4x4s equipped for camping, in the international airport area
Compare campervan and motorhome rental companies in Kilimanjaro to find the best price, and book at the price shown, mandatory fees included.
In our search, campervan hire in Kilimanjaro means a departure in the area of Kilimanjaro International Airport, in the middle of the plains that separate Moshi from Arusha, in northern Tanzania. The vehicle you receive is not a European motorhome but a 4x4 equipped for camping, built for the tracks of the parks and Maasai lands. The appeal of this departure: hitting the road without crossing a big city, towards Mount Meru, Tarangire, the Ngorongoro volcanoes or the plains of West Kilimanjaro. Our partner company, Safari Masters, offers its vehicles here; the exact meeting point is given in the confirmation.
On clear days, the dome of Kibo fills the eastern horizon and the cone of Meru rises to the west.
Public ratings collected on October 28, 2026 from independent review sites.
A loop to the north-west, between two volcanoes. Via Usa River you reach Ngongongare Gate, then the track crosses Arusha National Park to Momella Gate, at the foot of Meru, the country's second-highest peak. Beyond, Ngare Nanyuki and the farms of Ol Molog lead to the acacia plains of the Enduimet community area, around Sinya, home to gerenuks and lesser kudus. Longido, a Maasai town below an isolated mountain, brings you back to the tarmac of the Namanga road.
At Sinya the Kenyan border runs very close, but there is no crossing point: Amboseli stays on the other side. Enduimet charges its own access fees, to be checked before you leave.
A loop through the volcanoes of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. After Karatu and a day in the caldera, the track reaches Olduvai Gorge, where the Leakeys unearthed hominin fossils, then climbs via Nainokanoka to Empakaai Crater, whose green lake is reached on foot with a ranger. You then descend the Rift escarpment to Lake Natron and Ol Doinyo Lengai, the only active volcano known to erupt carbonate lavas.
The track between Empakaai and Natron is steep, rutted and sometimes cut: only take it in the dry season, after confirmation from the rental company and the Ngorongoro authority.
A circuit to the south, away from the main safari flows. Via Makuyuni you enter Tarangire and head for the Silale swamps and the little-visited south of the park. Neighbouring Lake Burunge borders a community area rich in birds, then the road reaches Babati and its hippo lake, facing Mount Hanang. Further south, near Kolo, the Kondoa rock shelters, a World Heritage site, hold paintings several thousand years old.
The Kolo sites are visited on foot with a local guide, on steep paths: allow half a day and good shoes.
The safest period for all three circuits from Kilimanjaro: little rain, hard tracks and skies often hazy in the morning over the plains. It is the only season when the descent from Empakaai to Lake Natron is reasonable. On the Ngorongoro highlands nights are cold and often misty: a warm sleeping bag is essential. In August and September dust gets everywhere, so keep cameras and food in sealed bags.
Short showers, usually in the afternoon, turn the plains of Enduimet and Tarangire green within a few days. Tarmac roads and the main tracks remain passable, but the black clay soils around Sinya and Lake Burunge stick to the wheels after a storm. Holiday arrivals fill the flights and campsites at the end of the year: book early.
A short drier season between the two rainy seasons, with hot days on the plains and isolated showers. Clear skies make it a good window to climb Mount Meru, to be arranged before or after the rental. Plains tracks dry quickly, while those to Natron should be checked depending on the December rains.
The wettest season in the region: long downpours, low clouds that often hide both volcanoes, and slippery tracks. Avoid Empakaai, Natron and the Kolo paths; choose the Arusha National Park loop and the tarmac roads to Babati or Karatu instead. The parks are almost empty, but a flexible programme with short stages is essential.
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Sun |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | -5 °C | -10 °C | 603 mm | 9 h/day |
| Feb | -5 °C | -10 °C | 325 mm | 10 h/day |
| Mar | -4 °C | -9 °C | 428 mm | 10 h/day |
| Apr | -4 °C | -9 °C | 693 mm | 8 h/day |
| May | -5 °C | -9 °C | 449 mm | 7 h/day |
| Jun | -6 °C | -11 °C | 162 mm | 8 h/day |
| Jul | -6 °C | -11 °C | 125 mm | 8 h/day |
| Aug | -6 °C | -11 °C | 191 mm | 8 h/day |
| Sep | -6 °C | -11 °C | 315 mm | 8 h/day |
| Oct | -5 °C | -10 °C | 451 mm | 9 h/day |
| Nov | -5 °C | -9 °C | 568 mm | 9 h/day |
| Dec | -5 °C | -10 °C | 618 mm | 9 h/day |
Averages 2016–2025 computed from Open-Meteo data (ERA5 reanalysis).
