AFRICA CAR HIRING

As the sons and daughters of Africa,Let's Guide You In Africa

Our fleet of cars for hire in Africa consists of Toyota Land Cruiser and other different more – all are reliable cars widely used in Africa and perfect for self-drive tours. Be aware that these vehicles are not new. These sturdy vehicles are just right for the bush!

Each car is serviced at our workshop after every trip and we have a close network of upcountry workshops for minor onsite repairs. In the unlikely event that you have a breakdown, rest assured that we offer 24/7 roadside assistance and always have a replacement vehicle ready.

CAMPING - Land cruiser Double Cab Canopy

Your ultimate all-terrain camping vehicle, the Land cruiser Double Cab with customized canopy has the largest storage space of the entire fleet. The booth has built in drawers, a 40L water tank and designated space for the electrical fridge and gas cooker. This Land cruiser has 4 window seats. Can fit two rooftop tents, so perfect for families and friends. When one roof top tent is mounted, the 2 roof hatches can still be used.

SAFARI - Land cruiser with pop up roof

Your safari classic: the Land cruiser Hardtop with pop-up roof. No wildlife remains unnoticed from this viewpoint. This vehicle has six window seats. When camping, we take out the last row and the car can accommodate 4 persons with camp gear and personal luggage.

When equipped with a rooftop tent, it's not possible to use the pop up roof so you might want to consider renting a ground tent instead.

Rent a car with camping gear

Africa is a great continent for camping as there are so many campsites, ranging from basic bush sites inside the national parks to private campsites that come with a restaurant and swimming pool.

We can equip the Land cruiser with a rooftop tent and/or electrical fridge, or you can hire a dome tent. Both options come with a full set of quality camp gear, including sleeping bags, headlights, cooking equipment, table, chairs and everything else you'll need on your camping trip in Africa.

Rent a car with driver

Moonlight Tours Expedition works with a number of very experienced and truly lovable driver - guides. This option is great for road trippers who don't fancy driving themselves, want a more relaxed experience, or want to learn more about the local culture and wildlife in Africa.

All the guides we work with are fluent in English. Looking for a German, Spanish or French speaking driver-guide for your road trip in Africa? Some of our driver-guides are also fluent in German, Spanish or French. Let us know, we're happy to assist.

You can expect from your driver-guide that he will get you to your destination safely, he will also do game drives in the safari parks and he knows the best places to go for a lunch-break or stocking up supplies. He can also help you with fine-tuning your itinerary along the way, and recommend nice campsites and good value for money lodges in Africa.

The cost of hiring a driver-guide is €100 / day and all the proceeds go to the driver. This fee also covers his meals and accommodation. You don't need to arrange accommodation for him, as the lodges have facilities for the driver-guides where they can eat and sleep for a reduced rate. In case you go on a camping trip, we also supply your driver with camping gear. As there are no facilities to eat elsewhere inside the national parks, we ask that you provide food for your driver and cook your meals together. Most drivers are pretty good bush cooks and know how to start a camp fire.

When you travel into a national park with a driver, you do have to pay their entrance fee, depending on the park.

If you're taking a driver with you into the national parks, the Africa National Parks Authority requires you to have your entrance permits paid in advance, so you won’t be able to just decide on the fly. If you book a car with a driver, Moonlight Tours Expedition will help with arranging the required park entrance permits for you in advance.

On the road

How are the road conditions in Tanzania?

Northeastern Tanzania

By East African standards, the road conditions in the northeast of Tanzania are very good. All of the primary roads connecting Arusha to Ngorongoro in the west, Moshi/Kilimanjaro in the east and Lushoto/Dar es Salaam in the far east are smooth asphalt. You can expect a lot of speed bumps and the occasional pothole. Usually, the last stretch of your daily trip requires some driving on gravel roads to get to your lodge or park entrance gate. 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 the national parks of the northern safari circuit is not technical, except for the Serengeti and the road to Lake Natron.

Self-drive safari in the Serengeti

The main road running from the Ngorongoro Crater Road to Naabi Hill gate (entrance to the Serengeti), from Naabi Hill gate to Seronera (the centre of the park), and from Seronera radiating to the East and West, is notorious among all tour guides in Tanzania for its condition. It's a challenging road due to its rocky surface with washboard ribbons. We do allow self-drive safaris into the Serengeti but a Land Cruiser is required. Drive at LIMITED SPEED (25 km/h), otherwise you will lose control instantly, with a single vehicle rollover as a result - this is NOT covered by the insurance.

Driving times to the Serengeti are as follows:

• Loduare Gate (Ngorongoro entrance) to Ngorongoro Crater Road: 1.5 hours

• Ngorongoro Crater Road to Naabi Hill Gate (Serengeti): 2.5 hours

• Naabi Hill Gate to Seronera: 1 hour

Self-drive in the national parks of Southern Tanzania

The longest gravel sections are the gateways to the safari parks in the South: from Kibiti to Selous (90 km), Morogoro to the Selous Matembwe Gate (90 km) and from Iringa to Ruaha (110 km). The driving time between Dodoma and Babati is approximately 2.5 hours. Off-road driving in Selous Game Reserve can get technical during the rainy season, so a Land cruiser is required.

How do in navigate in Africa?

We strongly recommend installing Maps.me on your smartphone before you travel to Africa. It's a free app. Download your country destination maps and enjoy driving with GPS offline. Almost every lodge and campsite is plotted on Maps.me.

There's something to be said for going totally offline with a good old fashioned map on your lap. The roadmap that comes with your rental car is not very detailed, but main roads are highlighted properly.

The biggest mistake travelers make is rushing and trying to cover too ground much in one trip. Have a look at our suggested routes page for a realistic assessment of what you can expect to cover during your road trip in Africa. You might get stuck after heavy rains, and a flat tire can be part of the adventure. If you are trying to estimate your Africa travel itinerary with Google Maps, increase the suggested travel time by 30%. Always carry cash, water and a charged mobile phone with you!

Although Africa's asphalt roads are in good condition, you generally won't reach more than 50 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 happens in case of a breakdown or accident?

Take note that when driving a second vehicle in challenging conditions, unexpected issues can arise. We are experienced in trouble shooting along the way, but it requires cooperation and patience from your side as well. Please always contact Moonlight Tours Expedition first on +255 769 927 462. Our phone number is available 24h/day and we will try to solve the problem to the best of our ability.

We have a network of mechanic workshops in each destination 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 within 24 hours, a replacement car from nearby city or town will be provided so you can continue with your journey. Ask yourself if you easily stress out or become agitated if you have to change your travel plans a bit, because you need to wait several hours before help has arrived when you are in a remote area. Than going on a self-drive trip is not for you.

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.

Please refer to our policies, published on this website, for more information.

TAILOR MADE YOUR TOUR