Tips For Renting A car in Kenya
Tips For Renting A car in Kenya: All You Need To Know before Renting A Car In Kenya
Tips for renting a car in Kenya: Renting a car in Kenya and self-driving is a unique way of exploring Kenya, although there are still some things you need to know before going on a Kenya road trip.
You might be in Kenya, or just planning to come to Kenya either to stay otherwise travel for some days , as you visit many tourist attraction sites like the Masai mara, the Amboseli national Park, Aberdare National parl, OIpejeta, Samburu National game reserve, Lake Nakuru National Park, Lake Naivasha National park, Hells Gate national Park among others.
Kenya is the second biggest country in East Africa after Tanzania, and with its wide population, you will find almost no land to settle in, but with many interesting destinations that are worth visiting. This alone provides absolute freedom of going on road trips and planning your own travel itineraries, that makes sense for solo travelers, or couples, even groups to rent a car so as to stop anywhere they liked — exploring local villages, mountains, beaches and historic cities at their own pace.
Despite the reputation for crazy driving (and drivers), you will absolutely love traveling in Kenya on a self-drive or guided holiday
Below are some important tips renting a car Kenya, to help you save money and stay safe while driving here!
Kenya Travel Restrictions to travelers coming to Kenya 2022
Kenya is now open to all travelers including American tourists. However, all you need is proof of your COVID-19 vaccination(s) or a negative test result before being allowed entry.
Many hotels, attractions, and private tours are open with new health & safety protocols in place, and you still have to follow certain guidelines.
You can find the latest updates on traveling to Kenya from https://kcaa.or.ke/covid-19/covid-19-travel-requirements
How To Rent A Car In Kenya Guide
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Renting A Car For A Solo or group in Kenya ?
If you are a fun of a minibus, Land cruiser extended, safari Land cruiser, by all means, You will have to hire a driver guide as well. It’s a decent way to see many destinations in Kenya if you don’t have a lot of time.
No planning, no driving, just sit back and let someone else do all the work!,
But if you’re traveling Solo, you prefer the challenge of independent travel which provides the true exploration, with no set schedule or timetable.
You will drive around many Kenya destinations with the freedom to stop anywhere fun you happen to find as you drive around, discovering places off-the-beaten path — that bus tours might miss.
If that’s the kind of traveler you want to be, then rent a car in Kenya is the way to go!
Another interesting bit of having a rental car is the ability to store luggage in the trunk, so you can explore cities with small travel backpacks rather than carrying luggage and huge suitcase everywhere.
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Where To Rent Your Car In Kenya
The best site to book your car is www.selfdrivekenya.com. They have a wide selection of 4×4 rental fleets; Land cruiser Tx/Tz, 4×4 safari Land Cruiser extended, Land cruiser Lx, Nissan X-trail, Safari mini vans, coaster vans and the Toyota Rav4 to help you enjoy your adventure at its best. This is the easiest way to rent a car in Kenya.
At Self drive Kenya, you get to enjoy more deals like car rental with rooftop tent, long term rentals, car hire with camping gear, car hire with pop up roof for game viewing and renting a car on one way basis, where there is no need to return the car at the Initial position, where you picked it from.
Some of my the favorite Kenyan drives so far are; exploring the beautiful Lake Nakuru for birding, visiting the Masai mara for the Big five, while around the city, you can visit the Sheldrick Elephant trust and the Giraffe Monor so as to get near the Giraffes and an epic photography road trip along the rift valley plains and the Mombasa beaches.
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Car Rental Insurance In Kenya
Most Kenya companies out of which www.selfdrivekenya.com is part, have their fleet insured under a policy of motor vehicle insurance as per the kenya Insurance act. The Insurance only covers head collision, theft and fire for the car, but not personal life insurance for the person renting the car, therefore you are urged to come handy with life insurance from your home country.
However this same Insurance does not cater for any damage caused by negligence
such as driving when drunk, wheels/trims, cigarette burns, Tyres, tools, windscreen, side mirrors or any burned vehicle part to the interior of the vehicle, radio /MP4 screen, reversing camera, lights, body parts, engine parts or any other parts related to the vehicle accessories etc, are not covered by insurance and is the full responsibility of the hirer for any loss of any damage to the vehicle, plus
actual towing storage impound and other related expenses. If at all the vehicle is driven under your driver’s negligence: you shall be debited for any damage caused to the engine/ battery, radiator or cylinder head due to your negligence.
When you meet an accident, you are urged to instantly notify the police in-case it is another party’s guilt is to be ascertained, or if any person is injured. This is because it is the operator who will claim the insurance for the damages caused to the car. Most of the excess insurance charged by tour operator companies , usually depend on the type of car say;
Toyota Rav4 USD 500
Land cruiser Prado TZ & TX 1500 USD
Luxury jeeps: LX 7.0 Series, V8, GX, TXL land cruisers Excess insurance is $ 2000USD.
