Driving Trips in Kenya
Located in East Africa Kenya is a popular all year round holiday destination for many Europeans. Situated on the equator Kenya is hot all year round even through the rainy seasons. The mix of beautiful coastal beaches and expansive game reserves have made Kenya one of the top African destinations for many tourists.
If you are planning to stay on the main roads then you will be okay in a 2 wheel drive vehicle, anything off road however will require a sturdy 4×4. Before you make any trip always ensure your vehicle is in good condition and make sure you have spare fuel, a tow rope, spare tires, jacking equipment and bottled water with you when leaving the major cities as breaking down in the `bush` can be very stressful.
A great driving trip is out to the Great Rift Valley, one of the Earth`s biggest geographical features spanning 4000 miles starting in Syria and ending in Mozambique. With the valley stretching through the country there are numerous roads to take so consult your map and plan your journey from your current destination, although the B8 route takes you along the eastern side of the valley. If you want to visit the beautiful Serengeti National Park the B144 runs all the way through and will take you across the border into Tanzania. Kenya`s main park Tsavo National Park is located on route A109 with many smaller roads splitting off going further into the park itself. The A2 runs north-south through the country and has a number of smaller national parks and wildlife reserves situated along it.
Anyone with an international driving license can legally drive in Kenya and are recommended but you can organise in advance a national license that will allow you to drive for 90 days. The national speed limit is 70 kilometres per hour.
Like the UK Kenya drive on the left, but learn to always give way to traffic from the right at intersections. Out of the cities many of the roads are in very poor conditions so be prepared for some bumpy driving and try to avoid potholes as much as possible. Because of this fact it is ill advised to drive anywhere at night. If you are travelling in the rainy season be prepared for slow, long trips as the rains can wash out major parts of the road system.
All the main car rental companies such as Avis and Hertz are located in the major cities and renting a car can range from £30-£70 per day. A number of safari companies rent out 4×4 although these can be a little more expensive. Booking ahead of time can score you a good discount so check ahead of time. If you are undertaking any major distance then go with a company who offer multiple outlets. If you are planning a trip outside the borders, maybe to Cyprus, a good place to rent a car is car hire Cyprus.