Crossing borders with car rental from Kenya to any other East African country such as
Uganda or Tanzania can be achieved by either self-drive or car hire with a driver. You get to
experience the eye-satisfying beauty there is in East Africa.
However, before crossing from one country to another, there is a series of documents and
essential things one must know about each country, especially when you are self-driving.
Essential documents to have for borders crossing
Valid Passport/ National ID: This is necessary for confirmation of one’s country of origin and
their legal existence in another country.
COMESA sticker: This is because Uganda and Kenya are members the Common Market for
East and Southern Africa. This organization is aimed at promoting trade and economic
growth between both countries.
Driving License: One must possess a valid driver’s license from their country or get an
international driver’s license from the country they are in.
Authorization Letter: The visitor must move with the car rental agreement from the company
accepting them to use their car to cross borders.
Car log book: As a visitor, your car rental company must give the car registration papers to
ensure legal possession of the vehicle.
Yellow fever book: One should be vaccinated for yellow fever and have the evidence by a
yellow fever book while they cross borders.
Things to note while border crossing
Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania have many things in common, making border crossing with car
rental an easy task. These uniformities include:
Navigation: GPS operates well in most parts of the East African countries that have net work 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: In some countries, 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 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
Road driving tips for border crossing
Alcohol usage: 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.
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.
Driving side: The driving side in Kenya is left.
Safety Tips for Tourists to cross borders from Kenya to Uganda or Tanzania
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.
Recommended vehicles for crossing borders
The recommended vehicles are usually 4×4 that can navigate the any kind of terrain and they
include:
Land cruiser extended
It is a spacious 4×4, most popular vehicle for luxurious group safaris. Its incredible spacious
interior is a must go for as it accommodates 7-8 passengers including the driver. Its raised
suspension on the tyres makes it reliable for navigating through tough terrain.
It is usually equipped with pop-up roofs for a better game viewing experience. It has a fuel
consumption rate of 16 litres per 100 kilometres.
Land Cruiser Hard Top
A land cruiser hard top has a fuel consumption of 10-14 litres per 100 kilometres depending
on the engine and driving conditions. It further has a fuel capacity of 90-130 litres depending
on the model.
They have a seating capacity of 5-7 passengers depending on the model.
Land Cruiser Prado
Self drive in Uganda can be interesting with this vehicle. This is a 4×4, with a fuel
consumption capacity of 1/8km with a capacity of 90 litres.
It has a spacious and practical design with options for both cloth and leather upholstery,
depending on the trim level, thus providing comfort for those in it. When the third row is
folded or removed, the cargo area expands significantly.
Places to visit in the different countries when you cross borders from Kenya
Uganda: The Pearl of Africa has a plethora of places to visit such as
Queen Elizabeth National Park: The most famous park in Uganda that attracts many to see
tree climbing lions
Murchison Falls National Park: This park is often visited to hike to the top of the world’s
greatest falls
Kibale National Park: Those interested in seeing chimpanzees, the primate capital has got you
covered because it harbours a large portion of the world’s chimp population.
Tanzania: In the Brain of Africa, the following are the greatest places you will go to when
you cross borders from Kenya to Tanzania.
Serengeti National Park– it’s known for its annual animal migration and high concentration
of wild life, the big five inclusive. Mountain Kilimanjaro- is the world’s tallest free-standing
mountain and the highest peak in Africa.
Tangire National Park– large elephants, ancient baobab trees and diverse wildlife.
Ngorongoro Conservation Area– a place with rich cultural heritage, diverse wildlife in a
breathtaking environment.
Mikumi National Park– harbors a variety of wildlife such as elephants, giraffes, lions,
buffalos among others.