I got a note yesterday from my friend who is manager of a Tsavo East safari camp. His wife happened to be visiting him at camp with one of her friends from Germany. Though Bobby doesn't usually go on game drives, he decided he would be gentlemanly and take the ladies out that afternoon.

They happened upon a vehicle stuck in the mud with a father, mother two very young babies. Since this vehicle was on one of the back roads not frequently used, no-one had gone past all day. Bobby and his wife took the mother and two babies back to camp and sent the tinga tinga (tractor) out to pull the car out of the mud. It was just very lucky Bobby chose to go on the back road that day. Otherwise this family might have been stuck in their mired vehicle for quite some time with no food or water.

I'm sure Carsten, Nico and Roger would always be sure to have a shovel and other paraphenalia on hand in their vehicles to get out of a situation like this, but the average tourist renting a vehicle to self-drive probably wouldn't think of this. So if you are thinking of a self-drive safari please be prepared and have the necessary things with you; food, water, blankets, shovel, torch and perhaps other things I've not thought of. Better to be prepared and not need it, than need it and not have it.

Sound advice, Jan, another story that could have had a disastrous ending.

You don't mention what vehicle they had, I know that it is possible to hire a saloon car for safari !!!

Radio / phone, sand-ladders, rope, shovel & winch are a must. (Not all hire 4x4's have a winch)
A mobile phone may not get a signal.

Thought I'd better add a few more essentials for self drive to carry on the vehicle for each day.

An axe or machete for cutting brush to go under the wheels in case of getting stuck in mud.
At least two days rations of water.
High calorie bars. (We take these from the UK on all trips)
GPS. Maps are poor or non existent!
Extra clothing in case of a temperature drop at night.

Try to let someone know your daily intentions, in this case they had gone away from the usual routes if someone had known the direction they had took then any search mounted would have an idea where to start. How long would it have taken if Bobby had not happened upon them before a search was mounted.

Unless your a regular off-roader before going self-drive take a 4x4 off road driving course, it's fun & you'll learn a lot & gain confidence & understanding for your trip. A brief rain shower can turn a dust bowl into an ice rink.

- Edited by kipper on 01.12.2007, 11:32 -

Kipper:

Thanks for your additions to the list.

Do you carry extra jerry cans full of fuel with you, or have you found there are enough places such as fuel stations or lodges that have gas pumps so that you don't need to take a backup supply?

Normally 4x4's hired for safari have the bigger tank fitted &/or an extra tank.
It is surprising where fuel can be found because of the tourist industry along with fruit & vegetables, live chickens which the seller will kill & prepare for you while you wait & souvenirs. Fuel is also readily available.
It is a case off...If fuel is for sale always fill up your tanks your planned stop may be out of fuel when you arrive.
Water is the biggest problem, for washing etc.
When filling up or shopping beware......As a tourist your "Fair game" for all the tricks. Keep your valuables well hidden. don't leave windows open & camera's laying on the seat, never mind how urgent the supposed flat tyre is that the gentleman is asking you to get out & look at, drive a couple of meters, you'll soon know if it is flat.
These people are only trying it on, the same as New York, London & the such. Be polite & there's a good chance you'll become friends......But keep the eyes in the back of your head still open!
It's hard to make a living in the wilds of Africa when you have seen the opulence of westerners.

Another couple of points about self drive, before booking, check to see if your vehicle has two spare wheels/tyres you are almost guaranteed to get punctures & like fuel you'll find a repairer in most places...Stay with the tyre to make sure you keep the same one & it is not swapped for another in bad condition, just another way to earn a living!
Also try to take a "high-lift / toe jack you really do not want to be crawling around on hands & Knees trying to set a scissor jack or bottle jack under the axle.

I should point out I am far from expert on this subject & my points raised are from my own & others experiences & advice.
I would like to add to this topic.

although it is possible to self drive & stay at lodges I can see little advantage in doing so.

You will miss so very much on game drives, watching for the track to disappear into a gully, watching for a hidden elephant leaves little time for a wider viewing area.
A guide knows the area, animal territories & the such, their ability to spot animals is phenomenal & they have the advantage of the bush-drums from other guides.

So I assume that if you intend to self drive then you intend to camp as well. For me it is the best way to experience Africa & safari.

I offer the following advice.

Take your litter with you. DO NOT bury it! At some sites we spent time clearing other peoples rubbish that had been buried then dug up by animals. By the amount & type I think this was from mobile accompanied safari camps that had booked the sites in the past & not by self drives!.....I hope!

Although I expect it is possible to camp anywhere outside the reserves & parks, camping is only allowed at either private sites or public sites in side. You have to book your pitch in advance & for the migration possibly a year or two in advance!
As long as they know you have booked Wildlife Rangers will take a drive by most days to see if all is OK.

Public camp sites normally have water to wash & toilets, some are only a pit & tin screen, some are tiled with hot water & flush toilets. Each site has limited pitches, on some each pitch is well away from the next & you may never know that others are there till you meet at the toilet "block" which you may have to drive to get to from your pitch.
The draw back is that you could have noisy campers near to you & in some they will be visible next to you only meters away.
There may be but I know of no public camp sites that are fenced, the animals can just walk in & out at will and because of regular use the animals make a point of visiting every day looking for free-bees!

Private camp sites. Again book in advance you have no other campers & you will be the only humans for miles. There are no toilets water or facilities what so ever so it's a bush toilet & if you have the water a bush shower. Animals will pay a visit but it is only a passing interest.

Tents, it is possible to hire a 4x4 with a roof tent fitted my opinion is that each day to game drive you have to pack up camp before setting out & set it all up that night. With a bell tent you can leave chairs, table & tent & be out game driving at dawn without packing up camp first. I do not think you are any safer in a roof tent than a bell tent.

Rules for campers. Remember you are in the African bush! Not on the Costa Del Where ever?
Keep your impact to a minimum, use the "Fire scar" that is there don't light a fire in a new spot, there is less chance of igniting grassland this way & you don't leave another scar.
Take all valuables with you don't leave them in the tent.
Keep all food & water shut in the vehicle inside a sealed container/cool box.
Keep your camp site tidy at all times & your rubbish sack inside the vehicle so you don't attract the local wildlife.
All ways ensure you have a clear route into the vehicle & keep the seats clear in case it is prudent to shelter inside.
Else where on this site is a link to photo's of a bull elephant ( [URL=http://www.bushdrums.com/forum/showthread.php?id=632]Link Here[/URL] ) shot because he had got used to stealing from untidy campers & see what I mean about roof tents!
[color=red]What is the sense in a photographic safari to see African wildlife if the animals you go to see are shot because of your actions.[/color]

Kipper:

All your comments are excellent advice. Thanks so much for posting.

Though as a female safari goer traveling alone I would never consider self-tenting on my own, I have often thought about renting a vehicle to drive on safaris. I would then be able to go out whenever I wanted and for how long I wanted. However, after seeing that there is a trick to driving on some of the poor roads, (uneven gravel, narrow roads some times with steep grading, roads that look like the mud is dried out and safe to drive on but then you find out it is still deep mud underneath, and also deep sand in some places, I know I don't have the experience on these types of roads and hesitate to do it. Did it take you very long to acclimatize to the road conditions?