1. 4×4 Self Drive Car Hire in Kenya

Discover Kenya on a 7-days self-drive safari package from Nairobi. The 1 week self drive safari in Kenya includes accommodation in tented camps or lodges with beds, flush toilets, and hot showers. self driving Safari game drives and all 7 days exciting sightseeing in Kenya’s countryside.

Go on a 7 days Masai Mara, Nakuru, Naivasha, Amboseli self-drive budget camping safari in Kenya. Explore Kenya on your own terms in a self-drive 4×4 vehicle to see the big five and stay in budget lodges and tented camps. Enjoy the freedom of self-driving through Kenyan roads.

7 Day 4×4 Self-Drive Masai Mara Nakuru Naivasha and Amboseli Safari Highlights

7-day Self Drive Safari Masai Mara, Nakuru, Naivasha, Amboseli in Kenya. 4×4 Self-drive safaris in Kenya are very popular if you are confident in driving in foreign countries. As you do your own self-driven game drives in parks and has flexibility in your driving hours. You can join up with friends and book a 7 day 6 nights 4×4 self-drive safari tour to Masai Mara, Nakuru, Naivasha and Amboseli.

• Day 1: Explore Masai Mara game reserve in a self-drive car hire and see big five animals
• Day 1: Immerse yourself in Nature by staying in a budget tented camp or lodge
• Day 2: Discover the Masai people by visiting a Masai village on self-drive
• Day 2: View the wildebeest migration in Masai Mara driving yourself in a 4×4 vehicle
• Day 3: Explore Nakuru national park flamingos and rhinos driving yourselves around the lake
• Day 4: Go on a boat ride to see the hippos of Lake Naivasha
• Day 5: Hike in the gorges of hells gate or ride a bike in the park
• Day 6: Self-drive game drive in Amboseli to see the highest peak in Africa on Kilimanjaro
• Day 6: Do a full day self-drive game drive in Amboseli to see the hundreds of elephants up close

Doing a 4×4 self-drive in Kenya is not as hard as some may want to make you believe. All you need to do is do your homework and research the dos and don’ts in self-drive travel in Kenya. This 7 day 4×4 self-drive itinerary in Kenya will help you to plan your safari and avoid logistical issues.

Day 1: Nairobi –Masai Mara 4×4 Self Drive Package

Distance: 280km

Driving Hours: 5-6hrs

Game Drive: 2hrs

Fuel needed for 3 days: $100

Park fee: Usd 80pp x2 = $ 160PP

Accommodation: Camp Usd 80pppn; Lodge Usd 240pppn

2. Nairobi to Masai Mara 4×4 Self Drive Safari Packages

The 7 Days 4×4 self-drive Masai Mara safari in Kenya departs Nairobi for the Mara at 0830am. You will drive North West through kikuyu highlands and take a right turn at Rironi to join the great north road towards the eastern escarpment of the Great Rift Valley. Drive down the escarpment with beautiful scenery of the valley below.

After 45minutes, make a scheduled stop at one of the viewpoints which will most likely have a curio shop and some bathroom. This acts as a bathroom stop and you also get to learn how the rift valley was formed from the vendors as they try to sell you some items. You can see the strato-volcanic mountains of suswa and the higher mt Longonot on the rift valley floor.

Cross the rift valley floor and drive up the western escarpment of the Great Rift Valley. You will see great scenery of rural Kenya as you drive through the country side. Watch out for Matatus or public transport buses and minivan as these drive at breakneck speeds and believe they own the roads. Arrive at Narok town and make a pit stop at a petrol station to refuel. You can also buy more supplies here from a local super market. Narok is the last major town before going into the bundus. Make sure to stock up for the next 3 days. Have a lunch at season’s hotel in Narok before getting back on the road. Drive on to Masai Mara and check into Lenchada tented camp or Enkorok tented camp.

After an afternoon siesta, drive to the ololaimutia park gate at 1600 and pay your tickets. You will need 2 tickets each lasting for 24hrs. Make your first game drive until dusk and drive back to your camp. Make sure to have your route mapped out to avoid getting lost. Alternatively you can hire a local guide from the camp. They will be happy to help. Look for lions, rhinos, elephants, buffalo, giraffes, leopards and many more.

Return to camp at dusk for dinner and overnight.

Meals: Dinner

Day 2: Masai Mara 4×4 Self Drive Game Drive

Self-Game Drive:  Full Day or 4 hours

Distance: 200km / 80km

3. Masai Mara Game Drive 4×4 Self Drive Safari

Explore Masai Mara game reserve on a full day self-drive game drive driving through the width and breadth of the park looking for elusive wildlife like leopards and rhinos. If you are unsure of the Mara roads, get a local guide from the camp who knows the park.

