Road Trip Uganda, Tanzania , Zambia, Botswana to south Africa

Planning to self drive from Uganda covering the most wildlife destinations within Africa include the pearl of Africa the best destination for gorilla trekking , chimpanzee watching & Golden monkey to the Magical Tanzania a home for the big five watching ,Zambia to visit the mighty Victoria falls , lovely national park of Chobe National Park in Botswana before arrival to the final destination in south Africa on classic Road Trip in Africa with leading experts in long term holidays.

Road Trip Africa experience will be complete once you have explored the best Africa National Park that host the big five animals
lion, leopard, elephant, rhino, and African buffalo. These animals were originally designated as the Big Five by big-game hunters due to the difficulty and danger involved in hunting them on foot.

Accessibility of South Africa Via Tanzania  (Kasesya Boarder to Zambia), Zambia to Botswana

If your renting a car from Uganda , take a note that we do not have support offices in Zambia and Botswana even though we offer extension to visit the Victoria Falls in Zambia on road trip to Africa and you need to be extra careful on these crossing borders.

Driving your own Vehicle from Uganda to South Africa through this specific route is rugged, adventurous overland journey covering Roughly 4,200-4,800 km depending on exact paths and detours you might encounter on the road.

This western Tanzania route takes you along Lake Tanganyika’s Edge, offering remote wilderness, fewer crowds, and potential wild life sightings through Katavi National Park But involves rougher roads and less frequently used boarder post called Kasesya.

Expect 7-10 Days driving if you to cover a distance of 1000km/day but avoid traveling in wet seasons as the western Tanzania route tracks can be impassable and having poor visibility. (Better months would be May-October, check on Tanzania Safaris for guidance on Road Trip in Tanzania ).

Few Tips for Road Tripping in Tanzania with border crossing

• I will strongly recommend any person to use Offline Google maps or other offline maps apps like MAPS.ME for proper GPS navigation as network reception in most of the areas for data connection is very poor.
• Health, Malaria prophylaxis, insect repellent COVID 19/ YELLOW FEVER, and Cholera vaccine proofs are required at some boarder posts.
• Have and extra Fuel storage gadget as fuel stations are very scarce (Avoid buying fuel from high way road side fuel dealers). Rough estimate for fuel on that entire journey is between $400 to $700 depending on the vehicle you’re driving.
• Always have some reasonable cash at hand to avoid inconveniences, ATM points are remote and many of them don’t accept international transactions. (Zambia some ATM Machines may have specific operational hours based on their location and ownership.)

Border Crossing fees

These are indicative figures for planning purposes but they might change and we shall not be liable for the changes since these are all similar in East Africa Border crossing.

• Tanzania entry road tax $20-30, fuel levy $5.
• Kasesya Boarder (TZ-ZM): Carbon Tax (Engine based, $10-50), Council Levy $5-10
• Zambia Rd tolls $20-40, insurance if needed.
• Botswana: Road fund with a disk valid for one-year, single entry and 3rd party insurance $15$25 and road toll fees 20 Botswana Pula per toll gate
• South Arica no major fees for SADC vehicles.

East Africa Self Drive itineraries – Self Drive Holidays 2025

The Self Drive itineraries drafted by Self Drive East Africa is based on Practical experiences as the team tries to make the prefect road trip itineraries to guide self drive travelers when planning their Self Drive tours in East Africa. Self guided safari to East Africa is like no other experience when your sure of where you will be traveling in Kenya , Rwanda, Tanzania & Uganda in a strong Reliable 4×4 Landcruiser Lx or V8 backed up with the support of Self Drive East Africa.
Not sure where to start on your self drive trip? We have you covered to guide you and act as your local GPS for Africa trip.

If your planning to explore Uganda, Rwanda , Kenya , Tanzania on one way car rental consider some long safari options to enjoy relaxed road trip

Road Trip Africa- Uganda Tanzania Zambia Botswana & South Africa Route Overview.

On this overview of the route from Kampala  to Cape town we do list the main highways to use during the adventure.

• Uganda (A109)
• Tanzania (BB/T9/T20),
• Zambia (T2/T5),
• Botswana(A3/A1)
• South Africa(N18/N4).

