Off limit areas in Uganda for self-drive rentals

RAV4 restrictions in Uganda

Our Toyota RAV4s cannot be taken to Kidepo National Park and the Karamoja area. All roads north of Pakwach, Lira, Soroti and Mbale are off-limits when travelling in an RAV4. If you want to visit the northeast of Uganda, a Hilux Double Cab or Landcruiser is required. 

RAV4 restrictions in Tanzania

The RAV4 is unsuitable for travel to the Serengeti, Lake Natron, Nyerere National Park (formerly Selous Game Reserve) and Lake Tanganyika and Gombe Stream National Park in Western Tanzania.

Even if you're only in transit to the Serengeti and might use a lodge vehicle for your games drives, it is still not possible, as it is not so much the dirt roads that's the challenge, but the main gravel road from the park entrance to Seronera. This is a washboard ribbon road, for which a Landcruiser is required.

As for the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, the RAV4 is only allowed for safaris in the Ngorongoro Crater. The rest of the NCA is off-limits and requires a Landcruiser.

RAV4 restrictions in Kenya

We don't have Toyota RAVs in the fleet of our Roadtrip Kenya branch and for good reason. The dirt roads inside the national parks of Kenya are not geared for an RAV4.

It's possible to travel from Uganda to Kenya in a RAV4, but only if you stick to the highways, and hence travel to Nairobi or onwards to the Diani or Watamuy along the Kenyan coast. The rest of Kenya is off-limits with a RAV4.