You have two options. One is to go on a full day game self-drive and go as far north of Mara to the Mara River. The Mara River is full of action at the river crossing during the migration seasons from July to October. But in order to go on a full day game drive to Mara River, you need to arrange for a packed lunch with your tented camp on the previous evening. Watch the wildebeest river crossing all day or opt to go for a Masai village visit on this afternoon.

Your other option is to go for an early morning game drive at 0630 for 2 hours and return to camp for breakfast and relaxation. You can then take the evening game drive at 1600 hrs until dusk. This option is good if you don’t want to spend the day driving all over the park and if you need some relaxation at camp between game drives.

Return to camp for dinner and overnight.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 3: Masai Mara – Lake Nakuru National Park 4×4 Self Drive Package

4. Lake Nakuru National Park 4×4 Self Drive Safari in Kenya

Distance: 290km

Driving Hours: 6hrs

Fuel needed for 2 days: $50

Park fee: Usd 60pp x2 = $ 120PP

Accommodation: Camp Usd 60pppn; Lodge Usd 240pppn

Your Nakuru leg of the 4×4 self-drive starts early in Masai Mara camp. You will have breakfast at 0600 and check out from the camp. Depart masai Mara at 0700 for lake Nakuru with an enroute game drive. You will drive back the same route through Narok town. Stop at Narok town if you need any refreshments enroute.

Drive through the Great Rift Valley floor up to Mai Mahiu and turn left towards Naivasha. You will pass mt Longonot on the left and drive on to Naivasha town. Branch off left on to A2 onto the Nairobi Nakuru high and drive past Lake Elementaita on the left. It’s an hour and a half to Lake Nakuru from Naivasha town.

Arrive at Nakuru town and go to naivas supermarket to purchase some supplies including water, repellant, sunscreen, tissue paper, soft drinks etc. Drive on to Lake Nakuru national park and check in at the WCK dormitories, KWS Naishi Bandas, Sopa Lodge, Lion Hill Sarova lodge or Nakuru lodge.

Look out for the tree climbing lions of Lake Nakuru, rhinos, leopards, buffalos, hippos, flamingos and the synchronized swimming giant white pelicans. You can drive to the makalia water falls and the baboon cliff to view the lake from a vantage point. There are some areas where you can drive as close to the lake as possible off the game drive track. Watch out for the buffalos which like to sit smugly in mud puddles next to the shore.

After lunch, enjoy a siesta and later go for an evening game drive at 1600hrs until dusk. Return to camp or lodge for dinner and overnight.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 4: Lake Nakuru to Lake Naivasha 4×4 Self Drive

5. Lake Naivasha 4×4 Self Drive Safari in Kenya

Distance: 70km

Driving Hours: 1.5hrs

Fuel needed for 1 days: $30

Boat Fee: $ 60 per trip

Park fee: Usd 30pp x1 = $ 30PP (Crescent Island)

Accommodation: Camp Usd 60pppn; Lodge Usd 180pppn

Wake up early in Nakuru for a morning self-game drive at 0630hrs. Drive around the lake looking for rhinos and hippos as well as the abundant bird life. Look out for that leopard sleeping on the tree or the lions hiding behind the bush. Drive back to your lodge or camp for breakfast.

Depart at 0830hrs for Lake Naivasha with an enroute game self-drive in Nakuru national park arriving at 1000hrs. Check into crayfish camp, fisherman’s camp, camp carnelley’s or any other budget accommodation. You also have a choice to stay at Sopa lodge, Simba lodge or the many other lodges around the lake. Depart on a boat ride to the hippo’s pool and later Crescent Island for a walking safari.

Return to lodge by 1300hrs and enjoy your lunch. Afternoon relaxation in the camp or lodge.

Day 5: Hells Gate – Amboseli 4×4 Self Drive Packages

6. Amboseli National Park 4×4 Self Drive Car Hires

Distance: 330km

Driving Hours: 6hr

Fuel needed for 3 days: $100

Lunch at Nairobi: $ 30 pp

Park fee: Usd 20 x 1 = $ 20 (Hellsgate)

Bike Hire: Usd 10 x1 = $10 per bike

Park fee: Usd 60pp x2 = $ 120PP (Amboseli)

Accommodation: Camp Usd 80pppn; Lodge Usd 150pppn

Arise from your camp or lodge and breakfast at 0600hrs. Depart at 0700hrs for a hiking and biking tour in Hells gate National Park. You can park at the gate and go on a bike ride into the park and back to gate. You can opt to go on a hike to the gorge below. This is where Angelina Jolie shot the movie tomb raiders – cradle of mankind. Hells gate is also the park that inspired the scenery of the award winning movie Lion King. You have a long drive ahead of you and you may want to be sure of your energy levels not to exhaust yourselves in the gorge or biking in Hells gate. You still have a 6hr self-drive to Amboseli. But if you are sure of yourselves, go for it. Another alternative here is to break your trip for a 1 night extra in Nairobi before proceeding to Amboseli.

