Afin de finaliser notre safari au Kenya notre agence de voyage nous demande une option 4x4 ou minibus. Nous serons 4 avec un guide privé et le mois que nous avons choisi n'est pas pluvieux par contre certains trajets ont une durée de 6 heures. Afin de profiter au mieux des étapes nous privillégions le confort ou du moins le désir de terminer le séjour en forme.
Merci de nous faire part de votre expérience.
Il existe des minibus 4x4 (Fiat, Mercedes, etc.). Leurs qualités de franchissement sont moins bonnes que celles des 4x4 à châssis court et à peu près équivalentes à celles des 4x4 à châssis long. Pour la saison sèche, cela peut suffire en apportant plus de confort en espace qu’un 4x4 et plus de possibilités de déplacement dans le véhicule pour les photos. Cependant, les minibus 4x4 ne courent pas les pistes. Un 4x4 à châssis long comme un Toyota Landcruiser avec 3 rangs de sièges passager est une bonne solution, c’est celle que je te conseille.
Safari njema! Bon voyage !
BL
PS : quel mois ton safari ? Tout d’abord, la notion de saison sèche est une approximation et ensuite, comme tout ce qui est naturel, les conditions climatiques peuvent être très différentes d’une année sur l’autre, sans parler même de dérèglement climatique. Et enfin, même en fin de saison sèche, il peut exister encore des pistes boueuses, voire inondées, et avec du black cotton...
Bonjour,
Demande à ton TO mais je pense que la plupart des minibus servant pour les safaris au Kenya sont 4X4. Ils ont cependant une garde au sol moins importantes que les 4X4 classiques.
A mon avis le choix dépend essentiellement de l'itinéraire choisi. Sur un safari classique : Amboseli, Nakuru, Massai Mara je pense que l'on peut faire l'économie et opter pour le minibus.
(la différence de prix est importante) Par contre lorsque l'on va un peu hors des sentiers battus (Aberdare NP, certains secteurs de Meru NP notamment ) là le véhicule 4X4 est indispensable.
Je n'ai jamais utilisé de minibus mais à priori sur les trajets entre les parcs ils sont sans doute plus confortables (tout dépend aussi du modèle et de l'état ....)
Si ton TO est sérieux il devrait pouvoir te conseiller.
Après c'est une question d'esthétique et aussi il faut bien le dire un peu de "snobisme" l'allure du minibus n'est pas très "chic" en safari.
La plupart des minibus de safari au Kenya (ou en Tanzanie, où ils sont beaucoup plus rares) NE sont pas 4x4, parfois même contrairement à ce qu'en disent des agences locales (peu sérieuses, certes) : les minibus 4x4 sont beaucoup plus chers, plus fragiles, donc plus couteux en entretien pour des performances inférieures aux voitures 4x4. Même quand ils sont 4x4, ils sont moins à même de franchir les parties boueuses des pistes que les 4x4 classiques : ils ont un empattement plus longs, ont une garde au sol insuffisante (même si les minibus 4x4 bénéficient d'une garde au sol augmentée), n'ont pas de châssis mais une carrosserie autoportante, n'ont parfois pas de vitesse courte et de blocages de différentiel inter-roues ou inter-pont. En prime, ils sont souvent plus chargés, avec plus de personnes transportées et plus de bagages...
Parier sur des pistes sèches partout est un pari perdu d'avance. J'ai vu plusieurs fois à Masai Mara, et même en fin de saison sèche (septembre), des 4x4 bien enlisés, ainsi que des pistes interdites aux minibus (non 4x4 je présume ?). Si les gnous migrent vers la partie nord de l'écosystème du Serengeti, au Kenya, à Masai Mara, une des raisons principales, c'est qu'il y pleut plus en été (le nôtre) qu'en Tanzanie, des pluies courtes le plus souvent mais violentes et qui laissent des fondrières ... Et il n'y a pas que la boue, le porte-à-faux plus important interdit le franchissement de certains gués avec des roches (notamment sur la Talek) où un 4x4 se contente (...) de taper un peu de l'arrière là où un minibus resterait coincé.
À Mara en septembre
À Mara en juin
Et puis, surtout, je suis d'accord avec Sylvie, que ce soit du snobisme ou pas, on perd une partie du plaisir, on s'éloigne du mythe du Out of Africa, de l'idée que l'on se fait du Safari avec un grand S...
Alors sacrifier un peu d'espace, de confort, de shillings avec un 4x4 ou sacrifier avec un minibus allure, capacités de franchir (presque) tous les obstacles et d'aller (presque) partout ? Un choix personnel...
Bonjour,
J'étais dans le Masai Mara en janvier-février 2019, et je n'y ai vu aucun minibus.
