Self-Drive

For the ultimate in freedom and privacy, self-drive is an ideal way to travel, and many countries in Africa have the infrastructure to make renting your own vehicle a practical alternative. Although driving is on the left, traffic is generally light and sign-posting clear: with your own vehicle it is easy to stop where you wish, taking in the finest views, best restaurants and particular places of interest along your way. We can advise on the best type of vehicle to suit your travel plans. A four-wheel drive is not always required: for some journeys a sedan is more comfortable and economical.

We can arrange for your vehicle to be waiting at the airport, or alternatively can arrange for it to be delivered to your hotel: this is sometimes advisable for those arriving from a long intercontinental flight. Some African distances are very long, and the best way to explore can be by combining internal flights with segments of your journey driven independently: we can arrange for the car to be waiting at each airport and any one-way rentals that might be required.

South Africa is one place where self-drive is justifiably popular. Roads are good and traffic is light, with a generally good standard of driving. It is also an excellent option in Namibia, where excellent dirt roads stretch as straight as arrows across dramatic desert landscapes. Self-drive is also a good option in Botswana, where we can arrange for you to be equipped with your own four-wheel-drive vehicle equipped with a fold-out roof-top tent: these enable you to mingle with the locals in inexpensive campsites but still sleep up high, well above prowling wildlife.

Driving conditions in East Africa are more demanding. Road surfaces are not always smooth and driving standards can be variable. We still offer some self-driving options in Kenya and Tanzania and this can be an excellent way for experienced travelers to get around, though here it is more usual - and scarcely more expensive - to rent a vehicle with a driver.

The one thing that is distinctive about Aardvark Safaris' vehicle rental options is that we have personally driven the routes. When we rent out a vehicle, we will provide detailed itineraries, complete with directions researched first-hand, and book the best accommodations along the way.