Auto Rental advice needed

[TXDrifter]

We will be flying into Nelspruit/Kruger airport and will need a rental car for three weeks. What rental companies do you recommend?

Thanks.

[gwendolen]

Hi TX,
There is quite a bit of advice about car rentals in the FAQ.
Please let us know if you have any more questions.

I let http://www.carhire.co.za/ handle my rental for August 2006. Same agent as mentioned in the FAQ.

[Bushmad]

Hi, its great that you'll be visiting!

Are you spending your entire time in SA in Kruger? It is beyond wonderful but there is so much else to see and do, especially since you will have come sucha long way.

Anyway, about the rental advice.

The most reputable companies all have offices at our airports including KMIA. Companies like, Avis, Imperial and Budget are all good and often have special rates. I suggest you take a look at their SA websites, perhaps someone could provide a link.

In terms of what kind of car to rent: Most have air conditioning but it is needed because it can get quite hot, however, you should drive around Kruger with the windows wide open, to take in the fresh air, sounds and smells of the bush that help you find game but are invigorating!!

A 4x4 is not needed as Krugers roads are very well maintained, however, the higher vantage point of cars like the Toyota Venture is better, it also has good luggage room and is ideal. However others should be fine (you will see people in everything from small two door cars to luxury German SUVs all of which do just fine in the Park and on national roads) Also, its worth paying a little extra for insurance, not that anything will happen but it is worth the peace of mind. You will also find that these companies give good deals on free daily kms.

Try to avoid a red car, purely because it is an eyesore among the quiet colours of the wilderness!

The others will give you plenty more advice..good luck!

[Catherine]

We've always used Avis and they have been fine. On one occasion when the car developed a fault they sorted it out pretty quickly (bearing in mind where we were!) and gave us a free tank of fuel.

It is important to consider the internal comfort of the car, particularly the seats. You will be sitting on them for some considerable time. On our last visit we hired a luxury Mercedes which was a mistake, the seats were much too hard.

Catherine

[simonb6]

One thing to bear in mind is that most cars in South Africa are not automatic. If you not used to changing gears, make sure you request an automatic. This might influence your choice of car.

Personally I prefer an automatic in the Kruger anyway - I find it much easier for edging forwards/backwards and crawling along slowly than a manual gearbox.

I had a problem with Hertz in SA - they rented me two consecutive cars with expired road tax. I didn't notice on the first one and was stopped and fined by the Police (although Hertz naturally paid the fine, and a letter of complaint got a huge refund). On my last trip I used Avis and their service was fine.

[Schoemanskloof]

Good morning everyone, thanks for the advice above.

I will be returning to Kruger for too-short of a trip in May, and am asking for advice on which car to rent. We will be renting at Joburg, and driving to the park. We travel reasonably lightly (we're coming from the US, though). In addition to which car, is there a company which is the obvious standout for rental prices of these two options?

On previous trips, we've rented Combis and enjoyed them (although the single back window not opening is annoying ...). On our last trip we rented a Mercedes Vito.

We will have at least 5, maybe 7, people, for 8 days, staying at Letaba, Mopani, Satara and Lower Sabie, for 2 nights each. We will be bringing in much food and wine from outside the park.

What are the thoughts and advice on how to select between the two options? We will consider the price differential later, but we are more concerned about space, height, window size, noise, etc.

I look forward to everyone's reply. Thanks in advance!
We are South Africans returning for our annual trip to the Kruger.

[arks]

I have heard that it is much cheaper for foreigners to wait and book car hire once they get here.

This has not been my experience, lam, and I wouldn't advise waiting and taking the risk. You can, on occassion, get a lower rate from using a local, rather than international, rental company, but they will insist that you take full insurance cover, which the internationals don't if you have your own insurance cover, as many Americans do, through either personal car insurance or from the CC you use (Diners Club, for example, provides primary insurance cover to its customers, which is the reason I carry it and always use it for car rentals).

[additionbuilder]

If doing a self-drive in KNP, is a small car ok (Toyota Tazz at r1100) or is 4x4 needed (Nissan X-trail at r2800).
Dave

[DebM]

A normal car is fine, unless you are planning to do one of the 4x4 trails.

[graemy]

Hi there

According to several "on line" definitions, 4WD and 4X4 are the same thing...

There is actually a very fine difference:
4X4 means four wheels powered by four wheels (cars for example -maximum 4 wheels)
(the first digit is the total number of wheels X the number actually powered)
4WD is not necessarily a 4X4 (could be a 4WD truck with 6 wheels (only four of the six wheels are powered) and so is 4WD but a 6X4.

A car (in this case a x-trail) is definitely both a 4WD and
a 4X4
Does that sound clear???

Graemy

[Jaco V]

I think what the rental company is trying to say is the following:

4wd in their deffinition means that the vehicle has drive going to all four wheels, but the gear ratios are standard like in the 4x2 (two wheel drive) X-Trail. Thus the vehicle will not be the best choice when it comes to serious off roading, but it has superior traction to it 4x2 stablemate.

Much like a Audi Quattro is 4wd, but who is going to try taking that in to the bundu?

4x4 would reffer to a 4wd drive vehicle that has a low range gearbox/transfercase fitted, i.e. ideal to use in the rough. These would be vehicles like the Land Rover Defender, Toyota Hilux 4x4, Nissan Hardbody 4x4 etc.

[gwendolen]

We rented a 2 berth campervan last year. Holidaying in a campervan is wonderful, but quite expensive in SA. A 2 berth is definitely not hard to drive. They do not have a toilet and shower on board. Renting a campervan from Kruger International won't be a problem and the car rentals mentioned in this thread do campervans too. You could also book directly at Maui or Britz.

[nunu]

No, if its says 4X4 then thats what it is. Otherwise it will be listed as an X-trail 2x4. BUT you probably should not take it on an adventure trail anyway because these sorts of SUVs are 'softroaders" in other words not for real 4x4 trails. If thats what you want to do then you should hire a landrover, landcruiser or a 4x4 bakkie (pick-up truck) like a toyota hilux.

[Simon UK]

I'm visiting Kruger for a second time in September as a group of five or six people. We need to hire a large car that's able to accommodate us comfortably for long days in the park as well as for travelling outside the park with a fair amount of luggage. I've seen the Mercedes Vito and VW kombi minivans which look ideal but i was wondering about how many of the windows actually open. Obviously on safari it would be ideal if everyone could have their own window which fully opens to allow good photo opportunities. My concern, especially for the Vito is that being a converted van and more like a minibus than a car, do they have fully opening windows in the rear.

I'm a bit paranoid that bringing three newbies on Safari could be spoilt by having them in the back stuck behind closed windows.

[bucky]

The vehicles have loads of space , with the vw being bigger , with a larger boot etc (I have a vw)
The windows do not open for the 3rd row of seats in either vehicle unfortunately .
Both vehicles are higher than the 4x4's and condors etc , so this is a big plus .

You have to weigh it up , either 2 people don't have windows or hire 2 smaller vehicles , and loose out on socialising as well as the enevitable when the first vehicle sees something cross the road and the other doesnt , or visa versa .

If you have 5 people , then the 5th person who goes on the 3rd row , has the advantage of being able to slide to either side of the vehicle for sightings .