Je suis d'ailleurs étonné qu'on puisse proposer une telle solution, tant elle me paraît incompatible avec le terrain, les franchissements, et l'approche des animaux...
Bonjour,
Si vous étiez dans le Mara et que vous n'avez pas vu de minibus c'est que vous êtes restés dans un secteur bien particulier de cette réserve......
J'y suis allée à plusieurs reprises (la dernière fois en juillet 2018 dans le secteur de la Talek) et j'y ai toujours vu de (très) nombreux minibus comme dans tous les autres parcs au Kenya d'ailleurs.
Sincèrement pour les personnes aillant un budget serré l'option minibus peut permettre de faire tout de même un beau safari. Certains franchissements seront déconseillés effectivement mais l'approche des animaux sera tout de même possible ( le hors piste étant de toute façon interdit et dangereux pour la faune).
Bonjour Sylvie , Bernard et les autres,
J-6
En Tanzanie en Février 2017, fortes pluies et pistes défoncées, nombreux guets. coté Franchissement un minibus n'avait dans ces conditions là aucune chance de passer que ce soit au Tarangire , Serengeti ou le Cratère, voir même Arusha NP. Mais il est vrai les minibus dans les parcs Tanzanien sont assez rares. Un minibus au Kenya pourquoi pas mais à condition que le terrain s'y prête parfaitement . Cette contrainte en impose une autre celle d'aller faire son safari à certaine période ou dans des zones limitées. Un 4x4 c'est la sécurité, un bonus d'insouciance, de liberté et d'aventure en prime.
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Hi there,
I’m planning a trip to Russia and Mongolia, starting from France.
Crossing the border at Poland/Belarus or Georgia/Russia—other borders seem either closed or complicated.
Tourist visas for 3 months with multiple entries.
Do you have any info on Russian companies that cover a 4x4 vehicle for 3 months, and what prices in rubles or euros you’ve paid?
Which bank did you use for expenses? (EuroMastercard and Visa cards no longer work.)
Regarding Russian SIM cards, a new system called "Gosuslugi" has been introduced. How long did it take you to get one, and what steps did you follow?
Hi,
we’re planning to visit a park again.
Could you point us toward the camps in Gonarezhou Park?
>We’re traveling completely self-sufficiently.
We love wildlife.
Thanks for any tips you can share!
JP
Hi there, we’ll be in Mozambique in early December 2026 and we’d like to travel from Vilanculos to Beira by car or bus to reach Beira airport. After that, we’re planning to visit Gorongosa National Park before flying back to France from Beira. From what we’ve heard, the road to Beira is tricky, especially at this time of year (start of the rainy season). Could anyone share their thoughts or suggest a solution? Thanks so much for your help!
Anne
Hi there,
I’m heading to Lesotho in a few days and I’m struggling to find info on the best route between Katse Dam and Sehlathebe National Park. There’s a fairly "direct" route from Thaba Tseka, but the roads seem rough, and we’re not exactly 4x4 pros. Anyone have any tips to share? Thanks!
Hi everyone,
We’re heading to Mozambique in October and are looking for either a 4x4 or 4x2 rental in Maputo, or a driver transfer option to reach:
- Ponta Do Ouro
- Tofo
- Vilankulos
The idea is to be self-sufficient for sightseeing and stops while still being able to access certain lodges or beaches that require a 4x2.
Do you have any contacts, addresses, or ideas to share?
Thanks in advance,
Hello,
We're hitting the road again in 2027 to discover new countries and cultures.
Could anyone give me some tips on driving from Ulaanbaatar to Lake Baikal and the route to take?
Thanks, and safe travels to those who are setting off!
We’re planning a 4x4 trip from Belgium to Central Asia, passing through Georgia, Russia, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan.
For these countries, our national insurance obviously doesn’t cover the vehicle, so we’ll need to get local insurance.
Will it be a problem if the vehicle is registered under person A and the national insurance is under person B? Both A and B will be in the vehicle, and both will be listed as drivers on the insurance.
When we get the local insurance, if we again list A and B as drivers, does the order matter? Could we get stuck at the border for this reason?
Hi,
For those who’ve driven on Iceland’s gravel roads in their own or a rented Duster, could you tell me what tires were fitted on the vehicle?
Were they All Terrain tires or more "standard" ones like all-season tires, for example?
Follow-up question: if they were "standard" tires, did that cause any issues on the gravel roads and rough terrain?
Thanks so much for any info you can share.
Best,
Marc
Hi there,
I'm planning a 4x4 road trip from Darwin to Broome with a rooftop tent in July 2026.
I'd like to know if I need to book overnight stops in advance or if I can just wing it and stop wherever I feel like it?
Some evenings, we'd like to stop and make use of campsite facilities (restaurant, shop, showers, toilets).
What do you recommend?
