Kenya, the pride of Africa is also one of the best countries you can visit, or do a self drive, road trip in Africa, after Uganda. It has very magnificent sceneries especially the Great Rift Valley and the coastal beauty of Mombasa and the bustling streets of Nairobi. This makes a self-drive adventure in Kenya worth experiencing.
Driving in Kenya is always made possible by car rental companies such as Your Drive Uganda, that makes your ideal road trip come to life. We provide the best cross border services at very affordable prices, for any car you desire.
However, before engaging in road trip in Kenya, there is a series of essential rules, practical tips and requirements one must know that make driving there both safe and enjoyable.
Driving Requirements for Driving as a Tourist in Kenya
Passport: It is incumbent of the visitor to move with their passport for customs and security purposes.
Insurance: Tourists must ensure their cars have comprehensive insurance, provided by their car rental companies that helps recover the vehicle in case it is stolen.
Car Rental Agreement: The tourist must have the car rental Kenya agreement of the agency to prove they are in legal possession of it. The car log book can be added to make it easy to cross the border.
Valid driver’s license: One must have a valid driver’s license so as to drive in the country legally. However, if one doesn’t have their home country’s license, they must possess an international driver’s license.
Minimum age: The legal driving age in Kenya is 18 years, as one is seen as an adult. However, most car hire companies prefer a person who is at least 23 years and with a driving experience of at least two years.
Road Rules and Regulations
Alcohol usage: As it is in Uganda, and most countries in the world, driving under the influence of alcohol is highly punishable by law. The Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) should be 0.08%, beyond this, one is considered to be drunk and therefore cannot drive.
Driving side: The driving side in Kenya is left.
Road blocks: These are always set by traffic police officers and the drivers must always be cooperative, polite and adhere to what the officers say at those stops.
Speed limits: Different roads in Kenya have different speed limits such as
Urban roads: 50km/h
Rural roads: 80km/h
Highways: 100km/h
Seat belts: This mandatory for all car users to prevent head injuries in cases of collision.
Mobile phone usage: It is against the law to drive while using a mobile phone as it can cause accidents.
Road Conditions
Not far from Uganda, the road conditions of Kenya are in good condition in general.
Navigation: GPS operates well in most parts of the country but in far remote areas, it doesn’t. Therefore, it is very wise to download offline maps for easy navigation.
Muram roads: These are very common in remote areas of the country, characterized by rugged terrain.
Tarmac roads: These are the commonest especially in urban areas such as in major cities, connecting to highways and are the easiest to navigate through.
There are different car rental options such as self drive Kenya suitable sole travellers who love flexibility.
Car hire with a driver: It is suitable for those tourists who want to freedom and relaxation during a road trip.
Safety Tips for Tourists to drive in Kenya
As a tourist, one should avoid driving at night since you are not well versed with the area and most areas don’t have adequate lights.
Fuel adequacy should always be checked because when driving in remote areas, it is hard to find filling stations.
Tourists should be ware of motor cycles, pedestrians and stray animals.
Places to visit while driving in Kenya
Nairobi National Park- to view white rhinos, elephants and hippos among others
Masai village- traditional pastoralist life style, vibrant attire, unique culture.
Lake Nakuru- to view flamingo populations
Mountain Kenya loop: It is a favourite place for hikers
Fort Jesus – a historic site because it is an example of the 16th century Portuguese military fortifications.
Best Times to Visit Kenya during a Self Drive in East Africa
It’s during the dry when one can enjoy Kenya- that is in the months of June- September and December- February.
March-May and October to December (wet season) are also interesting times to Kenya, as there is a lot of rainfall, so visitors can watch animals during their gestation period.