The hirer will comply with the terms and conditions of the insurance policy and pay the owner any excess in the event of the claim
Rooftop Tents and camping gears are also not part of the insurance in case of any damage, therefore client shall pay an amount similar to the manufacturer price of $1000
4.Gas Prices
Gas (petrol) prices in Kenya keep on fluctuating, depending on situations. Currently in Kenya the fuel seem expensive to locals, but remember that the rest of the world quotes gas in Liters, not Gallons. The prices as of June 20th 2022, gas costs about $5.129 per gallon ($1.355 per liter) while diesel is , $4.516 per gallon ($1.193 per liter), hence a Diesel car will always save you some money on gas.
5.Automatic vs Manual
In most cases, Automatic cars are more expensive to rent in Kenya than manual cars, which you must specify what type you want when reserving.
And if you have never driven a manual jeep before, then don’t hesitate to hire one in Kenya, but otherwise, you can hire a driver with knowledge of a manual. However, it is more safe to get an automatic, even if it costs more.
6.One-Way Rentals
In most cases, most clients prefer to pick their rental cars from either Jommo Kenyatta international Airport or hotel of their residence, and return to the same spot after their road trip, while others would love to go one way, that the destination of pick up is different from the drop off point, which then calls for a one way additional fee for one way car rental. These fees are even more expensive if you want to drop the car off in a different country like Tanzania or Uganda because, you will need to Pay for the cross border license — which can add a few hundred USD to actual price.
6. Book In Advance
It is always advisable to book the car early enough, prior to the arrival date/pick up date so as to get a good deal especially if you want to travel to popular destinations. Six months early seems to be the sweet spot for the best rates.
Consider going on your Kenya road trip during the peak tourist seasons, or off-season to get affordable rental car rates.
When crossing the border from Kenya to Tanzania, or Kenya to Uganda by car, the rental companies often charge a fee (COMESA charge) to cross borders with the cars, ranging between $50 to $200.
7.Rental Car Requirements In Europe
Self Drive Kenya like any other car rental company in Kenya has their own rules when it comes to renting a car for self drive or with a driver. We usually just want the driver to be at least 21 years of age, photocopy a valid passport and your home English driver’s license, although the International driving license would be much better.
8. Driving Laws Tourists Should Know
In Kenya, Driving is always on the left, therefore it’s illegal to make a right turn on red lights, and it is always advisable you observe the road rules and the lights. Before you start driving in Kenya, research the meanings of different street signs
Traffic Camera Speed Traps
Although many countries have automatic traffic cameras, Kenya today relies on both the automatic traffic cameras to enforce their speed limits and the highway patrol officers. Therefore proper driving and keen following of the traffic rules will save few expensive speeding tickets!
Children’s Car Seat Requirements
If you’re coming on a self drive road trip with young kids, make sure to rent or bring your own child seat or booster seat. Children between the ages of 2 and 12 are required to use an appropriate restraint in cars.
9.Extra Advice For Renting A Car In Europe
Parking can be a pain in Nairobi city and other buzy towns of Eldoret, Nakuru, Mombasa, Malindi among others, as there usually isn’t a lot of space (if any at all). Therefore rent Self drive Kenya 4×4 cars to make parking easier, and parking on the outskirts of large cities.
Don’t book our cars without reading company rules and regulations.
Use Google Maps on your smartphone for directions. Bring your own hands-free adapter and buy a Kenyan SIM card for your phone at the airport. Just be aware that Google Maps isn’t always accurate some times.
10.Accident & Breakdown Information
The Kenya Emergency Phone Number is 112, or 911, or 999.
However if your car simply breaks down, and no one is injured, its probably better to call us because you are guaranteed a 24/7 road assistance
Lastly, enjoy your Kenyan road trip with Self drive Kenya, as you proceed to explore small villages, ancient castles, lush mountains of Kenya, and coastal areas of Kenya in our rental car which is definitely the right choice for us.
Contact Self Drive Kenya by emailing us at: info@selfdrivekenya.com, or call/WhatsApp us on +254 115342989
Self-drive road trips allow you to get off the beaten track to see things a lot of people miss!
What to consider when choosing a Kenya safari company on a selfdrive
Many people visiting Kenya wonder how to choose the best safari company in Kenya during the vacation. With so many options of different companies and new Kenya tour operators popping up every year, it can be intimidating.
