Border Crossing with a Rental Vehicle Rwanda/Tanz/Uganda/Kenya

Hi, Hola, Bonjour, Salam : )

We are flying into Nairobi and renting a car to drive into Tanzania and onward through Kilimanjaro area, Serengeti, possibly into Rwanda, and onto Uganda around Lake Victoria, and back into Kenya.

Has anyone done this route via a tour, public transport, rental, etc ...

If so I have a few questions please ...

1) I did similar thing in South Africa into Lesotho & Swaziland land which are both land-locked within South Africa. The rental car agency at the time tagged us with a separate rediculous fee for each border crossing. The papers they gave us were never asked for at any of the border crossings in or out of Lesotho or Swaziland.

Rentals in Kenya seem the same. $100 flat fee plus $10/day extra insurance for going outside the borders, which adds up during the week or two depending on how long we rent for. Don't mean to sound cheap, but with the cost of Kili and Serengeti it adds up. Is there any paper work asked for at the borders that you know of and do you think they would ask if they realize it's a rental (asides from registration)??

2) Is there any fees (aside from the $50 visa fee) that anyone knows of for crossing at any border crossings?

3) If someone has done Serengeti, are the roads rough?? None of the rentals out of Arusha seem to rent out 2-WD, only 4-WD with a driver at rediculous prices of ~$180-230/day. We did Krueger last year in SA and trails were not bad at all with a 2-WD.

4) And last question, the roads in Kenya and Tanzania seem very doable ... any comments on road conditions and/or security in Rwanda and Uganda roads going through Kigali and Kampala?? We were thinking of entering in the south of Rwanda at Rusumu Falls and after Kigali departing north of Rwanda into Uganda and towards Kampala and Lake Victoria and back towards Kenya.

Any guidance or suggestions would be much appreciated,
Peace,
Nima

Main roads in Kigali are all pretty good, tarmacked. Worst part might be between Serengeti and the border at Rusumo Falls. Once you are in Rwanda, roads will be better. Road safety in Rwanda has also improved over the years.