Allow a good hour for the 4x4 handover: inventory of the camping gear, opening the tent, checking the spare wheels, the jack and the reserves. Long-haul flights often land at Kilimanjaro in the evening: arrange a daytime appointment with Safari Masters, even if it means a night in a nearby lodge.
Tanzania drives on the left, often with a manual gearbox and speed bumps at the entrance to every village. After a long flight, do not aim for Karatu or Tarangire on the first day: the Arusha National Park gate or a campsite in Usa River is enough to get used to the vehicle before the tracks.
Around the airport there are only villages and a few small shops. For several days' food, water in jerrycans and gas, stop at the supermarkets of Arusha if you head west, or Moshi if you head east or south. Fill up before leaving the tarmac.
Withdraw Tanzanian shillings at the airport: fuel, markets, community campsites and fees for Enduimet or the Natron villages are often paid in cash. National parks and the Ngorongoro area, on the other hand, favour electronic payment at the gates. Bring a card accepted internationally and check the payment methods in force.
Our partner company for this departure is Safari Masters, which hands over its vehicles in the area of Kilimanjaro International Airport, between Moshi and Arusha. The exact meeting point and time are given in your booking confirmation. Give your flight number to the rental company, especially if you land late.
The rate varies with the month of departure, the length of hire, the camping equipment and the chosen return city. A search with your dates shows the real price offered from Kilimanjaro, mandatory fees included, bookable straight away. Budget separately for park entry fees, campsite nights and community area fees.
No: Kilimanjaro is the mountain, and the administrative region around it bears its name. In our search, Kilimanjaro refers to the departure near the international airport, in Hai district. The nearest towns are Moshi, to the east, and Arusha, to the west, which are also departure cities of our partners.
Yes: Safari Masters also has depots in Arusha, Moshi, Seronera, in the heart of the Serengeti, and Dar es Salaam. Returning the 4x4 in Seronera after the Ngorongoro avoids driving back the same way. Enter the return city in the search: any one-way fees are then included in the price shown.
Amboseli is very close, but the border can only be crossed at official posts, such as Namanga, on the Longido road. You need written consent from Safari Masters, insurance valid in Kenya, the vehicle's customs documents and often a Kenyan entry authorisation. Ask before booking and check the official travel advice.
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.
Most travellers need a Tanzanian visa, to be applied for online on the official website before departure. To drive, bring your national licence and an international driving permit. A yellow fever vaccination certificate may be required depending on where you come from. Minimum age and years of driving are listed in the offer conditions.
Often, but not at all hours: the summit tends to hide in the clouds in the middle of the day. The best views come early in the morning and late in the afternoon, from the airport road, the Sinya plains or around Ol Molog, on the western slope. During the long rains it can stay invisible for several days.
Yes, Longido, on the Namanga road, welcomes visitors through a community-run cultural tourism programme: walks with a Maasai guide, a visit to a boma, a climb on the slopes of Mount Longido. Pay the requested fees on site and avoid improvised stops: always ask before photographing someone.
A Tanzanian SIM card, bought at the airport or in Arusha with your passport, covers the main roads and towns well. The network becomes patchy at Lake Natron, around Empakaai and on the Enduimet plains. Download offline maps before leaving and write the rental company's assistance number down on paper.
Punctures are frequent on tracks of lava and thorns. Stay near the vehicle, especially in a park, where walking away from it is forbidden, and call the rental company's assistance. Before leaving, learn how to use the jack and change a wheel, and check the pressure of the spare.
Starting from Kilimanjaro means beginning the trip where you land: no big city to cross, and two volcanoes, Kibo and Meru, as your first landscape. Within an hour, Arusha National Park offers an easy first outing; within a few days you reach the Maasai plains of Enduimet below the western slope, the Empakaai and Ngorongoro craters, Lake Natron or the Kondoa rock paintings, away from the busiest circuits.
Safari Masters offers 4x4s here equipped for sleeping in a tent at park and village campsites. The dry season, from June to October, offers the safest tracks. And since the company also starts from Arusha, Moshi, Seronera and Dar es Salaam, the trip can end in the heart of the Serengeti or on the coast, without retracing your steps.
