Self Drives in Africa

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Another way of traveling in Africa are the “self drives” where one rents a vehicle to get around.

In Botswana I received feedback from one of the game guides regarding the “self drive” clientele who frequented the Botswana game parks . The guides in Botswana are very well trained through a formal training program including an apprenticeship component. They are experienced drivers, they know where all the area” hot spots” are, they also communicate with the other guides by radio and phone to keep each notified of significant game sightings as they occur. There is a certain amount of resentment by the guides when the “self drivers” follow the 4WD’s driven by the guides thereby capitalizing on the guides’ knowledge, their network, and their expertise. This guide told me that when guides find themselves being followed in this manner, they will lead the follower on a wild goose chase and then pull over to lunch thereby leaving the follower to fend for themselves away from the main action..

Another “self drive “ story was the family I met in Botswana who were on their third self drive African tour. They related to me of their game safari in Tanzania where they visited Ngorongoro Crater but passed on the adjoining Serengeti as just another game park amongst many. Suffice to say I could not believe anyone would commit such a blunder but bit my tongue . I guess that is where the term, “blissfully ignorant “ applies.

As fate would have it, while I was composing this blog, I just chatted up Mark who was in crutches at the Nairobi airport heading home. Mark is from Montana doing a 6 month African self drive tour with his father , sister and brother-in-law. They were 5 weeks into the tour when they rolled the vehicle. Mark broke his leg and his father sustained head injuries and was being moved around in a wheel chair. Everyone else appeared alright other than some abrasions. Mark said he realized that a self drive was the most hazardous things that he could have done in Africa and he feels terrible for the predicament that he has put his family in.

As fate would have it again, in the last few days we have had two Africans walk right out in front of our vehicle narrowly missing them. I would hate to be a foreigner behind a wheel if anyone were hit.

The rationale self drivers use for renting a vehicle is the flexibility it gives them which I fail to understand. The responsibilities, additional logistics, the additional border hassles, the duties and risks involved in renting a vehicle in Africa are a huge burden to undertake. Africa is best enjoyed travelling as light as possible both figuretively and literally in my opinion.

Next  blog topic is comments from Rwanda

About the author

Passionate about Africa.