Self Drive Safari In Tanzania
Self-Drive Safari in Tanzania
Self drive safari in Tanzania important information is covered in this section; How are the road conditions in Tanzania? How does it work with navigation? What happens in case of a breakdown or accident? How to deal with traffic police in Tanzania. It's all about self-drive safari experience in Tanzania
Road Conditions In Tanzania
All of the primary roads connecting the parks are smooth asphalt and in good condition. You can expect a lot of speed bumps and the occasional pothole. Usually, requires some driving on gravel roads to get to the park entrance gate or lodge. Inside the parks, it’s off-road driving on dirt roads. The conditions of these gravel and dirt roads tend to be variable from one season to the next and most difficult during the rainy season. Driving in some national parks is not technical.
How To Navigate in Tanzania
We recommend using google maps or installing Maps. me on your mobile device before you travel to Tanzania. Maps.me it’s a free app, download the Tanzania maps, and enjoy driving with GPS offline. There’s something to be said for going totally offline with a good old-fashioned map on your lap. The road map that comes with your rental car is not very detailed, but the main roads are highlighted properly. If you are trying to estimate your Tanzania travel itinerary with Google Maps, increase the suggested travel time by 30%.
Although Tanzania’s asphalt roads are in good condition, you generally won’t reach more than 60 km/hour, due to the many speed bumps, the need to reduce speed when you’re passing through villages, and because you probably want to take a lot of pictures. Even the scenery from the highway is stunning! On gravel roads, you reach an average of 25km/hour.
What To Do In Case of Breakdown or Accident
In case of a breakdown, we will help you on your way as fast as we can. You can call us 24/7 for roadside assistance. There is a network of mechanic workshops in Tanzania to assist you in case of any issues, and we will either direct you to the nearest workshop or send a mechanic to assist you on the spot. In case a car cannot be fixed on the spot, a replacement, car from Mili Adventure Africa head office Arusha will be provided so you can continue your journey. Please bear in mind that arranging one of the above takes some time, and might require some effort and patience from your side. Luckily, breakdowns are rare. In case of an accident, contact us immediately and we coach you through the process, take pictures of the damaged vehicle(s) and process a clear police report.
Deal with Policeman In Tanzania
Traffic police in Tanzania, are recognized from a distance by their bright white uniform. Always wonder how they keep their uniforms so white on the dusty roads, but that’s not the answer to your question… So, advice that comes in handy when dealing with any kind of government official in Tanzania is to remain patient and friendly, greet them in Swahili, and make a joke, and you will have a new friend. Traffic police will frequently pull you over to check if your car is insured, if the tires look okay, and to check if you are carrying the required fire extinguisher, reflector triangles, and first aid kit. Of course, that is taken care of if you rent a car from Mili Adventure Africa. They will also want to see your driving license. A valid driving license from your country of residence is accepted in Tanzania. If you didn’t break the law (speeding, dangerous overtaking, etc.), there is nothing they can accuse you of. In our experience, traffic police are friendly, curious, and often just want to make chit-chat. If you committed an offence, you have to pay the fine, which is usually around 30,000 Tanzanian Shillings ($ 13). Officially, this should be done at the nearest police station, which could be miles away and can be a very time-consuming procedure.
Travelling on budget in Tanzania
You will find plenty of decent budget and mid-range accommodation at a much lower price range from public campsites in the parks to hotels that do not require any advance arrangements most of them can’t even be booked in advance. You’ll probably begin or end your self-drive safari in Arusha or any part of Tanzania. It is an organized, green town, with a skyline dominated by the imposing Mount Meru. Plenty of coffee bars, restaurants, souvenir shops and it’s nice to walk around.
Time to visit for wildebeest migration
The safari parks in Tanzania which are most seasonal in terms of game viewing are Serengeti, Selous, and Tarangire national parks and other national parks. The Serengeti is famous for its annual migration of millions of wildebeest and other plains grazers on the move to find fresh grass and water, with predators like lions following in their footsteps. However, dictated by local rainfall patterns, the migration does follow a pretty predictable pattern;
December – May: Southeast (Veronese, Ndutu)
May-July: Western corridor
July – October: Mara river
October -November: Lobo area.
In our experience, irrespective of season, the Serengeti always offers excellent game viewing opportunities.
Flight To Tanzania
Many airlines fly to Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO – Arusha) and Julius Nyerere International Airport (Dar es Salaam) and other small airports for domestic. Mili Adventure Africa head office and vehicles are located in Arusha, Tanzania.
Pick-up and Drop-off Service
It is possible to start or end your self-drive tour from another location other than Arusha. The costs are forwarded to the hire. Note that your car rental agreement starts and ends on the date the car leaves and returns to our office. The days required to bring back the car to our office are added as rental days. Delivery or drop off at Mili Adventure Office in Arusha, free. Airport transfer (JRO), one-way US Dollar 30. Delivery or drop off at Dar es Salaam US Dollar 250. Have another location in mind for your one-way car rental
Packing List For Travelling Trip To Tanzania
Our rental cars have a cigarette lighter to power your devices, but you’ll need to bring your own audio and USB cables. If you use Spotify, don’t forget to download your favorite road trip songs so you can listen to them offline. Audio books are also great fun to listen to during long drives, or whilst sitting around a campfire or lying in your tent (try a thriller!). You can install Maps. me on your mobile device and download the Tanzania maps so you can drive and walk around using GPS offline.
A Power bank comes in handy if you plan to camp a lot. A fleece blanket is nice for chilling on the grass or to cover up during the chillier nights. Definitely bring insect repellent and sunblock or you buy here in Tanzania. The interior highlands are cooler in the evenings, so bring a fleece or jumper. Arusha and Dar es Salaam have many well-stocked supermarkets and pharmacies where you can buy all the essentials, in case you forget anything.
Cross Border With Mili Adventure Africa Vehicle
It is possible to cross the Tanzanian border with a Mili Adventure Africa car to all East Africa countries and Zambia. If you want to do a multiple country self-drive with our vehicle, you do need to let us know in advance as we have to arrange a border crossing document and an extension of the car insurance for your vehicle. Without our consent, you are not allowed to cross the border and you are not insured for any damage. Please | Contact Us!! | for more information.
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