As Self Drive Uganda is known for strict driving time rules , still Please avoid driving at night use day light hours from 6am to 12pm. Night driving is so risky and in countries like Zambia foreign vehicles are supposed to stop driving at 9pm and resume at 5am, if your found driving beyond that time, police will issue you a fine. So, plan your driving duration properly.

Phrase one: Kampala to Tanzania via (Kampala to Mpanda/Sumbawanga)

The driving distance is approx 1200kms from Drive from Kampala to Mutukula border with border crossing after 250kms at Mutukula border (opens 6am-6pm) here you will take like an hour to clear with the border officials on both sides. Enter Tanzania and drive through these regions; Bukoba, Biharamulo, Lusahunga, Kahama, Nzega, Tabora, Sponke, Mpanda to Sumbawanga and lastly head to Kasesya Border post.

Note: make sure to refill fuel at Mpanda town Gas stations and check your tyres very well as you to pass through Katavi national park and its a long distance to find the next major trading center or town.

Phrase Two :Tanzania to Zambia via Kasesya Border.

If your rental included the visit to the victorial falls in Zambia then this will be the last leg of the adventure for ultimate safari experience with Self drive East Africa with the one way car rental option.  You will  Drive from Sumbawanga to Kasesya border (94km paved/gravel road) check on Tanzania Zambia Self drive itinerary for adventure advise .

Cross the border (opens at 7am and closes 5pm) you can as well call officials at the gate and tell them that you’re coming late or if the gate is locked. Enter Zambia and please make sure you drive up to Mbala Town which is 35km from the border.

In Mbala town make sure you process the Insurance payments, Council levy from Mbala town post office, and drive to Mpulungu Town which is 40km away from Mbala town to process the carbon taxi from the harbour site Zambia Customs offices. Please do all these transactions before you start you journey to other regions of the country to avoid heavy fines from the police when stopped.

Drive back to Mbala town, proceed to Mpika, Kapiri Mposhi and then Enter Lusaka Capital City.

Make sure to refill fuel from Mpika town at any gas station you find.

Phrase Three: Drive from Zambia to Botswana

Drive from Lusaka Capital City Zambia to Livingstone Town (Home of Victoria Falls). The road on this route is very smooth, but please watch out for speed traps. You’re to cover a distance of 470km.

From Livingstone town Head straight to Kazungula Border which is just 70km away. (Kazungula bridge opens at 6am to 6pm. Enroute you might encounter elephants crossing, so mind you speed as you driving.

Note: please before you crossover to Botswana side on the Kazungula Bridge make sure you exchange all the money you have if its Zambian Kwacha to Botswana Pula money, because if you cross over to Botswana, you won’t be able to exchange the Kwacha money in to Pula as no forex bureau will offer you that service. So, no Kwacha money is accepted in to Botswana not even for exchange. So, remain with some little kwacha money to clear up the bridge toll and put the rest of the money in to pula money.

I will also recommend to make payments by cash more so in US-Dollars at this point to speed up on the clearing process.

Phrase Four : Crossing Kazungula Border  in Botswana

Self drive in Botswana will lead you to from Kazungula boarder Botswana side and head to Francis town (489km), the road is smooth but has some sharp potholes and please watch out for wildlife animals (Chobe National Park and Makgadikgadi Pans National Park) and big trailer tracks as the road is narrow.

Note: I strongly advise to start driving from Kazungula Border Botswana side early in the morning as by that time Visibility is very okay and the road by that time is not much flooded with Trailers.

Secondly please refill your fuel tank at Kazungula Botswana town as the next gas stations will be found in Francis town.

From Francis town, please drive to Gaborone Capital City Botswana. You will cover a distance of 436km, and please observe maxim speed limits on this highway and observe lane discipline as your driving.

Botswana is known for giving expensive traffic fines, please keep that in mind.

Phrase 5: Botswana to South Africa (Gaborone to Johannesburg)

The total distance to be covered is 360km. This is just a few hours drive depending on your driving skills and some other external factors.

Drive from Gaborone to Tlokweng Gate (Botswana) which is approximately 22km. The Border post is open from 6am to Midnight.

After clearance from this one stop border post, cross over to Kopfontein (South Africa). And from there proceed to Johannesburg.

I strongly recommend this border post because its very close to Gaborone, however there also other border posts that a person can use.

