Pros and Cons of a Self-Drive Safari
“Self-drive safaris are the best way to experience the wilderness of Africa, not only can you see many of the animals you might expect to see on a guided tour but you are also able to have a much more intimate and personal experience with your adventure”
As someone who has been going on safaris all my life, both self-drive and guided. I can tell you that both are amazing experiences, there is nothing quite like driving the seemingly endless plains of the savannah in search of some of the most amazing and rare wildlife left on planet Earth, regardless of whether its with a professional or self-guided.
The history of safari
For many decades the safari business has thrived in Kenya, indeed the word safari itself is Swahili for “journey” and at the very utterance of the word, you begin to picture vast swathes of swaying yellow grass, characteristic of the Mara’s savannah.
Over these years the safari industry in Kenya has been a heavily serviced industry, where tourists will be taken care of completely, someone will carry your bags, cook your meals and make you feel like Lawrence of Arabia.
While this has occurred, our cousins in South Africa have been growing a hugely popular industry of self-drive safaris, catering to a more adventurous breed of people wanting to take the adventure into their own hands, drive their own cars and make their own decisions.
Over recent years, we have seen a similar trend begin in Kenya. With increasing political stability, a flourishing economy and the arrival of younger more budget aware travellers we are starting to see a rise in 4x4 rental companies and self-service camps encouraging people to go out on their own adventures.
So this article will lay out the pros and cons of self-drive safaris compared to a guided safari.
Cons
Scarier
Let’s face it, it’s a daunting task. Just you and your buddies in a 4x4 vehicle facing the natural world head on. Although this is definitely part of the reason self-drive safaris can be so good, it can also be a negative. Make sure to do your research about the area you are going to, what rules to follow etc. If you are going to the Mara it is definitely worth learning how to approach wildlife. Follow this link to learn more on this.
Less knowledge
Without a professional guide, you will lose out on some of the more in depth knowledge of the local area.
More preparation
Taking on a safari by yourself requires some preparation. Now it’s not rocket science, its just prepping your food (sandwiches are great) and paying attention to where you are going. If you are with a guided tour, you won’t have to worry about any of this.
Misadventure
Although its not a guarantee, it may as well be. Something will go wrong, whether it’s a flat tyre, stuck in some mud or getting lost. Suddenly the problem solving hats will have to come on for everyone in the group.
You might see less
Professional guides know where to go and how to find certain animals. For the most part this isn’t because they have any particular tracking skills (although many do) but could be because their other guide buddies have sent them a message on whatsapp. When you are on your own self-drive safari, expect to see less then on a guided tour. Obviously finding animals is one of the key parts of a safari but it is not the main part. A true safari is about the “journey”, and that does not mean ticking animals off a bingo list.
Pros
Cheaper
You will most likely save money, although you may be able to find some group safari packages that can be similarly priced, I wouldn’t recommend doing a safari this way. They are very impersonal, and you won’t feel like you are getting the “authentic” safari experience. Doing everything yourself means you save money. This is because the accommodation is cheaper, the 4x4 rental companies are cheaper then hiring guides and the food you bring can be as cheap as you like.
Intimate adventure
Its all on you. You choose the direction, you find the animals, you solve the problems. Although this contributes to the “It’s scarier” con. It also makes the safari way more fulfilling and special. Trust me, you are way more likely to remember the name of a fairly simple bird, when you yourself have searched for it in the bird book, rather than a professional guide saying it to you immediately. This same concept applies to everything, whether its trying to figure out where to go, which route to take, how to cross a river. All of it will be an extremely personal adventure that you will remember for a lifetime.
Learning and growth
Do something every day that scares you.
Doing self-drive safaris is a great way to learn and grow. Not only will you learn a lot about the environment you are in but you may also learn something about yourself.
Misadventure
I know I put it in the cons but really it’s a pro. The best memories I have from safaris aren’t necessarily the animals you see but the times you get lost, or stuck or something goes wrong. They are painful at the time but also the thing you talk most about with your friends.
In conclusion, there is a reason people go on expensive guided safaris, guides will find you the best animals and (hopefully) give you in depth knowledge on the animal you are seeing, which is great! However, if you want to stay true to the real meaning behind a safari, to go an adventure and a journey, then I would definitely look into a self-drive safari. With the support of 4x4 rental companies and self-drive specialist camps (like Tor’s Camp), these adventures can be exactly what you need if you would like to experience the magic of Africa on a budget.
If you would like to see an example of a self-drive safari in the Maasai Mara, watch this video.
Please get in touch with us if you would like to learn more about planning your self-drive safari in the Maasai Mara. We are more than happy to help.
Please note: Due to new regulations in the Maasai Mara National Reserve, only specific tourist/safari vehicles are allowed, meaning unless you have one of these vehicles you cannot do a self-drive safari.
