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We will be driving to Kruger April 19, returning to the airport April 28. Three of us: me, my husband, and an adult son. I am having a hard time deciding about a rental car. If we choose manual transmission, there are more choices. My husband is comfortable with manual, I last drove a manual transmission car about 8 years ago, and our son has never driven anything but automatic. I think I've found an affordable toyota avanza, but it is manual; in automatic I am looking at a Chevy Aveo, Nissan Tiida, Toyota Avensis, or Chevrolet Cruz (all these are "or similar"). Should I play it safe and stick with automatic or can we all get comfortable with manual pretty quickly? I think our son would be a fast learner. But if we run into elephants on the road and have to react quickly, maybe that would be a mistake.

Thanks for any advice!

Barbara Hubbard

Hi Barbara

Welcome to the forums

Well honestly from my point of view if I were you Id stick to an automatic vehicle for the following reasons
1. 2 out of 3 are more comfortable with an automatic vehicle and yes it could be easy to learn but as you said what about an ellie sighting if he does get agro do you really want to be struggling with gears your barely comfortable with at a time like that?
2. Automatic is way more comfortable to drive in the park less gear up and down every 5 seconds than with a manual

well those are my opinions the choice still lies in your hands but that's what I would do

Hi Barbara!

The first time I went to KNP we got a manual transmission and it wasn't a very difficult transition. I've had manual transmissions in my cars in the past, but it's been awhile. It took more time for me to remember to drive on the left. We stayed mostly in the park and only left a few times, so me shifting into 5th when I was trying for 3rd wasn't a big issue.

The next trip we rented an automatic and we spent more time outside of the park. Personally, I preferred having an automatic when I was driving the busy (and sometimes chaotic) roads outside of KNP, and I liked driving along in the park without a care in the world...including what to do when we had to reverse quickly from angry ellies. We rented an automatic Kia Sportage and it was a very nice ride.

I know that many people will tell visitors to save money and get the cheapest car they can, but I'm of the opposite opinion. I spend nearly every waking moment in the car, out in the park, and I want to be comfortable and have enough room for my family, our "stuff", and my cameras at the ready.

It's worth the investment to get the vehicle that will make you most comfortable.

Thank you for the responses! Part of my problem is that I know so little about different makes of cars - I have used very few. So I have little to go by when looking for car rentals - and some companies don't even give sample models but just say "economy" or "intermediate" or whatever.

Aside from the manual/auto decision. Your other consideration is really purely space and comfort. All the normal stuff you look for when you buy a car like fuel consumption etc is not really relevant as you only want it for a short time and for a specific purpose.

With three adults space is really important. Not just luggage but you will have groceries, snacks, drinks, books/maps, cameras etc etc. I like to get a car which has room and lots of storage nooks and crannies to put odd things in!
The other thing is the model and how the windows are designed. The more visual you have the better.
I suggest you Google some of the models that the hire car companies are offering so you have an idea what they look like and the features they have. As you have noticed, you can't be guaranteed a specific model but usually those in a 'Group' have similar features. The cars you are looking at are all fairly standard size sedans. We hired a similar size one last year and for just the two of us we had it fairly full of 'stuff'!
The Avanza would be much roomier but the trade off is the manual gearbox! I would do some more enquiries with the hire car companies as to what other models in auto are available.

This is so complicated! I found a Toyota Avanza with automatic transmission with Europcar; it's more expensive than we originally planned to spend, but affordable. But now I am worried because although their web site says that international drivers licenses are required only when the customer's driver's license is in an unfamiliar language or alphabet, when I clicked on special conditions for South Africa, it said that international licenses are required. We don't have them and I don't think we can get them here in France.

I've written to Europcar; I hope they answer soon.

Barbara

My daughter has just been in SA over christmas and she has a belgium drivers licence.. her SA one expired a while ago and she had no troubole hiring a car from a well known car hire firm . I think the problem lies in when you have a licence in a language like chinese , japanese , greek etc I will ask my SIL who is french what the case in there .. Probabaly only get him on line tomorrow though .

Have done tonnes of trips to South Africa and other southern african countries and have never been asked for an international license as ours is in English (this also included Europcar). Don't worry, I am sure you will be fine and the auto Toyota Avanza will be perfect!

I always get an international drivers license, and I did produce it once when a Limpopo police office pulled us out of queue and asked for my paperwork. I also handed him my Arizona drivers license at the same time, so I can't say if one would have been fine.

I understand that one isn't needed, but I prefer to have one for the peace of mind.

Hi,

I really don't think you'll have a problem with your driving licences at all. I believe the European licences are all very much the same i.e. it looks like the UK one and vice-versa. I have no problems with my licence in SA.

Regarding the car I would beware as the car may be quoted as a Toyota Avanza but usually they quote them as "Toyota Avanza or similar" so you might get a Nissan Tilda anyway. I have only once had the car that was quoted. They are almost always "similar".

Have a great time.

Alasdair

Thanks for all the reassurance about the international driver's license. I hope we get the Toyota Avanza, but I understand we may not....

Barbara

Barbara,
I have used Europecar in SA a few times and have never had a problem with my UK license.
In fact I have gotten excess waiver and unlmited mileage because I am on a foreign drivers licence (this was through an agent, not direct, pm me if you want the details).

I agree with Arks above.
You are going to be spending a lot of time in the car. So rather pay a bit more and get something you are happy with.
The auto Avanza sounds like a good bet.

Just a word of advice.

At a sighting put an auto in 'park' or 'neutral'.

DONT just put your foot on the brake.

The guy behind us did just that in November and while swivelling in his seat to view a bird, his foot somehow got on to the accellerator and he rammed our trailer into the back of the van, causing a lot of damage, strife and inconvenience all around.

Luckily we were on the outskirts of a town, but in the middle of Kruger????????

I just spoke to Daughter and she said all they wanted was a current drivers licence and your passport .. and so I would just arrive .

Thanks for the advice!

Barbara