Lessons learned, usually the hard way
1. The best vehicle for an area is not the most reliable, but the one which locals use. In northern Kenya, that means a Landcruiser. Get whatever the locals drive--they know the roads and what is necessary. And if you break down, you'll be able to find cheap parts and mechanics who know that vehicle.
2. When driving in the bush, take a bicycle pump and a tire gauge. A pump is about 1/10 the cost of even a cheap air compressor, and it doesn't take long to add 10 lbs of pressure to a truck tire. Especially important if you are on rough roads or sand and want to deflate the tires slightly for added traction -- you have to re-inflate them somehow.
3. What to look for in a vehicle for northern Kenya:
-Diesel - easier to find; fuel with impurities cause fewer problems in diesel engines
-Tubeless tires
-A proper roof rack (for carrying jerry cans, second spare tire, etc)
-Undercarriage protection - many SUVs aren't meant for real off-tarmac usage. Look for differential covers, control arm and oil pan skids.
-Manual transmission - take an automatic with computerized ignition to a bush mechanic and prepare to be stranded
4. Know, in advance, all of the internet options available in town. Some restaurants have faster internet than others. Mobile carriers have data bundles that are often faster than any wifi in town (Safaricom's 150 mb bundle is faster than any cyber cafe in Marsabit County, circa 2015).
5. Set up a download manager. Firefox users can take advantage of this built-in extension. This is essential when downloading large files on an unstable connection. A download manager will allow you to resume the download on a new connection, after it drops, or after hibernating your machine.
6. Know the discounts available for buying in bulk. If you buy 500 20 shilling airtime scratchcards as response incentives, you can get them for 18 or 19 shillings each, reducing the cost of your survey.
7. Jerry cans usually start their life holding vegetable oil. If you are using them for petrol or diesel, never wash them with water; wash them with the liquid they are going to hold later (petrol if you have a petrol vehicle, diesel if you have a diesel vehicle). A liter is more than enough to clean one can. Remove as much oil as possible. Using half a liter of diesel, close the can and swish vigorously. Point the can away from you, open the lid (it will be under pressure), and pour it out. Repeat with another half-liter and you're done.
1. The best vehicle for an area is not the most reliable, but the one which locals use. In northern Kenya, that means a Landcruiser. Get whatever the locals drive--they know the roads and what is necessary. And if you break down, you'll be able to find cheap parts and mechanics who know that vehicle.
2. When driving in the bush, take a bicycle pump and a tire gauge. A pump is about 1/10 the cost of even a cheap air compressor, and it doesn't take long to add 10 lbs of pressure to a truck tire. Especially important if you are on rough roads or sand and want to deflate the tires slightly for added traction -- you have to re-inflate them somehow.
3. What to look for in a vehicle for northern Kenya:
-Diesel - easier to find; fuel with impurities cause fewer problems in diesel engines
-Tubeless tires
-A proper roof rack (for carrying jerry cans, second spare tire, etc)
-Undercarriage protection - many SUVs aren't meant for real off-tarmac usage. Look for differential covers, control arm and oil pan skids.
-Manual transmission - take an automatic with computerized ignition to a bush mechanic and prepare to be stranded
4. Know, in advance, all of the internet options available in town. Some restaurants have faster internet than others. Mobile carriers have data bundles that are often faster than any wifi in town (Safaricom's 150 mb bundle is faster than any cyber cafe in Marsabit County, circa 2015).
5. Set up a download manager. Firefox users can take advantage of this built-in extension. This is essential when downloading large files on an unstable connection. A download manager will allow you to resume the download on a new connection, after it drops, or after hibernating your machine.
6. Know the discounts available for buying in bulk. If you buy 500 20 shilling airtime scratchcards as response incentives, you can get them for 18 or 19 shillings each, reducing the cost of your survey.
7. Jerry cans usually start their life holding vegetable oil. If you are using them for petrol or diesel, never wash them with water; wash them with the liquid they are going to hold later (petrol if you have a petrol vehicle, diesel if you have a diesel vehicle). A liter is more than enough to clean one can. Remove as much oil as possible. Using half a liter of diesel, close the can and swish vigorously. Point the can away from you, open the lid (it will be under pressure), and pour it out. Repeat with another half-liter and you're done.
Use food as survey incentives. When things go bad, you can
always eat the incentives.
always eat the incentives.