Serena Car Hire - Why a driver.

Why a Driver?

Insurance companies in Africa are less accustomed to the idea of self-drive car hire than are those in the USA or Europe. Allowing for self-drive would put up the cost of car hire substantially.
The authorities here may not be prepared to accept your drivers license - don't ask us why, we don't make the rules.

You don't have to worry about parking. In particular, some places may not be safe to leave the vehicle, and we don't want you to get back to it and find that it has no wheels and no engine!
There's a shortage of jobs in much of Africa. Having a driver is one way you can do something to help, more or less for free.
Your driver will know how to deal with the police, who are likely to stop you almost anywhere for no apparent reason.
Your driver will know where things are, and the quickest way to get there.
Lots of the roads in Tanzania are dirt roads, and some are in quite bad condition. Your driver will know which to avoid and how to navigate the ones he needs to use.
Driving standards in Africa vary widely. Your driver will have an understanding of which vehicle types are to be regarded as dangerous, and how to deal with them.

'I'm not the kind of person who employs servants' - please note the shortage of jobs here, and be a philanthropist.
You driver will be an invasion of your privacy. This is not a practical issue. Although he will know enough English to get you where you want to go, and come for you when needed, he's not likely to be able to follow a foreign language conversation at normal pace while driving.
It's bound to cost me more than driving myself. Not so, for reasons mentioned above, and because if you go to another car hire company they'll want you to have a driver too.