Car stuck in the muddy festivities? Here are 5 tips on how to get out
By Cynthia Lodite, December 9, 2025Rain and bad weather can turn dirt roads, fields and temporary car parks into a nightmare for vehicles. If you’re driving on them, you can end up quite literally stuck in the mud.
Many big events like festivals, fairs and exhibitions rely on turning open fields into temporary car parks.
Also, festive season road trips can quickly turn stressful when your car gets stuck in thick mud, especially in Kenya’s rural or rainy areas. Whether you’re heading upcountry or exploring scenic routes, muddy roads are a common holiday hurdle.
But don’t panic. With a few smart tricks and the right mindset, you can safely free your vehicle and get back on track.
5 tips
Firstly, give your tyres some room to manoeuvre by moving your steering wheel back and forth. At the same time, you can also dig around your tyres a bit if you have a spade or a suitable tool with you.
Secondly, try not to spin the wheels, then pull away in second gear for lower revs and better traction.
Just while trying to pull away, try to keep moving to maintain momentum once you’ve got going, especially if you’re on a slope.
Meanwhile, ensure that you drive slowly at first to shed the excess mud from your tyres, before safely driving back at a normal speed.
On the other hand, stay out of tramlines created by other vehicles if you can.
What not do
Do not accelerate too hard as this could result in you making the situation worse by spinning the wheels and digging yourself deeper into the mud. This makes it even harder to get free.
In addition, stop the car once you’ve managed to get it moving make sure there’s enough space ahead of you for you to keep moving and get to a solid surface. Stopping the car runs the risk of getting stuck in the mud again.
On the other hand, do not lose your cool. Well, yes, it’s really frustrating to be stuck when you want to leave, or perhaps you’ve got somewhere important to be, but keeping a calm head will help you assess the situation and get yourself freed quicker.