Renting a vehicle in Kenya undertakes a decision you will take in line of car type automatic
or manual. This will also determine the cost, comfortability and suitability of the trip you will
intend to achieve.
An automatic vehicle is one that shifts the gear for you as the driver only chooses reverse (R),
park (P), drive (D) while manual vehicles need the driver to shift gears using the clutch
paddle and gear stick to select gears.
These types of vehicles have their pros and cons, starting with the automatic.
Pros
For the automatic vehicles, there is no mis-shifting of gears for example shifting the reserve
instead of park. This is because here you just have to press on what you intend to and the
gears shift.
The newer models of automatics have a great fuel efficiency.
There is a lot of simplicity driving automatic vehicles as there is no labor incurred in shifting
the gears, no stress, no energy.
It is very comfortable driving an automatic vehicle.
Cons
They cannot handle certain types of terrain and therefore not often used in areas with game
parks that are known for having rugged terrain.
Automatic vehicles are often very expensive in purchase and even for hire.
They are not as available as manual cars are in Kenya.
Automatics are very sensitive to poor servicing in that when poorly serviced, they easily mal-
function.
Repairing automatic vehicles is expensive and most of their spare parts are hard to find.
Manual vehicle pros
They can handle every kind of terrain which makes them very suitable for game drives in
national parks since they can easily navigate that terrain.
Their spare parts can easily be found in Kenya spare shops and are very affordable
At an affordable price, manual cars can easily be hired in Kenya form car rental agencies as
they are readily available.
Some manual brands have a very good fuel efficiency especially when well-serviced,
qualifying them for off-road safaris in Kenya.
Cons of manual car rental in Kenya
Re-starting these vehicles can be hard when turned off, especially in the Kenya on and off
traffic.
Clutches of manual vehicles often get old, they often need replacement, which is so costly for
car rental companies.
When poorly maintained, they can easily break down especially on bad roads
Places to go with automatic or manual car hire in Kenya
Nairobi city: During a self drive in Kenya in a manual or automatic vehicle, the prominent
capital of Kenya is one of the most eye-catching places you can view. From her busy streets
and the happy people to the national parks, a city tour is worth having in Nairobi city.
Lake Nakuru National Park: If you are interested in viewing flamingos, they are famous on
this lake. It is a paradise that attracts exploration by many tourists from around the world. The
manual or automatic rental vehicles modified with a pop-up create more head room for a
better view in the park.
Mombasa: It is one of Kenya’s historical places recognised by UNESCO World Heritage. It
manifests the ancient Italian art that attracts large numbers from around the world.
Amboseli National Park: You can visit the home of the most eminent animals in the world
such as the big five and zebras among others. It is often visited because it offers close
encounters with the free roaming members of the big five and one can also have a great off-
road safari in Kenya.
Tsavo East and West National Park: These options allow you to explore the semi-arid and
dry landscape of the two great national parks in Kenya. The famous animals here are the lions
and elephants, which you can view during a self drive, or with a driver.
Masai Mara: The Masai are the most attractive group of people in Kenya because of their
vibrant culture, dress cord and very unique way of life. This village is a circular fenced by
thorny materials to keep out wild animals. They stay in huts that are constructed by women
and live in extended families.
Mountain Kenya National Park: With an automatic or manual car rental in Kenya, you can
visit Mt Kenya National Park. This is the second highest peak in Africa and a UNESCO
world heritage site at 5,199 metres and the national park has elephants, elands, water bucks,
white tailed mongoose, suni, tree hyrax, black fronted duiker among others.