The BBC ask if electric vehicles could be the future for Kenyan travel?
East Africa’s First Electric Safari Car lands at Lewa Wilderness.
The best way to view the Big Five is…quietly. Lewa Wilderness lodge in Kenya has taken that to the next level by bringing East Africa’s first electric-powered safari car to the savannah grasslands in the shadow of Mount Kenya. Rare black rhino looked on with little more than curiosity as the silent safari vehicle crept up on them. A pride of lions barely blinked as the tourist cameras clicked above the gentle hum of the engine.
Created by Kenya-based Swedish start-up Opibus, the car was converted from a standard Toyota Land Cruiser.
It’s diesel engine and fuel tanks were taken out and replaced by an electric motor and battery packs.
Lewa Wilderness owner Will Craig said: “Usually when viewing game you switch the engine off to watch the wildlife in silence, but when you start the engine again its startles the animals. “With the electric safari car it’s not an issue – you can approach them quietly and leave them in peace.”