Arrive & Drive 4×4 Rental

(In Collaboration with ZimParks)
  • Need help planning your itinerary & booking prime campsites?
  • Do you understand Zim’s complex & evolving financial situation?
  • What is your plan in the event of Zim’s periodic fuel & grocery shortages?

Choose a 4×4 supplier who lives in Zim & has your back in event of unforeseen circumstances. We love & understand Zim because we live here.

How It Works?

Arrive & Drive combines 4×4 Rental, Itinerary Planning, Accommodation Bookings and Catering/Logistical Support for a seem-less trip with achievable driving legs and your selected mix of prime campsites and chalet accommodation. Rangers will guide you on foot for bush walks .

Enjoy authentic Zimbabwe at less than one-quarter of the cost of private camps. We can also arrange 3rd party driver/chef. We have Fuel, Bookings & Catering solutions nationwide. Land Cruiser 76/78 (4PAX), Custom Pop-roof Land Cruiser + Bush Trailer (8PAX) options available.

How do I get there?

It’s best to fly into Harare or Vic Falls and drive from there. Self-driving from South Africa, Zambia or Botswana is dangerous because the roads from these  congested border posts are very narrow with heavy traffic, being the main transport arterial for mining equipment to Zambia/DRC.

There are steep road-edge drop-offs and no emergency lanes. The road surface is particularly bad for the last stretches within 200km of Harare where there are undulations on the surface which can be very dangerous at speed. Unfortunately it is very difficult to time your journey so as to not travel this section at night. Night driving is not advised due to animals and un-roadworthy vehicles.

Zimbabwe Seasons:

Fuel, Currency, Catering & Gear Rental

Fuel Solutions

Zimbabwe periodically experiences fuel shortages with queues up to 3km long. We have solutions nationwide for our clients. Contact us re: your fuel requirements. We have first-hand knowledge of the fuel situation and have queue-free solutions nationwide including strategic fuel caches, jerry cans, fuel coupons & prepaid cards.

Currency

Prices in Zimbabwe are nominally quoted in Zimbabwe Dollars, however, cash is not available from ATMs and banks. The Zim currency situation can be confusing and things change rapidly. Our solutions include pre-payment prior to arrival and mobile wallet services. Speak to us, we live here and will keep you updated regards the latest currency situation.

Catering Solutions

We pre-purchase your food and drinks for you in Harare, pack them appropriately, ready for you to load and go, saving you time and ensuring availability :

Food – Select items you want from our tried & tested Shopping List and we will have them ready for you in Harare when you arrive. We charge a basic service fee of 15% of the value of goods purchased.

Drinks – We source and pack drinks for you in Harare, ready to go. Choose from a variety of local beers, cool drinks and spirits. Canned drinks are preferable as they are lighter and easier to compact and carry out. They are also less likely to break in transit. A service charge 15% is levied for this service.

Camping Kit Solutions

We have all the kit in Harare, see our Equipment Rental List. Should you wish to hire additional: tents, cooler-boxes, freezers, gas bottles, camp beds, chairs, tables, etc in Harare.

Get In Touch

Campsites

All Zimparks sites are un-fenced and inside the park. Wild animals move freely through them. Chalets and exclusive sites book up over one year in advance for peak season. It’s best to book these with us as early as possible.

Standard Campsites

Each National Park has a main camp with well spaced campsites with braai-places usually under the shade of large trees. Sites are serviced by ablution blocks.

Exclusive Campsites

These are isolated sites exclusive to the party that has booked them. A maximum of 2 vehicles & 6PAX are allowed per campsite due to pit latrine limitations. These camps are very ecologically sensitive and it is important you observe the code of conduct.

Chalets

Self-catering chalets are situated at most National Parks. These are basic but generally clean & comfortable with hot and cold running water, flush toilets, gas fridges and stoves.

Harare Accommodation

We host you at Sunbird Guest House (rated #3 on TripAdvisor) in Harare at discounted rates. Totally off-grid with solar power & borehole water and Superfast fibre Wi-Fi.

Our experienced team will help iron out any hiccups and make available any forgotten equipment you might need.

Tailor-make your Itinerary

Build your own personalized Zim National Parks itinerary and we will revert with availability and advise on feasibility.

Build Your Itinerary

Zimparks - Code of Conduct

The easiest way to help conserve our National Parks is to abide by the code of conduct developed by Zimparks to help preserve this place and limit human’s impact upon the environment and each other.

Please read this carefully prior to your trip and ensure all members of your group are familiar with the regulations and guidelines. The overriding principal is RESPECT, for the wild and other visitors. Consider what impact your actions will have on the environment, the wildlife and other visitors.