Safety and Driving Tips

Road Conditions: Western TZ: Mix paved/gravel, scenic but remote/rugged (e.g., bamboo valleys); but carry spares tyres recommended to have new tyres on the jeep for ultimate Safari experience .

Zambia/Botswana: Good highways, but animals/potholes.

SA: Excellent but traffic-heavy.

Safety: Avoid night drives (poor lighting, wildlife, crime). Lock valuables; polite at police checks (bribes rare but possible).

Fuel/Supplies: Stations infrequent in Tanzania west and Zambia north; carry jerry cans, water, food.

Use cash/ATMs in towns.

Left-side driving. Speed: 80–120 km/h. No phone use; seat belts mandatory. Check on www.selfdriveuganda.com the best recommended Licensed Safari operator in Uganda

 

IN SUMMARY:

The route has got a lot of adventure so please don’t over speed enjoy the falls, lakes, wildlife and the Vegetation.

Plan for a road trip from Johannesburg, South Africa to Uganda.

This itinerary takes you on an exciting road trip from Johannesburg, South Africa, all the way to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda for gorilla trekking. The route is approximately 4,500 to 5,000Kms, depending on your chosen path, and promises a truly adventurous journey through diverse landscapes, cultures, and wildlife.

The journey takes you along a scenic route of countries; Zimbabwe, Zambia, and Tanzania, focusing on adventure and avoiding busy tourist areas. The trip lasts 14 to 21 days, giving you plenty of time to travel at a relaxed pace, cross borders, and enjoy gorilla trekking. For the best road conditions and trekking experience, consider traveling during the dry season, either from June to August or December to February.

Preparation and Requirements

• A reliable four-wheel-drive vehicle such as a Toyota Land Cruiser equipped with high ground clearance, spare tires, and additional fuel cans, is required to accommodate diverse road conditions, including paved highways, gravel roads, and dirt tracks.
• Documents: Permissible passports, visas (East Africa Tourist Visa for Uganda, Tanzania, and Kenya, in addition to distinct visas for Zambia and Zimbabwe), International Driving Permit, vehicle registration, insurance (COMESA Yellow Card for cross-border coverage), and Carnet de Passages (if needed).
• If you’re planning to go gorilla trekking in Bwindi, you’ll need a permit that costs $800 for non-residents. It’s best to arrange your booking six months prior via the Uganda Wildlife Authority or a trusted tour operator, such as Self Drive Uganda.
• Supplies: Bring additional water, food, a first-aid kit, camping equipment, and a GPS (Tracks4Africa, Google Offline maps or Maps.me application are highly recommended for this.
• Safety: Travel during the day, steer clear of remote locations, and review travel advisories for every country.

Cost of one way car rental from South Africa to Uganda!

If you rent a car from self drive Uganda with option to cross upto South Africa the company will charge you one way car rental fees of 2100$ as the cost of returning the rental car from South Africa back to its duty station in Uganda where the rental started.

Return Road Trip from from Johannesburg, South Africa to Uganda. Itinerary Overview

Duration: 14 to 21 days (10 to 12 days of driving to Bwindi, 2 to 3 days for trekking and resting, and 5 to 7 days for the return journey). Route: From Johannesburg to Zimbabwe (Victoria Falls), then to Zambia (Lusaka, South Luangwa), on to Tanzania (Mbeya, Dar es Salaam, Arusha), and finally Uganda (Kampala, Bwindi), with a return via a similar route or a flight back from Entebbe/Kigali for a shorter return. Distance: Roughly 2,500 km one-way to Kampala, plus about 550 km to Bwindi.

Detailed Itinerary Overlanding return of the car from South Africa to Kampala

Day 1–2: From Johannesburg to Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe (~1,200 km) Route:
Begin your drive from Johannesburg via N1 to Polokwane, then through Musina to the Beit bridge border into Zimbabwe. Proceed via Bulawayo to reach Victoria Falls.
Driving Time: Estimated at 16–18 hours (over the course of 2 days). Highlights: Visit Soweto for a cultural exploration (including Nelson Mandela’s house and the Apartheid Museum).
Explore the breathtaking Victoria Falls (108m tall, known as “Mosi-oa-Tunya”), enjoy a sunset cruise on the Zambezi River, or take a trip to the Victoria Falls Bridge.
Accommodation: Camp at Shear water Explorers Village or stay at Victoria Falls Safari Lodge (mid- range).

