[Rich998a]

One concern will be with the poor fuel standards. It is often contaminated with water and/or kerosene, combined with the usual high sulphur content. A 3.5 V8 Classic would be fine, but a sensitive engine management system and a complicated fuel system will cause problems.

And a second point - if you need a part (and here you may be 100's of km away from a dealer) then double the cost of a UK item - Then add between 50 and 100% for local duty. Then factor in availability (which is presently a BIG issue worldwide anyway with Land Rover at the moment) and you may find you spend much of your safari on the side of the Trans African highway fighting off Somali's or other regional shifta. Saying that though, if you do break down and need a safe place to bed down for a while, get towed to a Mosque. For a small contibution, they'll look after you well and no-one will bother you either.

Personally, I'm happy roughing it out in the bush and travelling around using local transport when I have to. It just doesn't appeal to everyone who thinks the western way of life is the only way of life.

 

[Rich998a]

http://www.cmcmotors.com/contacts.php?subcat=8

I thought CMC also operated further south i.e. Zambia/Malawi etc... but clearly not. Nairobbery may be your best bet for complicated repairs. Ask for 'Shumacher' if you get stuck - he is probably now the main 4x4 expert in East Africa, and uses Autologic. Failing that, ask for Ian Duncan. Although he is a Toyota specialist, he will know where to send you.

Spares can come from various Asian set-ups such as Impala Spares. They (typically) have their fingers in everything and are based in the Industrial Area close to CMC.

 

[Rich998a]

Frankly, the fuel quality in EA is [email protected] During either of the rain seasons you'll get water in the storage tanks in most garages. Kerosene gets added to 'water down' the fuel for profit making reasons.

TBH, don't bother poncing it out with an expensive roof tent. Just get an el cheapo one as chances are you'll appreciate not having a fly sheet over the top of the tent anyway. The 2 man dome tents are best and fold up into a space small enough to store safely inside the vehicle. Having stuff on the roof only makes the car more of a target so best minimise that? Besides, all that extra money you save with the tent you can book into one of the spectacular lodges in Samburu, Shabba or Tsavo. If you fancy talking about some (nice) places to stay up-country in Kenya, I can give you a list.

If I was you, I'd enter in the north (Moyale) and stop in Marsabit and then Samburu - That's probably one of the nicest parks in Kenya. All these parks and reserves have camp sites which are often empty. All you need to do is inform the KWS guys on the gate that you are there and they will probably supply an askari to keep you and the L322 safe. Then drive down towards Mount Kenya and you will pass this location once you hit the tarmac at Isiolo.

Drive up to the met station in the Mount Kenya National Park, camp for a while and then walk up Mount Kenya. Is takes about 1 day to reach the lower lodge. Then get up at 5am and climb to the top. You get to the 3rd highest summit at about 7ish and I promise you that it is the most spectacular sight you've ever seen. Nyeri is OK for a quick sight seeing and then go camp up at the fishing lodge on top of the Aberdares. You'll think you are in the Cairngorms. That's the park that the Rhino Charge sponsors, but is very quiet at the top as the tourist lodges are down below the bamboo line watching the elephants.

Call me or PM me if you want to discuss the rest as I don't know if you want to head up into Uganda or not, but I'd personally do Nairobi, Mombassa (Tiwi Beach - South coast), then Nairobi again, Nakuru, Bogoria & Baringo, Nakuru, Kitale/Elgon (Ebola virus so very quiet and tourist free :shhh: ) and a good test of the L322, Kakamega if there is any tropical rain forest left now. Lake Turkana is fantastic but pretty dangerous - there is a guy called Dave Rowden who runs a field study centre at Kapenguria on the road north of Kitale (for camping+food) and you can get as far as here before the GSU make you turn back, but if you have enough Tusker and/or packets of Sportsmen, you may well wangle an escort up to Lodwar and into the western side of Turkana. Again a test of the L322, but then you'll have seen plenty of sand earlier in the trip... :wink: I'd guess the film 'The constant Gardener' was filmed up there from what I have seen of it, but it is worth the trip as very few pale faces get to see it.

Next you need to think about either Uganda, or entering TZ... Uganda has Jinja for some white water action and also the Queen Elizabeth national park for the Gorillas and/or Guerillas, then Rwanda, Burundi as I think Long Way Down did it? TZ is pretty vast though so probably best to head towards Dar?

By the way, don't forget to ensure you have something for the malaria before you go. When you get into Africa, buy something to treat it like Cotexin, and plenty of that extra strong deet. Read up on treatments before you go and DO listen to what the locals say to do.