Land Cruisers with rooftop tents for northern Tanzania's safari circuit
Compare campervan and motorhome rental companies in Arusha to find the best price, and book at the price shown, mandatory fees included.
In Arusha, campervan hire takes the form of a Toyota Land Cruiser 4x4 with a tent that unfolds on its roof, or two for a family. Set on the foothills of Mount Meru, the town is the historic starting point for safaris in northern Tanzania: Tarangire, Lake Manyara, the Ngorongoro Crater and the Serengeti follow one another to the west, while Kilimanjaro rises to the east. Our partner company, Safari Masters, hands over its vehicles in the Njiro district.
Traffic drives on the left, on tarmac as far as the park gates, then on dirt tracks and volcanic dust.
Public ratings collected on October 28, 2026 from independent review sites.
| Vehicle | Winter July | Spring October | Summer January | Autumn April |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Campervan | from €254/day median €267/day | from €254/day median €267/day | from €257/day median €271/day | from €257/day median €271/day |
Daily prices observed on October 26, 2026 for a 15-day rental: CoolDrive selling price, mandatory fees included, 1 rental companies compared. 100% of offers with unlimited mileage. Median excess: €894.
The great classic heads west via Makuyuni to Tarangire, its baobabs and its herds of elephants along the river. Mto wa Mbu then opens onto Lake Manyara, at the foot of the Rift escarpment, before Karatu and its coffee trees. You follow the rim of the Ngorongoro, drive down into the crater for a day, then the track crosses the plains of Naabi Hill to Seronera.
Return by the same road, or make it a one-way trip by dropping the 4x4 off in Seronera.
Beyond Mto wa Mbu, a stony track climbs the Rift escarpment, passes the ancient farming ruins of Engaruka and drops down to Lake Natron, an alkaline lagoon where lesser flamingos breed, beneath the cone of Ol Doinyo Lengai, the sacred volcano of the Maasai. On the way back, a detour via Karatu leads to Lake Eyasi, home of the Hadzabe and the Datoga, best visited with a local guide.
Several barriers collect local taxes: check the current amounts before setting off.
Half an hour from town, Arusha National Park brings together the Momella lakes, Ngurdoto Crater, colobus monkeys and giraffes, with walks escorted by an armed ranger. You then reach Moshi, another departure city of our partners, for the coffee plantations and the Materuni waterfalls, the village of Marangu and the crater lake of Chala. Return via the Kikuletwa hot springs, turquoise water among the fig trees.
The most favourable months to set off from Arusha: little rain, dry tracks and animals gathered around Tarangire's waterholes. June and July are the coolest, and nights in the rooftop tent get cold on the Ngorongoro rim: pack fleeces and warm sleeping bags. From July to October, the great migration reaches the northern Serengeti, a long day's drive beyond Seronera.
Showers return, often in the afternoon, and the dust settles: the Serengeti plains turn green again and the wildebeest move back to the south of the park. The main tracks remain passable, but river fords call for caution after a storm. The year-end holidays fill the campsites and lodges closest to the park gates.
Between the two rainy seasons, days are hot and often sunny, with passing showers. It is the wildebeest calving season on the Ndutu plains, in the south of the Serengeti, on the edge of the Ngorongoro area: an easy stop to add to the northern circuit, provided you drive carefully on the black-soil tracks.
April is the wettest month in Arusha, with more than 300 mm of rain. The Lake Natron track becomes risky, some secondary tracks in the Serengeti are cut off and several camps close. Arusha National Park and the paved roads to Moshi and Karatu remain accessible: plan short stages and leave slack in your schedule.
Most pleasant months: June to October.
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Sun |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 27 °C | 16 °C | 123 mm | 11 h/day |
| Feb | 28 °C | 16 °C | 93 mm | 11 h/day |
| Mar | 28 °C | 17 °C | 188 mm | 11 h/day |
| Apr | 24 °C | 17 °C | 301 mm | 10 h/day |
| May | 23 °C | 16 °C | 139 mm | 9 h/day |
| Jun | 22 °C | 15 °C | 42 mm | 10 h/day |
| Jul | 22 °C | 14 °C | 37 mm | 10 h/day |
| Aug | 23 °C | 14 °C | 30 mm | 10 h/day |
| Sep | 25 °C | 15 °C | 26 mm | 11 h/day |
| Oct | 27 °C | 16 °C | 60 mm | 11 h/day |
| Nov | 26 °C | 17 °C | 111 mm | 11 h/day |
| Dec | 27 °C | 17 °C | 134 mm | 11 h/day |
Averages 2016–2025 computed from Open-Meteo data (ERA5 reanalysis).