My Suggestion: Cross Beit bridge in the early morning to prevent delays. Refuel in Bulawayo to avoid fuel inconveniences.

Day 3–4: From Victoria Falls to Lusaka, Zambia (roughly 600 km)
Route: Enter Zambia via the Victoria Falls border, head to Livingstone, and then take T1 to Lusaka.

Driving Time: Estimated at 8 to 10 hours.
Check out Livingstone for its local markets or take a quick game drive in Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park. Make a stop at Choma to experience a taste of rural Zambian life.
For accommodation, you can camp at Eureka Camping Park or opt for a budget stay at Pioneer Camp close to Lusaka.
Word of advice: The roads are primarily paved, but be cautious of potholes and please make sure to gather more supplies in Lusaka Town as from here it will be difficult to get a good place to get them from.
Day 5–6: Travel from Lusaka to South Luangwa National Park, Zambia (~650 km)
Start on M14 from Lusaka to Chipata, then take M12 to get to South Luangwa.
Driving Time: Roughly 10–12 hours (you can split the journey if needed).
Highlights for the route: South Luangwa offers a rugged safari experience with fewer crowds. Enjoy a night game drive to spot leopards, elephants, and hippos. Visit local villages for cultural immersion.
Accommodation: Stay at Croc Valley Camp or Flatdogs Camp (mid-range).
Tip: The roads from Chipata to South Luangwa are bumpy; a 4×4 is essential. Carry cash for park fees as card payment is not allowed here.
Day 7–8: Travel from South Luangwa to Mbeya, Tanzania (~550 km)
Cross into Tanzania at the Tunduma border, then drive to Mbeya using the A104. Driving
Time: Roughly 8–10 hours.
Things to expect on this route: Enjoy a scenic drive through Tanzania’s southern highlands. Stop in Mbeya for a hike in the Mbeya Mountains or visit the local tea plantations.
Accommodation: Camp at Utengule Coffee Plantation or stay at the budget-friendly Mbeya
Hotel.
However please be aware, the border crossing at Tunduma can be slow; have all necessary documents ready. The roads are paved but may be narrow in some sections. So check your tyres very well.
Day 9–10: From Mbeya to Arusha, Tanzania (around 850 km):
Drive along A104 and A19 through Dodoma to Arusha, passing close to Tarangire National Park. Driving time: roughly 12 to 14 hours, split across two days.
Highlights: Optional side trip to Tarangire for a quick safari (for elephants and baobabs). Check out Arusha’s lively markets or the Cultural Heritage Centre.
Accommodation: Camp at Meserani Snake Park or choose Arusha Safari Lodge (mid-range).

Driving Tip: The roads are good but can be long; take a break in Dodoma if necessary. Fuel up in larger towns to avoid giving your vehicle bad fuel (fuel mixed with water normally sold along the highway or those small fuel stations that u might find on the highway on the
country side)
Day 11–12: Travel from Arusha to Kampala, Uganda (~1,100 km).
Cross into Uganda at the Mutukula border, then drive through Masaka and Mbarara to arrive in Kampala.
Driving time: Roughly 16–18 hours (divided over 2 days).
Things to do: Stop at the Equator crossing near Masaka for pictures and souvenirs. Explore the markets in Kampala, visit the Gaddafi Mosque, or the Kasubi Tombs.
Accommodation: Camp at Red Chilli Hideaway or stay at Cassia Lodge (mid-range) in Kampala.
Be aware; Most roads are paved, but be prepared for traffic near Kampala. Check for roadworks.

 

Please note:
Opting to fly back saves time but necessitates arrangements for vehicle transport.
Driving provides a more adventurous experience, but be sure to plan for rest stops.
Total Driving Time: Roughly 70–80 hours one-way, not counting stops.
Best Time: June to August or December to February is best for dry conditions. The wet seasons (March to May, October to November) can make roads and trails tough to navigate.
Alternative Route: Start in Kigali, Rwanda (a flight from Johannesburg takes about 4 hours), then drive to Bwindi (approximately 4–5 hours) for a shorter trip (3–4 days total).
Cultural Stops: Plan visits to local communities (like the Batwa in Bwindi and the Toro Kingdom in Fort Portal) for a deeper experience.
This itinerary combines adventure, wildlife, and cultural immersion, allowing for adjustments based on your pace and interests.