guided safaris. The only expenses are your lodging and the park entrance, which are typically charged daily.
Self-drive safaris can be easily combined with many other safari types to give you the best of both worlds and the best chance of seeing the most game. For instance, you could add a morning guided walking safari and an afternoon hot air balloon safari to a few days of self-driving. Being in charge of your schedule gives you flexibility.
SELF-DRIVE SAFARI PACKING LIST: WHAT TO TAKE ON A SELF-DRIVE SAFARI
- Even if you have a backup tank, keep extra gasoline in Jerry cans. The majority of gas stations in Africa are only found in the major towns, making it difficult to find fuel in rural areas.
- A thorough map. A map is absolutely necessary because the roads in Africa are frequently not marked and without a post sign.
- A cell phone with a local SIM card, ideally a satellite phone. It gives you the freedom to call ahead and reserve your lodges or campsites before you arrive, in addition to serving as a backup for any emergencies.
- You should have two spare tires, a tire pump, a high-lift jack, and an ordinary jack in case of a breakdown.
- A first-aid or medical kit. Even small cuts can become infected quickly in the heat and humidity, and you’re probably far from the nearest medical assistance.
- Food: Although there are restaurants at most campgrounds, it’s a good idea to bring food with you for breakfast, lunch, and a few dinners. For your BBQs, don’t forget the charcoal!
- A lot of water to drink, wash with, and fill radiators with.
TIPS FOR WILDLIFE SPOTTING ON A SELF-DRIVE SAFARI
- Early morning and early evening are the best times to see wildlife because they are at their most active.
- Even if the animals seem calm or friendly, never exit your car. Although big cats and other predators do not view moving vehicles as a threat or a source of food, once you are outside the car, you are treated as prey.
- When around elephants, always leave a clear path for your car to move forward since they can move faster than you can. Be forewarned that an elephant running with its trunk tucked back between its legs indicates serious danger!
- The absolute worst method for spotting wildlife is to speed through the park to see as much as you can. Slower speeds result in more sightings, and stopping at a watering hole and remaining still for 30 minutes frequently brings rich rewards.
- You’ll get the most exposure to the local wildlife by combining your self-drive safari with some sort of guided safari, such as a night drive, walking safari, balloon ride, etc.
