Ground vs Rooftop Tents in Kenya – Which Is Best for Safari Camping?
Choosing how you’ll sleep on a Kenya camping safari is no small decision. If you’re planning a self-drive trip with car rental Kenya with camping gear, the choice often comes down to ground tent vs rooftop tent. Accommodation is one of the most crucial things that one looks forward to during Kenya holidays. Generally, camping Vs lodge safaris in Kenya are the top comparisons, followed by choosing camping tents which are a substitute to the lodges for many of the travelers who visit national parks like Samburu and Amboseli.
Nevertheless, there are two types of tents Car Rentals 4×4 offers for car hire for self drive camping safaris in Kenya and these include ground and rooftop tents. The rooftop tent is mounted on the upper deck of the 4×4 car rental in Kenya and the other being the ground tent that is usually set up on the ground floor. Lasly, in this draft, we are to see what to choose either a ground or rooftop tent for self drive safaris in Kenya.
Ground vs Rooftop Tents in Kenya (Quick Overview)
At a glance:
- Ground tents are cheaper, more spacious, and better for longer stays during camping Kenya safari tours
- Rooftop tent rentals in Kenya are safer, faster to set up, and more practical for moving safaris especially when tracking wildebeest movements in Masai Mara.
The right choice of either a rooftop or ground tent in addition to a 4×4 car rental with camping gear in Kenya depends on how you plan to travel, your budget, and your comfort level with camping in wildlife areas.
Available 4×4 cars for hire in Kenya with ground or rooftop tents
Below are the car rentals in Kenya to hire along the ground or rooftop tents when planning a self drive camping safari with options such as one way and crossborder services. So, book a car rental with rooftop tent in Kenya or ground tent with Car Rentals 4×4 company affordably and enjoy the best self driving safari in the country.
The car rentals below have prices attached and are independent of the tent costs per day. A ground tent costs $15 per day, while a rooftop tent oftenly coming with full camping gear at a package cost of $40 per day. However, it can also be rented separately when going for a camping safari in Kenya when you talk to our experts.
21 Seater Coaster for large groups from $150
Rent a Toyota Hilux from $150 per day
7 seater Hiace Van car hire in Nairobi from $80
Affordable Van rental in Kenya from $80
Nissan X-Trail budget rental in Kenya from $35 per day
Land Cruiser Extended for hire from $135
Luxury Land Cruiser for Kenya short term rent from $85
Pajero rental with rooftop tent in Kenya from $110
Cost Comparison: Ground Tent vs Rooftop Tent in Kenya
The ground tent rental price goes for about $15 per day in Kenya while the rooftop tent cost is $25 per day. So, this means renting a rooftop tent in Kenya for a self drive camping safari is more expensive than hiring a ground tent, since you save $10 per day. The high rental cost of a rooftop tent mounts to that since it requires more mechanical installations like clamping plates, and a folding ladder to enable one to climb up to the tent.
Also, it has internal frames, metal rods, rails for mounting and all these material used to set up the rooftop tent come at a cost. So, in the case where people use normal mattresses in the ground tents, a high density foam mattress is provided when using a rooftop tent during a self drive safari in Kenya.
Safety: Which Option Is Safer in Kenya?
A ground tent is less safer compared to the rooftop tent because it puts you on the same level as dangerous species like reptiles especially the black mamba that roam through the camping areas of Kenya parks like Maasai. For instance, if the ground tent gets damaged and gets a small hole, it becomes easier for snake seeking warmth in the night to invade one’s tent which is in contrast to the roof top tent.
For the rooftop tent, its hard for reptiles and larger animals like lions to climb to the upper part of the 4×4 rental be it a Land Cruiser or Hilux. Also, since the rooftop tent rental is laid at an elevated area, one is able to easily monitor their surroundings especially wildlife viewing in Kenya all around unlike the ground tent where you view from only one direction.
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Convenience: Rooftop Vs Ground Tents
The ground tent is more convenient for a safari in Kenya compared to the rooftop top tent most especially if one’s itinerary has more than 2 days in parks like Amboseli. This is because the ground tent offers enough space for movement within the tent. Hence, they are able to easily shift positions during sleep and it is also easier to change clothes unlike the rooftop tent where there are limited movements within the car.
Incase one is to go for their day’s safari experience with our car rentals in Kenya, they can leave the ground tent standing. Hence, marking their territory in case they have loved their camping space compared to the rooftop tent which would need to be folded again. This is because travelers cannot just leave it there; nevertheless, after a safari, one is usually tired. Hence, it is convenient for them to just rest in the arleady established ground tent than having to set up another one.
Popular Car Rental Options
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Travel Guides
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Durability in Kenya’s Conditions
Both the rooftop and ground tent are durable, however the ground tent is put on the floor, so it becomes less durable compared to the rooftop tent. In Kenya national parks like Lake Nakuru when it rains the soil becomes muddy and incase the ground tent is set up in soggy soil it could start decaying.
Also, the insects like red ants could start biting through the canvas of the ground tent. Hence, affecting its durability whereby the rooftop tent is set up at an elevated position away from the hazardous conditions of pests and flooding to hence it lasts longer .
Views & Safari Experiences in Kenya: Which is Better?
The rooftop tent offers more exceptional and exclusive views of one’s surroundings. Additionally, they also offer great photographing opportunities in parks like Amboseli. So, a traveler is able to have a clear views of the breathtaking back drop of Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania compared to of one has set up a ground tent. Here, they can easily get obstructed by other people’s tents in proximity or even the dense vegetation.
Hence, if one wants to enjoy the stunning views of the Mount Kilimanjaro they are required to move out of their tent compared to the person with a rooftop tent on a car rental in Kenya who stays within there comfort zone and they do not have to compete in sight viewing.
Setup Time of a Ground and Rooftop Tent in Kenya
The ground tent is more physically demanding because it requires putting different parts together. So, it takes up to 15 minutes depending on the size of the tent as it’s meant to be set up strategically on a flat ground. Alternatively, the rooftop tent that does not need assembling and one can set it up on less than 6 minutes in contrast to the ground tent here the setup ground is already there one.
Comfort & Space
The ground tent is more accommodative compared to the rooftop top tent for even larger groups. Hence, it is ideal for group and family safaris because people choose the size of the tent where they can fit. On the other hand, the rooftop tent size is dictated by the size of the vehicle’s rooftop and it hosts 4 people maximumly. So, they are uncomfortable because they get to be more squeezed since the space is hardly enough. During Kenya self drive vacations in parks like Amboseli, travelers usually carry camping gear and the ground tents have more accommodative space compared to the rooftop tents where part of the luggage is kept in the car.
When it comes to movements, the ground tent is very comfortable since it is spacious. Also, one can easily access other important areas like the bathroom and toilet since there’s no need of use of a ladder like the rooftop tents.However, when it comes to sleeping the rooftop tent offers a more cozy space for sleep because of the thick mattress that is used.