Depart from Hells gate at 1000hrs and drive yourselves towards Nairobi using the A2 highway. Pass through Longonot and Mai Mahiu and climb the eastern wall of the Great Rift Valley. Arrive in Nairobi at 1300hrs and go for lunch at a Mololongo Mall enroute to Amboseli.

Drive on Mombasa highway for 2 hours up to Emali town and branch off right into Oloitoktok road. This road leads to Kilimanjaro and the Tanzanian border. Drive for 1 ½ hours from Emali and branch off at the Kimana gate junction on the right. You will see Kenya Wildlife Service Signage at the junction. There is one junction to the park through Irimito gate, ignore this one as you are better off using the Kimana gate further up ahead.

Arrive at the Kibo safari camp at 1700hrs and check in for the evening. You can opt to go for a short 2 hour game drive into Amboseli or just relax for the evening. Other accommodation options in Amboseli include AA Lodge, Sentrim lodge, Amboseli Sopa lodge, Oltukai lodge, Serena lodge and many others. You can google budget accommodation in Amboseli for details or google lodge accommodation in Amboseli for options.

Dinner and Overnight at Amboseli camp or lodge.

Day 6: Amboseli Full day 4×4 Self Drive Game Drive

7. Kenya 7 Days 4×4 Self Drive Safari

Game Drive Distance: 150km

Game Self Driving Hours: 4.5hrs

You will spend this day with 2 game drives from your camp or lodge in Amboseli. Wake up early at 0600 for some coffee and bitings. Depart for an early morning game drive in Amboseli national park. The view of mt Kilimanjaro is greatest a dawn and the wind is crispy and cool. Look out for the hundreds of elephants in the park as they graze along the water grass. The lions are hard to spot but you will be lucky in 3 days here. Drive up to the observation hill for more dramatic view of the park from the hill. You can buy a map of the park at the gate to help you navigate around or just hire a local guide in Amboseli camp.

Return back to camp or lodge for your morning breakfast and later relax at the lodge until lunch. Enjoy a sumptuous lunch buffet with a wide selection of foods to eat. Relax for a siesta and go for your second game drive at 1600hrs until dusk. Look out for the animals you have not seen including cheetahs and leopards. Drive back to camp or lodge after the game drive and in good time to avoid night driving.

Dinner and overnight at camp or lodge.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 7: Amboseli – Nairobi 4×4 Self Drive Package

8. A 4×4 Self Drive Game Drive in Masai Mara

Arise to a great morning with clear views of mt Kilimanjaro. Go for your last self-game drive at 0630hrs and return for breakfast at 0830hrs. Depart the lodge at 1000hrs for the Nairobi self-drive. Arrive in Nairobi at 1300hrs and go for lunch at the carnivore restaurant.

Later drop off the vehicle at the car hire office or have them pick it up from your hotel.

End of Tour

Top 12 Tips to 4×4 Self Drive Safaris Packages in Kenya

1. You can look up the hotels included here for price comparison
2. It’s possible to book the hotel and lodges directly according to your itinerary
3. Once you have finalised the air tickets, then hotels come second and then arrange for self-drive car hire in Nairobi in that order
4. Park entrance fees can be paid by credit card in all parks, however it’s good to have some cash handy
5. Make sure to only stop at crowd areas like towns and never on the highways
6. Always lock up your vehicle windows and doors no matter how short you intend to be away from the car
7. Park roads have a speed limit of 40km per hour, please adhere to that
8. Beware of the poor rural park access roads, speeding can easily result in an accident
9. Time your departure and arrival to the next park exactly to avoid travelling at night
10. Most Kenyan towns have ATMs by the bank walls, so you can get money from your card
11. Don’t offer lifts to strangers, no matter how desperate the situation
12. Most tourist circuit routes are very safe and have frequent patrols, but major highways are dangerous to stop anywhere

Book your self-drive safari in Kenya by contacting Robert on +254722661827 (whatsapp, text or call) or send us an email here info@sojournsafaris.co.ke