Safari Masters hands over its Land Cruisers in Njiro, a residential district south-east of central Arusha. Kilimanjaro International Airport is about an hour's drive away, and Arusha's airfield, for domestic flights, is on the other side of town. Agree in advance on the meeting time and on a possible transfer.
Arusha is the last big town on the road to the parks: supermarkets, central market, pharmacies and cash machines. Fill up there with diesel, water and food for several days. Mto wa Mbu and Karatu can still help out with fuel and fruit, but beyond the Ngorongoro gate, filling stations become scarce.
The crater falls under the Ngorongoro authority, separate from the national parks authority: the descent is charged per vehicle, its duration is limited and independent drivers may have to take a ranger or show an authorisation. These rules change often: have them confirmed before departure by the rental company or by our experts.
The centre, around the clock tower, is clogged with dala-dalas and motorbikes at rush hour. Towards the parks, the Dodoma road passes Kisongo and then turns off at Makuyuni: speed bumps at the entrance to every village, Maasai herds on the road and frequent speed checks. Allow more time than the map suggests.
Our partner company in Arusha is Safari Masters, whose depot is in the Njiro district. This is where the Land Cruiser is handed over, the camping equipment is checked and driving explanations are given. The exact address and the time of the appointment are shown in your booking confirmation.
The rate depends on the departure month, the dry season being the most in demand, the number of rooftop tents, the length of hire and a possible return in Seronera or Dar es Salaam. Run a search with your dates: you get the real price, mandatory fees included. Park fees come on top of the rental.
For two, the Land Cruiser with one rooftop tent offers two berths and five seats. For four, the two-tent version sleeps the whole family. The Land Cruiser Safari, with six seats, has no berths: it suits a group sleeping in lodges in Karatu or around the parks.
Yes: Seronera, in the centre of the Serengeti, Moshi, Kilimanjaro and Dar es Salaam are also departure cities of our partners. Returning the 4x4 in Seronera saves you the long track back. Enter the return city when searching: any one-way fees are then included in the displayed price.
Often yes, in a 4x4, but under conditions: the Ngorongoro authority sets its own rules for independent drivers, and a ranger or a written authorisation may be required. Crossing the conservation area towards the Serengeti is simpler than descending into the crater. Check the rules in force before building your itinerary.
First rental of this type of vehicle in a professional context where the rental must take place from France to Canada. Many questions and Cooldrive (Marlène) has been a valuable support in guiding my choices. Efficiency and responsiveness beforehand, and on-site a vehicle and service that met our expectations. No complaints. Great!
Too rigid computer system
Very good customer experience with Cooldrive. I highly recommend it! Thanks to the team who were attentive and available for organizing my trip to Canada.
Bring your national licence and an international driving permit, which the police may ask for at roadside checks, frequent around Arusha. Traffic drives on the left, often with a manual gearbox. The minimum age and years of driving required by the rental company are shown in the offer conditions: check them before booking.
Several campsites welcome 4x4s in Arusha itself and in Mto wa Mbu, Karatu or on the shore of Lake Natron. In the parks, you may only sleep in public or special campsites, such as those at Seronera or Simba campsite on the Ngorongoro rim. Wild camping is forbidden there, and nights are charged on top.
Tarangire, Manyara, the Serengeti and Arusha National Park charge a fee per adult per 24-hour period, plus a vehicle fee. The Ngorongoro applies its own rates. Payment at the gates is generally electronic: check the accepted payment methods and current amounts before departure, as they change regularly.
No: driving on park tracks is restricted to daylight hours, and you must have passed the gate or reached your campsite before closing time. Driving off the tracks is also forbidden. Between Seronera and Arusha, a full day on the road is needed: leave at dawn so as not to finish in the dark.
They are common in the wooded areas of Tarangire and in some parts of the Serengeti. Their bite is painful: wear light-coloured clothing, avoid dark blue and black, which attract them, and close the windows when driving through woodland. An effective repellent also helps against mosquitoes, which carry malaria.
Yes, but without the vehicle: the Mount Meru climb starts from Momella gate, in Arusha National Park, accompanied by a ranger, and Kilimanjaro can only be climbed with a licensed guide. Plan the climb before or after the rental, so the 4x4 does not sit idle for several days.
Arusha is the natural base for a self-drive safari in northern Tanzania. Tarangire is only two hours away by road, the Ngorongoro a day and the Serengeti two stages, with villages such as Mto wa Mbu and Karatu to stock up on the way. The town itself offers plenty to acclimatise: Arusha National Park, the slopes of Mount Meru and views of Kilimanjaro on clear days.
Safari Masters offers Land Cruisers designed for the bush, with one or two rooftop tents, or a six-seat model for those who prefer lodges. The dry season, from June to October, offers the safest tracks. And since Moshi, Seronera and Dar es Salaam are also departure cities, the trip can end without retracing your steps.
