Nairobi to Cape Town: How One of Our Customers Took a Land Cruiser Across Africa
- BLACK LEOPARD 4X4 HIRE
- May 23
- 4 min read
Updated: Jun 12
Thinking about driving across Africa? Here’s how one Black Leopard client made it happen, and how you can too.
When most people think of travelling from Kenya to South Africa, they picture flights and tour buses. But one of our recent clients had a different idea: drive it all. Over the course of five unforgettable weeks, they took one of our fully equipped Toyota Land Cruiser 76 Series vehicles from Nairobi all the way to Cape Town, self-sufficient and on their own terms.
This wasn’t a package tour. It was pure adventure, the kind that only comes when you’re in full control of the journey.
The Vehicle: Land Cruiser 76 Series (Fully Equipped)
Our client chose the LC76 and for good reason. It’s one of the most trusted expedition vehicles on the continent.
Their setup included:
Rooftop tent & full bedding
Dual battery system & 40L fridge
Camping table, chairs, utensils & gas stove
Recovery gear, tools, spare wheels
Auxiliary fuel and water storage
Comprehensive cross-border paperwork (Carnet de Passage, COMESA insurance)
At no point did the vehicle miss a beat, no breakdowns, no issues, just smooth (and occasionally bumpy) sailing.
The Route: East Africa to South Africa, One Border at a Time
The journey from Nairobi to Cape Town isn’t just long, it’s one of the most diverse and rewarding road trips on Earth. Across thousands of kilometres, the scenery, wildlife, culture and road conditions change dramatically. Here's a look at the route our customer took and why it's a dream trip for any self-drive explorer.
🇰🇪 Kenya – The Adventure Begins
The journey started in Nairobi, where we completed a detailed vehicle handover, camping gear check and border document briefing.
Highlight: Quick detour to Amboseli National Park for an early taste of wildlife with Mount Kilimanjaro in the backdrop.
🇹🇿 Tanzania – Mountains, Lakes & Open Roads
Crossing into Tanzania, the road continued through the Southern Highlands, a region of misty mountains, tea farms and friendly small towns.
Highlights:
Overnight at Lake Chala, a volcanic crater lake on the Kenyan-Tanzanian border
Stop in Iringa, a highland town surrounded by stunning landscapes
Drive past Ruaha National Park – Tanzania’s largest and one of its wildest
🇿🇲🇿🇼 Zambia & Zimbabwe – Waterfalls and Wilderness
After crossing into Zambia via Tunduma or Nakonde, the route opened up into big skies and quiet roads. Travellers have the option to continue on through Zambia, or cross into Zimbabwe to experience even more of Southern Africa’s wild beauty.
Highlights:
South Luangwa National Park – one of Africa’s top wildlife destinations (and ideal for self-drivers)
Stopover in Lusaka – a convenient point for resupply and rest
Victoria Falls – a true halfway milestone and bucket list destination, with the option to cross the bridge into Zimbabwe for iconic viewpoints and national parks like Hwange and Matobo Hills
🇧🇼 Botswana – Open Spaces and Desert Vibes
Botswana is a favourite for overlanders thanks to its friendly people, wildlife and well-managed wild areas.
Highlights:
Makgadikgadi Salt Pans, surreal open spaces perfect for wild camping
Pass through Nata and onward to Maun (gateway to the Okavango Delta)
Wildlife sightings on the Trans-Kalahari Highway
🇳🇦 Namibia – The Dreamscape
Few countries are better suited for self-drive travel than Namibia. From desert dunes to rugged mountains, the scenery is unreal.
Highlights:
Drive through Etosha National Park for game viewing
Explore Spitzkoppe and its granite peaks
Camp under stars in the Namib Desert near Sossusvlei
Enjoy a final breather in the German-influenced town of Swakopmund
🇿🇦 South Africa – The Final Stretch
The journey ended with a victory lap through South Africa’s Western Cape.
Highlights:
Cederberg Mountains, ancient rock art and dramatic trails
Wine tasting in Stellenbosch or Franschhoek
Rolling into Cape Town, with Table Mountain rising ahead
Cross-Border Ready: No Paperwork Headaches
The beauty of hiring through Black Leopard is that we handle the boring but crucial stuff:
Border documents prepared in advance
Vehicle insurance valid across all countries visited
Support on hand for questions mid-trip
This isn’t a vehicle pulled from a city rental lot. This is a fully adventure-prepared 4x4, ready to cross borders with zero drama.
Want to Do the Return Trip?
Here’s the exciting part: that very same Land Cruiser is now sitting in Cape Town, serviced and ready and needs to be driven back to Nairobi.
If you’ve been thinking about an African overland journey, this is a rare one-way hire opportunity. The route is flexible, the vehicle is ready and the adventure is yours to shape.
Make Africa Your Road Trip
At Black Leopard 4x4 Hire, we help travellers take real, self-driven adventures across Africa. Whether you’re going from Nairobi to Cape Town, Victoria Falls, or back again, we’ll get you on the road with:
The right vehicle
The right gear
The right documents
And support when you need it
Comments