Code of conduct for Mana Pools National Park

  • DO NOT FEED ANY ANIMALS OR LEAVE ANY FOOD IN YOUR CAMP (LOCK IT IN THE CAR)  – Animals habituated to associating food with humans become problem animals and end up having to be shot. Remember, you are not doing them a favor by feeding them, you are signing their death warrant. If Zimparks catch you feeding any animals at Mana, YOU WILL BE BANNED FOR LIFE.
  • NO FRESH FRUIT/CITRUS/VEGGIES – BRING CANS – problem elephants smell fresh fruit a mile off and end up raiding camps, these too have to be put down, it will be your fault!
  • NO DRIVING OFF ROAD vehicle tracks can last for years and compacted surfaces damage the ecology
  • NO DRIVING AFTER DARK
  • BURN ALL TOILET PAPER – do not just bury it as animals will dig it up.
  • CARRY OUT all trash
  • BURY ALL ASH leave the campsite as you would like to find it. Most Mana campsites have braai places it is unlawful to light fires away from these points.
  • CAMPSITES use only the official campsites. Camping elsewhere is illegal and will incur a fine and possible banning from the park.
  • WALKING – Our guests can hire an armed Zimparks Ranger. Please be careful not to disturb animals or unduly spoil the wilderness experience of others

Chitake Springs - Special Code of Conduct

Please remember the following basic Zimparks regulations for Chitake Springs. We urge you to do your best to follow them, this is a sensitive area, lets protect it.

  • DO NOT BATHE IN THE SPRING or add any detergents to the water, it is the lifeblood of animals and should not be tainted by private ablutions.
  • SPRING FLOW do not alter the natural flow of the spring by creating baths/pools etc.
  • DO NOT DRIVE OFF-ROAD and it is STRICTLY FORBIDDEN to drive in the river bed!
  • CAMPSITES use only the official campsites. Camping elsewhere is illegal and will incur a fine and possible banning from the park.
  • NUMBER OF PEOPLE Do not exceed the maximum of 12 campers allowed by Zimparks.
  • NO CAMPING UNDER THE FIG TREE above the source of the spring
  • CARRY OUT all trash.
  • BURY ALL ASH leave the campsite as you would like to find it
  • BURN ALL TOILET PAPER do not just bury it as animals will dig it up
  • RESPECT the right of game to drink peacefully. Be discreet. RESPECT other peoples’ right to enjoy Chitake without undue disturbance

4×4 Layout Options

Download PDF 4×4 Rental Options

Standard 4×4 Specs

Self Drive Code Of Conduct

Keep Zim “Mushe”, be a good oke!

Download Campsite Booking Form

Zimparks Bookings

Sample Arrive & Drive Itineraries

6-Days Mana Pools – Arrive & Drive – Self Drive

The best of Mana Pools and Chitake wildness without the high prices.  This is our most popular Arrive & Drive trip.

$850 per person (4PAX)
$1100 per person (3PAX)
$1600 per person (2PAX)

Includes: 4×4 Rental & Campsite Fees.
Excludes: Fuel, Food & Activities

Can be customized to your requirements. Book Your Trip…

9-Day Mana Pools, Kariba Ferry, Hwange & Vic Falls in Pop-Roof Game Viewer

Customized 8-seater Land Cruiser with pop-roof for game viewing plus bush trailer. Driver and camp cook contract directly with you and vehicle is rented  under our Arrive & Drive program.

$1,500 per person (6PAX)
$1.800 per person (5PAX)
$2,200 per person (4PAX)

Includes: 4×4 Rental, Fuel, Campsite, Ferry, Driver & Cook Fees + Meals as indicated
Excludes: Activities, certain Meals as specified

Itinerary can be customized to your requirements. Book Your Trip…

10-Day Gonarezhou, Eastern Highlands & Great Zimbabwe in Pop-Roof Game Viewer

Customized 8-seater Land Cruiser with pop-roof for game viewing plus bush trailer. Driver and camp cook contract directly with you and vehicle is rented  under our Arrive & Drive program.

$1,641 per person (6PAX)
$1.970 per person (5PAX)
$2,600 per person (4PAX)

Includes: 4×4 Rental, Fuel, Campsite, Chalet, Driver & Cook Fees + Meals as indicated
Excludes: Activities, certain Meals as specified

Itinerary can be customized to your requirements. Book Your Trip…

4×4 Hire (Unsupported)

Fully Equipped, Zim-Registered 4×4 Rental From USD 140/day (Season & term dependent). Land Cruiser 76 Wagon & 78 Troopy layouts available for unsupported hires. See our 4×4 Rental Options
Comprehensively Insured & Licensed with Zimbabwe Tourism Authority.

REMEMBER:

  • No Fresh Fruit allowed at Mana, Ellies can smell it a mile away and stop at nothing to get it.
  • Never feed the animals, they will become dangerous and will have to be shot.
  • Zimparks regulations stipulate that you are not allowed to drive off the road network.
  • South African Tour Guides: please note, Zimparks regulations state you may not guide paying clients in the park without being accompanied by a registered Zim pro guide. If Zimparks suspect you doing this, they will throw you and your guests out the park. Do not take a chance, they are monitoring this closely.

TAKE A DRIVER INSTEAD (and leave the tent!….) 

All itineraries are also available with a 3rd party professional driver who will transport you in  air conditioned luxury. Driver-led itineraries utilise Meru-tent and chalet accommodation along the route instead of camping.  We have a great selection of experienced Zim drivers with  extensive bush knowledge to recommend. Please contact us for details.