How Electric Safari Vehicles Are Quietly Transforming Wildlife Experiences For Tourists In Kenya

Deep in the heart of East Africa, tourists poke their heads out of an idling Land Cruiser to get a closer look at an ambling elephant. Suddenly, they all turn their heads. But it's not a noise that's startled them, it's the complete lack of one. Another vehicle has glided into place next to them, and it hasn't made a single sound. What is this exotic creature? And how is it so different from the one they are riding in, which sends shudders through the landscape with its fume-spewing rumble?

Meet Kenya's electric-powered safari vehicle, deployed in early 2021 in several camps across the country, including the Emboo River Camp in Maasai Mara, which has gone totally electric. Rather than introducing new vehicles, which would have been wasteful and expensive, Nairobi-based company Opibus has been converting existing safari Land Cruisers from diesel to electric. They have also established solar-powered recharging stations in some of the safari parks to create entirely off-grid systems, re-envisioning the safari experience for both companies and customers. 

The innovation has allowed safari companies to cut costs while lowering their impact on fragile ecosystems and wildlife. "You can use your current fleet and just improve it, and increase the life span of existing vehicles," said Abin Wilbus of Opibus to Travel and Leisure. "You don't have to put anything into landfills, which makes a lot more sense financially and sustainability-wise." 

What people are saying about electric safari vehicles

By using electric safari vehicles, safari companies have also been able to attract more eco-minded customers, which they see as a positive development for Maasai Mara. "It's super cool, going closer to game, with no noise, no emissions...This is exactly what the Mara needs now: People who are eco-minded and sensitive about their footprints in the wild," Emboo River Camp co-owner and manager William Partois Ole Santian told Travel and Leisure

Customers are also excited about the new electric safari vehicles. In a review of Emboo River, Tripadvisor user Rui said, "Emboo River Camp provided us with an exceptional Maasai Mara experience! The introduction of the electric vehicle was a game-changing addition, allowing us to enjoy quiet safaris with minimal disruption to the wildlife."

Encouragingly, electric safari vehicles are taking off in several other must-visit countries in Africa. Parks such as Chobe Game Lodge in Botswana, Chisa Busanga Camp and Ila Safari Lodge in Zambia, and Cheetah Plains and Makanyi Private Game Lodge in South Africa have also deployed electric vehicles, along with experimenting with other green innovations. Embarking on your first safari? Before you head off into the African bush, check out our article on important things that every safari newbie should know.