Update from ‘Chimneys for Africa’
Chimneys for Africa is preparing for its 2026 expedition to Kenya and Tanzania.
Because vehicle hire or purchase in Africa was too expensive, the team shipped their 1988 Land Rover 110 from Australia. Despite disruption and rising shipping costs linked to tensions around the Strait of Hormuz, a contact found them a container for AU$10,350 including clearing fees, substantially below other quotes.
The Land Rover has now been shipped, though delays are expected. Its last AirTag signal was from Singapore. The team has completed the paperwork needed to drive it across borders without repeatedly importing it.
Meanwhile, they have been building partnerships in the UK and East Africa, including with the Worshipful Company of Engineers, tech4all, the Centre for Global Equality and a Kenyan university contact in Voi who can connect them with municipal and community-health teams.
They now expect to arrive in Africa in early August, with the vehicle available around mid-to-late August. Their first task will be to revisit chimney installations from last year in Kenya and Tanzania, see how they are being used, note any modifications and fix problems.
Australian engineers will then join them in September for more detailed testing in Tanzania, working with Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences. After that, the team plans to expand into new communities using a social-franchise model, teaching local people to build and install chimneys themselves.
For the full update see https://chimneysforafrica.com/so/c7PzlcgN1