Tanzania has begun the rollout of seven electric safari vehicles in its flagship Serengeti National Park, with the first being inaugurated on October 27.
The “e-safari cars” are being introduced by tour company Mount Kilimanjaro Safari Club (MKSC), with the aim of reducing pollution in the national parks, while benefiting tourists on game drives. “The silent and environmental-friendly e-safari vehicles can approach wildlife without disturbing them,” said MKSC Managing Director, Dennis Lebouteux.
The pioneering e-safari cars depend solely on solar panels to power the engines (no fuel used), and employ carbon-free technology.
Chief Conservator for Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority (NCAA), Dr. Fred Manongi, says: “As a country, we’ve to think of adopting the technology because the vehicle doesn’t emit smoke or noise.” This aids in the conservation drive, according to Manongi.
“The only challenge is the cost,” says Wilbard Chambulo, Chairman of the Tanzania Association of Tour Operators (TATO), “because the technology is still new. But when others enter the market, the cost will go down. Taking into account that prices of fuel are increasing, the e-vehicles are ideal, because they will save foreign currency used for importing oil. I believe the tourism sector will receive the technology whole-heartedly.”
