Toyota Hilux pick up trucks

In the vast Virunga National Park, reliable transport is essential. With 8,000 square kilometers to cover, vehicles are an absolute necessity.

Although Hilux pick up trucks are abundant in Africa, they are often in bad repair and too expensive for the Virunga National Park team to purchase. It is still cheaper to acquire and export them from the UK.

The two trucks below were shipped over by G4G in August 2008, but there are plans to send another two trucks, like these, as soon as funds allow.

Transport is a top priority for the rangers and G4G.

Toyota Hilux pick up trucks for Gorilla rangers in Africa
G4G buys or accepts donations of 2nd hand Toyota Hilux Mark II or III pick up trucks.
These two were 'D' and 'F' reg vehicles.
  • G4G ensures they are in very good working order, although an MOT certificate is not 100% necessary, as they are being exported to Africa
  • They are sprayed in the cream livery, as per the specification from Virunga National Park
  • The relevant logos are applied to the vehicles
  • A basic set of spares accompany each vehicle, such as air, fuel and oil filters, a jack, wheel brace, spare fuses, wiper blades, light bulbs and so on…
  • They are then shipped to Mombasa, Kenya, two vehicles fitting nicely into one container. The backs are also packed with other equipment for the rangers
  • Once docked, two drivers take the vehicles across Kenya and Uganda to the DR Congo border, where they are handed over to Virunga National Park staff, to begin their work

Can you help?

The Toyota Hilux pick up is the rangers' choice, as spares and maintenance tasks are easier, if all their vehicles are the same make / model.

Trucks or parts donations will always be very welcome, as would first refusal on well maintained trucks - please just contact G4G.

Tanya and Adrian from Cornwall wanted to help the rangers and transformed the red Hilux pick up into one of the vehicles now being driven around Virunga National Park. They undertook a lot of fund raising too, to get the job done - but what a result! Well done guys!

Donated Toyota Hilux pick up truck, before picture.
and after, just waiting for logos
Before
and after, just waiting for logos

If you'd like to help get two more trucks out to Virunga, every donation really does help!

Stephen and Mutuku, the two drivers part way through their long trek across Africa, October 2008.
Stephen and Mutuku, the two drivers part way through their long trek across Africa, October 2008.

Transportation

Trucks in transit.
Exporting these trucks to Virunga is probably the most crucial, yet most expensive target G4G sets itself.

The transportation costs are approximately £7,000 from Dorset, UK to the DR Congo border.

This covers transport to the docks, usually Felixstowe, loading and securing the container, shipment, UK and Kenyan official paperwork and short term storage in Mombasa awaiting collection by the drivers. It also covers fuel and border crossings on the way to DR Congo.

There is room on the trucks for additional logos and good publicity can certainly be generated, should any business feel they could assist with these transportation costs.