Do I need a permit?
My rough itinerary looks like this:
Darwin - Kakadu
Kakadu - Nitmiluk
Nitmiluk - Kununurra
Kununurra - Purnululu
Purnululu - El Questro
El Questro - Mt Elizabeth - Bell Gorge - Broome
I’m planning a trip to Iceland for next July-August, with a car and tent, and I’m wondering about booking campsites.
From your experience, is it necessary or even essential to book campsites in advance, or do you always manage to find a spot to pitch your tent?
We’ll also have the option to sleep in the car without pitching the tent.
Does that give us the flexibility to stay outside a campsite for a night here and there?
Hi,
I’m planning a road trip in the Middle Atlas, starting and ending in Fez and heading down to the south of Midelt, the Assoul Massif.... We’ll be traveling with two small 4x4s.
I’m looking for detailed maps of this region that include small roads and tracks.
Last year, we had a fantastic road trip in the Anti-Atlas and High Atlas using Erfahren maps, but unfortunately, they don’t cover the area we’re interested in this year.
Thanks for your suggestions!
Dominique
We’re planning a 13-day family road trip in Morocco this July, with six people in a Toyota Prado 4x4 (renting in Marrakech).
We’ll alternate between bivouacking and small hotels/riads depending on the stops.
Here’s the planned route (in this order):
Marrakech
→ Ouarzazate
→ Draa Valley
→ Zagora
→ Erg Chegaga
→ Lake Iriki
→ Foum Zguid
→ Tata
→ Tafraoute
→ Aït Mansour
→ Tiznit
→ Mirleft
→ Taroudant
→ Back to Marrakech
Our goal:
Atlas Mountains + desert + dunes + plateaus + valleys + a bit of coastline.
We’ll cover about 1,700 km in total.
We’re planning:
Bivouacking in the Chegaga/Iriki area
Flexible for the rest (booking the day before or same day)
Sand gear: traction plates, compressor, tow strap, roof rack
Questions:
Is the Zagora → Chegaga → Iriki → Foum Zguid crossing in July doable on our own (single vehicle, no guide)?
Are there any truly technical or risky sections between Chegaga and Iriki?
Does the overall itinerary seem manageable in 13 days without rushing?
Any suggestions for great bivouac spots or particularly interesting stops along this route?
The points on the route are provisional overnight stops. Some spots will include two nights in the same area.
We’re used to off-road driving, but not yet in the Moroccan desert.
Thanks in advance for your feedback and tips! 😊
Good evening
I could use some advice 🙂
Our trip to Namibia is planned for June/July 2026.
We’re struggling a bit with timing and choosing activities for the part of the trip between Sesriem and Brandberg.
Day 1: Sesriem to Mirabib
Day 2: Mirabib to Swakopmund – visit Swakopmund, overnight in Swakopmund
Day 3: Sandwich Harbour – overnight in Swakopmund
Day 4: Kayaking with the seals + the living dunes – overnight in Swakopmund
Day 5: Moon Landscape, Henties Bay + Cape Cross – overnight at White Lady Lodge in Brandberg
Does this itinerary seem realistic to you? Is Cape Cross really worth the trip? If I had to choose between Cape Cross and kayaking with the seals, which would you recommend?
Thanks in advance for your help!
Hélix
My son and I are heading to Georgia this summer to explore the High Caucasus (Svaneti, Kazbek, and Tusheti regions). For this, we’re planning to rent a 4x4.
However, the rental agencies we’ve found prohibit driving on the tracks to Omalo (Tusheti) and/or Ushguli (Svaneti).
Do you know of any agencies in Tbilisi (local and reliable) that allow rented 4x4s to drive on these tracks? If so, which ones?
Hi everyone,
I’m starting to plan an itinerary for September 2027 focused on Zimbabwe and Zambia. I’d love to visit Gonarezhou National Park—I see there are two sectors: the Mwenezi Region in the south and the area around the Runde River in the north. Should I cover both sectors or just focus on the northern region?
For the parks along the Zambezi River, is it better to visit Mana Pools on the Zimbabwe side or Lower Zambezi on the Zambia side?
Thanks in advance for any tips on the parks in these two countries.
Have a great day, everyone.
We’re spending 18 days in New Zealand from 05/04 to 05/21, arriving in QUEENSTOWN and leaving from AUCKLAND.
Any ideas for a road trip that covers the highlights of both islands but only changes hotels every 3–4 nights?
Thanks.
For our trip to Georgia in July, I’d like to rent a 4x4 starting from Tbilisi.
Do you have any rental companies to recommend?
The traditional rentals like Hertz, Avis, etc. seem way overpriced compared to local companies—what do you think? Are they properly insured?
Has anyone here tried Geo Rent Car, Auto 4 Rental, or Sur Price?
