Serengeti Self Drive Safaris From Arusha
Serengeti Self Drive Safaris From Arusha: Is a Self-Driving Safari in Serengeti National Park Truly Worth It? Is it feasible? Indeed, undertaking a self-driving safari in Serengeti National Park is feasible, and the experience is surely rewarding; nevertheless, it takes meticulous planning, expertise, and a substantial cash. Planning a self-drive safari in the Serengeti possesses a distinct appeal. It’s a genuinely personalized experience that challenges your driving skills. Moreover, you have the advantage of autonomously exploring the plants and creatures inhabiting the vast expanse of the Serengeti.
The Serengeti is perhaps the continent’s most rewarding safari park due to its array of breathtaking features, including the great wildebeest migration, and diverse activities such as game drives, walking safaris, and hot air balloon safaris. However, it is a park that is most effectively enjoyed with prior preparation. Among Tanzanian tour guides, the primary routes from Naabi Hill gate to Seronera, the epicenter of activity, and from Seronera extending east and west, are notorious for their challenging driving conditions. The path is challenging, characterized by rugged terrain and undulating surfaces resembling washboards. Drivers are advised to adhere to a minimum speed limit of 25 km/h to avoid the risk of losing control and overturning their car.
The southern plains of the Serengeti, encompassing Ndutu and Seronera, are the most accessible regions from Arusha. Investigating the western corridor and Lobo is valuable, if distant. It is recommended to procure a safari vehicle and a driver-guide to navigate the less frequented areas of the Serengeti.
The logistics of organizing an autonomous vehicle safari in the Serengeti
Traveling to the Serengeti in your own vehicle is more challenging than one might expect, particularly when contrasted with numerous other regions where planning a road trip just involves renting a car, selecting a route, and embarking on the journey. It is essential to recognize that prices will escalate significantly. The permit expenses for autonomous vehicles are considerably higher than those for tour firms. Furthermore, to optimize your experience in the Serengeti, anticipate driving 300–400 km daily.
Accommodation in Serengeti for your self-drive safari in Serengeti
Owning a vehicle provides numerous housing alternatives. You may make decisions while traveling, such as reserving a lodge for indulgence or opting to stay in a complimentary campsite.
Regrettably, the expense of overnight accommodations considerably escalates the budget. The primary expenditure in the Serengeti comprises fees and permits, regardless of whether one opts for a lodge (60 USD per night per person), a private camp (50 USD per night per person), or a public campsite (30 USD per night per person). The fee may already be incorporated into the overall expense of Serengeti lodges. Nonetheless, lodging at an economical establishment will incur a charge of $200 per individual per night. The most economical approach to experiencing the Serengeti is through self-camping. You are required to provide your own meals and rent camping equipment. Camping gear can be rented from several tour operators or your car rental service for a reasonable price.
Additional things to do within Serengeti National Park on self drive safaris
Individuals seeking an alternative safari experience in Serengeti National Park should contemplate walking safaris. Reservations for safari walks can be arranged at the tourist center of Serengeti National Park; costs vary from 20 to 25 USD per individual, contingent upon the duration of the safari. Furthermore, with prior request, the resort can facilitate balloon excursions or safari drives.
The Serengeti is an accessible park to explore during your self-drive safari in Tanzania. Signposts are ubiquitous, and the roads are normally in satisfactory condition. While we recommend that self-drivers remain in the park’s center for greater wildlife viewing chances, you are at liberty to explore as far and deep into the park as you choose. An offline map is advantageous for swiftly ascertaining your location.
Toyota Land Cruiser Prado with Roof Top Tent
The 4x4 Toyota Land Cruiser LX
4×4 Toyota Land Cruiser Hardtop
What additional considerations should be taken into account during your self-drive safari in the Serengeti?
Prepare adequately for the journey that awaits you, commencing in Arusha city. Acquire sufficient provisions to sustain you throughout your stay in the park, ensuring at least 5 to 10 liters of water per person daily, strategize your itinerary to encompass desired attractions, and endeavor to secure all necessary permits beforehand.
Prior to proceeding to the gate to remit payment for entry into the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, it is required to obtain an entrance quotation first. This can be accomplished in their Arusha office. Payment at the Serengeti National Park gate can be made with a MasterCard or Visa. The journey from Arusha to the Serengeti necessitates extensive and arduous driving. The road conditions are suboptimal, and Google Maps’ estimated journey times are significantly inaccurate. Proceed leisurely and endeavor to appreciate the landscape. The journey durations from Arusha to the Serengeti are as follows.
- The distance from Arusha to Karatu is 140 kilometers, which takes approximately 3 hours to traverse.
Loduare gate to the Ngorongoro Crater entrance — around 15 km in roughly 45 minutes.
Distance from Ngorongoro Crater to Naabi Hill Gate (Serengeti entrance) is 85 kilometers, requiring 2 to 3 hours of travel.
The distance from Naabi Hill entrance to Seronera (central Serengeti, where most camps are situated) is 60 kilometers, often covered in about one hour.
Seronera to Lobo Ranger Post – 75 kilometers in approximately 2 hours.
The journey from Seronera to Arusha may require between 6 and 8 hours.
Essential Proper Conduct to Observe During your Self-drive Safaris in Serengeti National Park
Off-road driving may incur fines amounting to hundreds of dollars; thus, remain on designated roads.
Despite the indifference of most guides, it is imperative to adhere to the established speed restriction within national parks. It is important to note that 90% of accidents in the Serengeti are attributable to excessive speed.
Refrain from chasing the animals. They consider it distressing, and if a park ranger apprehends you, you may incur substantial fines of up to $1,000.
When viewing wildlife, position your vehicle to the side, deactivate the engine, and ensure there is ample space for other vehicles to join you in viewing.
One should refrain from exiting the vehicle. This is for your protection against predators such as lions, cheetahs, and leopards, which are prevalent in the Serengeti.
Although it ought to be self-evident, it is not. Do not discard any waste near the roadway. Even discarding banana peels into the underbrush affects the park’s ecology.
Nighttime driving is forbidden in the Serengeti. Operate the vehicle alone between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m.