I first saw the Flame Trees of Thika 40 years ago and had forgotten what a superb program it was. I just saw it again on Acorn TV and it is a real feast for the eyes. Made on location in Kenya with actors playing their own nationality, Scots playing Scots, Dutch playing South African Boers, and Kenyan actors and native tribespeople playing the Kenyans, and real wildlife (lots and lots of wildlife) . The location scenery is stunning and amost a travelogue for Kenya. Ben Cross, who passed away last year was in his 30's and ruggedly handsome as a horse trader/safari leader. The acting was top notch. Although set in the early 20th centurywhen Kenya was being colonised by aristocratic second sons and former military officers of the British empire, this is not The Happy Valley of White Mischief - more the second class settlers who are very hard working farmers struggling to establish coffee plantations and farm animals and doing the work themmselves, tatherr than appointing stewards. I plan to buy the DVD to keep on hand for when the series on no longer available on TV.
Unfortunately the first episode on Acorn does not have captions, and has an inferior picture, but I persevered and the subsequent episodes had both captions and a better picture. There is a disclaimer to the effect that certain scenes and lanaguage are counter to what is acceptable today and may offend some people. I don't know what was offensive - colonial rule in East Africa was what it was and we did not see any atrocities or brutalities carried out by the white settlers, nor was there any bad language or graphic sex, so the series could be enjoyed by the whole family.
Unfortunately the first episode on Acorn does not have captions, and has an inferior picture, but I persevered and the subsequent episodes had both captions and a better picture. There is a disclaimer to the effect that certain scenes and lanaguage are counter to what is acceptable today and may offend some people. I don't know what was offensive - colonial rule in East Africa was what it was and we did not see any atrocities or brutalities carried out by the white settlers, nor was there any bad language or graphic sex, so the series could be enjoyed by the whole family.