Tanzania Safari · Kigali Car Rental

Car Hire to
Serengeti National Park

The greatest wildlife show on Earth. 1.5 million wildebeest and 250,000 zebra circle the ecosystem year after year — and the Big Five are present every single day. Start your journey with Kigali car rental and cross into Tanzania.

~1,400 km · 2 days from Kigali
Tanzania cross-border permit
From $130/day

The Greatest Wildlife Show on Earth

The Serengeti is not just a national park — it is a living calendar. Every year, in a vast circular migration driven by grass and rainfall, 1.5 million wildebeest and 250,000 zebra move across 30,000 km² of open savannah in one of nature's most extraordinary spectacles. They calve on the short-grass southern plains in January and February, then circle north through the Western Corridor, before the most dramatic act: crossing the crocodile-filled Mara River into Kenya's Maasai Mara in July–October, then returning south when the rains come.

But the Serengeti is exceptional year-round. The Big Five — lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, and rhino — are resident. Cheetah stalk Thomson's gazelle across the plains. Wild dog packs sprint through the Loliondo area. The sheer density and variety of wildlife here is unlike anywhere else on the planet.

The Great Migration Calendar

Jan – Mar: Calving

Southern Serengeti. 8,000 wildebeest born per day; cheetah and lion feasting on the plains.

Apr – Jun: Western Corridor

Migration moves northwest. Grumeti River crossings begin. Lush green landscape.

Jul – Oct: Mara Crossings

The famous river crossings. Northern Serengeti and Kenya Mara. Peak drama season.

Nov – Dec: Short Rains

Migration returns south. Excellent birding. Fewer tourists. Good predator action.

Kigali Car Rental to Serengeti

The Serengeti is a two-day drive from Kigali — typically via Kigali to Bukoba (Tanzania border), then on to Arusha and the park gate. Our Kigali car rental service provides a Land Cruiser V8 with a driver who knows both the Rwanda–Tanzania border procedures and every Serengeti track. We pair this with Ngorongoro Crater for the classic Northern Tanzania circuit, covered by one Kigali car rental booking with Tanzania cross-border permit.

Trip Facts

Distance from Kigali~1,400 km
Travel time2 days driving
Entry pointArusha / Naabi Gate
Best carLand Cruiser V8
Cross-border permitIncluded
Park fee (TANAPA)$80/person/day
Best MigrationJul–Oct (crossings)

Book Your Kigali Car Rental

Vehicle from$130/day
Driver includedYes
InsuranceComprehensive
WhatsApp to Book

Kigali Car Rental to Serengeti — FAQ

The drive from Kigali to Serengeti takes approximately two days. The most common route goes via Rusomo border into Tanzania, then south through Mwanza and east towards the Serengeti's western entry at Ndabaka Gate. Alternatively, you can fly Kigali–Arusha and we meet you at JRO airport with a Land Cruiser for the Ngorongoro–Serengeti circuit. Our Kigali car rental team advises the best route based on your budget and time.
The Great Migration is year-round in the Serengeti — over 1.5 million wildebeest follow a circular route. The dramatic Mara River crossings happen July–October in the northern Serengeti near the Kenya border. The calving season (when 400,000 calves are born in weeks) is January–March in the south. The migration never stops — only the location changes. Our Kigali car rental drivers know which sector to target based on your arrival date.
A Toyota Land Cruiser V8 or Land Cruiser 78/79 Series is ideal for Serengeti. The park tracks range from smooth murram to deeply corrugated dirt — a high-clearance 4x4 is essential, especially in the wet season. Our Kigali car rental Land Cruisers have roof pop-tops for game viewing and come with Tanzania cross-border permits. Self-drive is permitted in the Serengeti but we strongly recommend a professional driver who knows migration locations.
Most nationalities require a Tanzania tourist visa. Citizens of East African Community countries (Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya, Burundi, South Sudan, DRC, Somalia) do not. For non-EAC visitors, Tanzania offers an e-Visa which can be applied for online before your trip. Our Kigali car rental team advises on border requirements for your specific nationality and arranges the vehicle's cross-border import permit so the car can legally enter Tanzania.
Yes — this is the classic Tanzania northern circuit. Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater are approximately 3 hours apart and almost all Tanzania safaris combine both. Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority (NCAA) requires a different entry permit from Serengeti TANAPA fees, but both can be arranged through our Kigali car rental team. A typical circuit is 4–6 days: Arusha → Ngorongoro → Serengeti → Ngorongoro → Arusha, covered by one rental booking.

Book Kigali Car Rental to Serengeti

Tanzania cross-border permit, Land Cruiser V8, professional driver — we handle everything from Kigali to the Serengeti plains. WhatsApp for an instant quote and available dates.

Office — Kigali Car RentalKG 624 St, Kigali, Rwanda
Call / WhatsApp+250 788 362 035
HoursOpen daily, 6AM – 10PM