In order to choose a safari company in Kenya that is best for you, follow these important steps:
- Make sure their prices are competitive when compared with other Kenya safari companies
- If you do not get immediate responses to your e-mails or phone calls, or if your questions are not adequately answered, look elsewhere since there variety of companies waiting for the clients to offer the services
- Look for a tourist safari company that has a good attitude and personalized services towards the clients without different in origin
- Make sure the company you choose has experienced guides and drivers that speak English
- Check online reviews and websites to read about because it the one that offers the services you would wish to have others’ experiences before you choose a Kenya safari company
Nairobi Airport Car hire
Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta Airport Car hire is available for tourists that want to travel independently on self-drive Kenya through Nairobi and the surrounding areas of Kenya.
Kenya has a range of car hire companies that offer self-drive at Nairobi airport. and the majority of the company don’t offer cars for self-drive they have tourist vehicles with the drive
These include international rental car brands like self-drive Kenya and road trip Africa and local Kenyan car hire companies both offering tourist cars with a driver. the have 5seater,seven-seater, and eight-seater,14people and even coasters
Car hire companies at Nairobi airport include self-drive Kenya Avis, Europcar, Budget, Hertz, Rent a Car, and Sixt.
When deciding whether to rent a car in Nairobi or use shuttle or taxi transport, make sure to calculate your costs.
Car hire at Nairobi airport can be very expensive, ranging from $70usd for a mid-size car to $200 Dollars for a larger 4X4.
If you plan to do long-term car hire in Nairobi, make sure to negotiate a discount. every company in Kenya give different prices depending on the level of negotiation and the number of days you’re going to hire the car
Car hire most asked question in Kenya
What state is the Kenya road are for self-Drive?
what are Kenya road rules?
what are the hazards of Kenya roads on self-drive?
what precaution for driving in Kenya on self-drive as a tourist?
what do I need to drive a car in Kenya on self-drive?
is it possible to cross the border of Kenya to other neighbouring countries with self-drive cars?
Car Rental in Kenya for Self drive
Kenya roads have been upgraded recently in order to improve the transport means and easier the service to the country. Roads entering to several national parks have been working on for the tourist to travel in good roads
It’s your turn to rent a car on self-drive and enjoy your vacation. there are various car rental companies in Kenya but very few offers car rental for self-drive. travellers across the world prefer self-drive because its cheaper for them and selfdrivekenya.com are the experts in self-drive car rental
The best of car rental on the self-drive is the clients move freely without the pressure of the guide/driver. Self-drive is very possible in Kenya but the only challenge mostly affected by the majority are Kenya roads have too much traffic on the road meaning the road signs and the documents requirements prohibit some of the travellers
The best way to drive in Kenya without being disturbed on the road you need the following
1. Valid driving licenses
It’s a must for every person driving in a different country to have a valid driving license, probably the best permit is an international driving permit. this is a legal document you need in every country you travel to in case you want a car for self-drive especially for foreigners but the local people you can use the local driving permit Authorised by the local authority responsible for national permits
2. Valid Passport and Passport
All travellers on car rental for self-drive are advised to move with the Visa beside the passport, all tourists travelling in Kenya on a self-drive and car with driver.in Kenya, if you want to get a visa you can get it on the website or you can get it at any entry of Kenya on arrival at $100 for east African, Visa indicates you that your in-country by legal not by default, and its the one asked most when your in Kenya its advisable to travel with east African visa because you may want to travel to other countries in East African and it because easy to cross the border to another country
Before planning to travel to another country you need to have a viable passport, viable passport helps you to be identified since most of the tourists who rent cars for self-drive don’t have National Identity cards. this is one of the travel documents that are simple to be present to immigration officers
3. Car agreement with the company you rent a car from
The car agreement is normally between two parties that show they came to a conclusion between the car owner “Company rating your car” and the person renting a car. the contract letter to be valid needs to be signed and should indicate the full names of all parties.
The contract agreement indicates the number of days the car is to be hired, the starting date and ending date plus the amount of money paid per day.it has all terms and conditions for driving, fuel, insurance, and mechanical and
4. Travel maps for the country
when you are new in the country and you are on self-drive not easy to identify which route to take because you’re a foreigner to that country, travel maps help you to identify which route to take where to end and the best direction you wish to travel. this is one of the items most traveller likes to ignore yet it’s very important. In case you want car rental on self-drive you can ask the trip organizer to bring it with a car
Travel maps. This is one thing that is always ignored by most travellers yet it is very important. Travellers on self-drive safaris drive to strange areas they have no knowledge about, so the best directions they could get is from a travel map, to be able to reach out to different destinations of their desire.
Car rental for self-drive in Kenya with the above documents it becomes easy for you to have a safe drive through Kenya without having any challenge maybe the mechanical part which is always solved by our mechanics
