A 4x4 Land Cruiser with a pop up roof is the right vehicle for the Mara in any season and essential in the wet. A well maintained safari van is comfortable, cheaper and fine on good roads in the dry.
Guests spend more waking hours in the vehicle than anywhere else on safari. It deserves more thought than it usually gets.
Land Cruiser or van
The 4x4 Land Cruiser has the clearance, the traction and the strength for wet season tracks, black cotton soil and long days off tarmac. The safari van is lighter, more economical and genuinely comfortable on good roads in the dry months.
Our rule is simple: Land Cruiser for the Mara, for green season travel, and for photographers. Van for dry season circuits on solid roads where budget matters.
What to check before you book
Ask how many guests are seated in the vehicle rather than how many it holds. Six people in a seven seat vehicle means everyone has a window. Ask about charging points, a fridge or cool box, beanbag or bracket support for long lenses, and whether the roof opens fully or partially.
- Guaranteed window seat for every guest
- Pop up roof that opens fully for photography
- Charging points and a cool box
- Radio contact with other guides for sightings
- A KPSGA certified guide, not just a driver
Private vehicle, private guide, your own pace
Conservancy camps, off road access, night drives and an itinerary that bends to the sighting rather than the schedule.
The guide matters more than the badge
A certified guide who reads tracks, knows individual prides and understands light will transform an average day. A perfect vehicle with an indifferent driver will not. When you compare quotes, compare the guide as carefully as the vehicle.
Frequently asked
- Is a Land Cruiser worth the extra cost over a van?
- In the wet season and in the Mara, yes. On dry season tarmac circuits a good van is perfectly adequate.
- Do all your vehicles have window seats for everyone?
- Yes. We seat vehicles below capacity so every guest has their own window and space for camera gear.
Private vehicle, private guide, your own pace
Conservancy camps, off road access, night drives and an itinerary that bends to the sighting rather than the schedule.