Also, I’m looking for info on the condition of the Ushguli–Lentekhi track—is it passable?
Hi everyone,
A well-prepped 4x4, a travel plan across Africa in stages since I’ve got kids to see regularly and work to earn a living.
I’m leaving in November for about a month with the goal of reaching Senegal via Mauritania. I’d love to share this trip with someone who wants to discover Mauritania and a bit of Senegal... and also experience life on board a 4x4 in the desert or bush, sometimes sleeping in the vehicle or in hostels/small hotels for comfort. I want to share this rediscovery because two’s better than one!
Just traveling, exploring, and living! !
I’m planning to explore Argentine and Chilean Patagonia for a month in December 2019.
I’m looking for a rental company (or several) that offers single-cab 4x4 pick-ups with a fitted camper cell for two people. I’m specifically after a vehicle with an indoor shower for extra comfort ;)
So, no vans—at least not from the rental companies I’ve seen so far.
While browsing the forum, I came across the Chilean rental company Holiday Rent. But do you have any recommendations for Argentine rentals?
Because, if I can’t return the vehicle in the same city as pickup, I’d prefer—and it’d likely be cheaper—to at least return it in the same country.
I’m traveling through Argentina and Chile (as well as Paraguay and Uruguay) with a 2019 Toyota Hilux Euro 6. Could anyone tell me if the local diesel is suitable for its engine, or if I need to take any special precautions (like adding an additive, for example) for these countries?
I’d also like to know if driving at high altitudes is possible, and up to what elevation—or if I should worry about the vehicle going into limp mode?
If that happens, what should I do?
Hi there,
Can you tell me if the road between Zagora and M'Gouna is easy or difficult for a 4x4? How much time and how many kilometers should I plan for? I’m traveling in May.
Thanks!
Hi there,
My trip to South Africa is starting to take shape.
However, I'm struggling to figure out the route through Kruger Park. I can't seem to find the information I need about getting around.
Coming from the south, I plan to arrive on Day 1 in the early afternoon at Malelane or Crocodile Bridge.
Do some shopping in Malelane (or Crocodile Bridge main area) and stay overnight outside the park.
Leave on Day 2 at 5 AM for the park. Explore the southern part of the park.
Stay overnight around Skukuza or Lower Sabie. (We don’t want to stay in one of the park’s big camps. We’re looking for a lodge around 200 €.
Head out on Day 3 for a self-drive safari, maybe as far as Orpen.
We’d like to stay in a private reserve on nights 4 and 5.
We’re not sure which one or how to get into a private reserve. Do we need to exit Kruger Park?
On Day 5, we’d like to leave to visit Blyde Canyon (on Day 6).
I’m planning to leave Morocco for the summer but want to leave my 4x4 there to avoid exceeding the famous 6-month limit. I’d like to park it in one of the two Spanish enclaves (Ceuta or Melilla).
Does anyone know of people or companies that handle long-term parking (preferably secure) in either place?
Once the car is parked, what’s the best way to get back to France using public transport?
Is the nearest airport Tanger from Ceuta?...
How do I get there easily, etc. etc.
hello! I’d like to go to Kazakhstan and rent a fitted 4x4 locally so I can drive off-road trails and sleep inside the vehicle... could anyone share some local rental company addresses, please? Thanks! !
I'm about to rent a self-drive 4x4 in Mongolia. Has anyone heard of GOBI.RENT?
Otherwise, do you have any tips for checking this company since there's no info on their website (e.g., registration number on the RCS)?
I’m finalizing my trip starting from Namibia.
When I arrive in Divundu, I’d like to head straight to the Khwai area early in the morning to one of the campsites in the Khwai Development Trust. Is the drive doable with a good 4x4 in a day?
We’ll spend 2 nights in Khwai, then 2 or maybe 3 nights in the Moremi area (Third Bridge/Xakanaxa/Mboma) before heading back to Maun to wrap up our journey.
Is that too much time to spend in each place?
We’d also like to do one or two boat excursions in the delta. Any suggestions for the best options and operators?
Thanks in advance for your tips and advice!
Best,
Patrick
Hi everyone,
I’m planning to explore the western part of Madagascar from May 1st to 5th, specifically to visit the Tsingy. I’ve heard different versions about the road conditions and access to the Tsingy during this time, so I’d love to hear from people who’ve actually made this trip during this time of year.
Have you traveled from Morondava → Tsingy between May 1st and 5th?
Was the journey doable and safe?
Did you have access to the Grands Tsingy, or just the Petits Tsingy?
Thanks so much for your feedback—it’ll really help me get a clearer picture! 😊
Also, if you have any recommendations for reliable and experienced driver-guides, I’d love to hear them.
Thanks again!
À Mara en septembre 
À Mara en juin
