Going out to see my son who lives near Mount Kenya, decided to hire a car as its about 200 miles form Nairobi and using a local firm (ie not Avis or Hertz) have been offered a Toyota Fortuner or a Toyota Surf. The Fortuner looks a bit like a FL2 sized 4x4 , but never see a "Surf". Should be interesting. Interestingly no LR products available. 3 x FL1 2 manual + 1 auto
5 x FL2 4 manual + 1 auto
Now Discovery Sport P250 MHEV SE

The Fortuner is a wagon version of a Hilux, a bit bigger than an FL2. The Surf used to be based on a Hilux too but is closer to an FJ Cruiser/Prado now.

Toyota Fortuner looks like quite a vehicle not as refined as FL2 but has hi/low range and feels pretty solid. It’s about the size of a disco and like a small land cruiser so a bit bigger than FL2. Heading out of Nairobi today and diesel is about 80p litre.







Incidentally the company told me that it’s a new vehicle “but it’s got 46k km on the clock”. “Yes sir it’s a very new vehicle” such is Africa. 3 x FL1 2 manual + 1 auto
5 x FL2 4 manual + 1 auto
Now Discovery Sport P250 MHEV SE

Dorset, say “jambo!” to Nanyuki for me as you pass!

I used to use Chequered Flag at Westlands for my Land Rover servicing and always found them very good. I see they are still in business and now promoting their car hire business. I hired from them a couple of times on later visits back. Not sure if that is the company you are using, but, if not, perhaps check them out for the future.

Safari salama! 2005 D3 2.7 Auto
Previously:
2010 MY FL2 TD4e GS - Now gone at 199,500 miles, about 135,000 of them mine.
‘93 Defender 110 200TDi CSW
‘87 Defender 90 4 cyl Petrol
‘83 110 CSW V8 - best ever!
Range Rover 2-door V8 (not sure of year - 4-speed box and vacuum diff switch)
Series III SWB Diesel

My son lives in Timau just outside Nanyuki so I will look out for them. This car came from an outfit In Nairobi recommended by family. I tried booking through rental car sites but not only was it about 50% dearer but they won’t let you rent if you are over 65 😳
The disco in the pictures above belongs to a relative but there are very few LandRover’s about. Toyota seems to have everywhere. 3 x FL1 2 manual + 1 auto
5 x FL2 4 manual + 1 auto
Now Discovery Sport P250 MHEV SE

Dorset, Chequered Flag are in Westlands, Nairobi and in my day was run by Robin Boyd-Moss, it may be the place that yours is hired from as he is well known and respected in the mzungu community.

I don’t know Timau that well, visited Borana a couple of times (on the livestock side) and also Ol Jogi. I tended to be further west, buying sheep from Kamogi, Mogwooni etc and up and down the Rumuruti/Baragoi/Loiyangalani axis. Had a daughter’s birthday at Il Ngwesi just after it opened which was good. My presence was not of sufficient note for anyone to remember me, but, for reference, I was the mzungu worms guy from Muguga in the 90’s. 2005 D3 2.7 Auto
Previously:
2010 MY FL2 TD4e GS - Now gone at 199,500 miles, about 135,000 of them mine.
‘93 Defender 110 200TDi CSW
‘87 Defender 90 4 cyl Petrol
‘83 110 CSW V8 - best ever!
Range Rover 2-door V8 (not sure of year - 4-speed box and vacuum diff switch)
Series III SWB Diesel

dorsetfreelander wrote:

Interestingly no LR products available.

Just got back from Kenya, (delayed flight due to Melania Trump visiting Nairobi and closing the airport !). I did over 1200 km in the Toyota Fortuner hire car around Mount Kenya and the Northern Rift Valley. It's based on the Hilux pickup and not bad to drive but feels a bit rough and unrefined compared with the FL2 and a bit of turbo lag but tough as old boots and although the FL2 would have covered the ground OK I am not sure that it would have stood it for long. At one point we were out with my Agronomist son looking at some farms and he said "follow me we will take a short cut". This turned out to be about 30 miles across country requiring lo-range at times due to the steepness of the tracks and the high altitude (nearly 9000 ft in places) making the engine a bit breathless. It makes the LandRover Experience a bit of a joke really.
Overall I did see a few Range Rovers and a couple of Freelanders but only in town in Nairobi. Out in the countryside it was invariably Toyota Hiluxes, Land Cruisers, Isuzu or Nissan and a few old Defenders. Just shows really that LR is basically a town car now. Nice to get back in the FL2 though at Heathrow for a relaxing drive home. 3 x FL1 2 manual + 1 auto
5 x FL2 4 manual + 1 auto
Now Discovery Sport P250 MHEV SE