Beloved by nature enthusiasts, safari is becoming increasingly eco-friendly. In this domain, Tanganyika Expeditions, led by Denis Lebouteux, stands out as a pioneer with its 100% electric formula.
A 100% CSR Formula
In Tanzania, Tanganyika Expeditions is raising the bar for safaris with a fully ecological approach. The agency has equipped its safari vehicle fleet with electric engines and batteries recharged at its camps using solar energy production stations. “This offer applies to ‘game package’ safaris,” explains Denis Lebouteux, “where clients use vehicles stationed on-site. These cars operate daily within the reserve and return to the lodge between outings, around midday, during the sunniest and most productive hours for solar energy.”
The solution is even more eco-friendly because the agency has opted for retrofitting: diesel vehicles at the end of their life are converted into electric ones. This practice gives 22-24-year-old cars, typically considered obsolete, a potentially eternal second life! Energy and material savings from avoiding new vehicle production are added to fuel and maintenance savings.
The agency has gone further in its ecological efforts by converting some service vehicles used for lodge logistics to electric power. Additionally, camps are powered by solar energy, rainwater is collected, plastic containers have been eliminated, and there’s even an organic vegetable garden for fresh produce.
Last but not least, the agency combines environmental responsibility with social responsibility by employing exclusively local teams and intensively sponsoring the region’s largest primary school to transform it into a center of excellence.
A Unique Safari Experience
For tourists, the electric vehicle experience is not only more environmentally friendly but also more comfortable. Safari vehicles are open to allow immersion in nature, but diesel fumes can quickly become overwhelming. With electric vehicles, exhaust odors are a thing of the past. Similarly, engine noise is replaced with absolute silence.
Beyond this unique comfort, electric vehicles offer unforgettable nighttime safari experiences. Nocturnal animals are particularly sensitive to noise and smells. Unlike traditional 4x4s that scare them away, electric vehicles allow close encounters. Many memorable moments await!
A Pragmatic Approach
This small revolution stems from a pragmatic approach initiated by Denis Lebouteux, a proponent of smart ecology since the 1990s, long before the green wave. In 2017, as an experiment, he entrusted local talents with converting a diesel vehicle into an electric one equipped with batteries. The operation was a success, and the agency quickly realized all the benefits of this solution: clear ecological advantages combined with substantial savings from eliminating fuel and maintenance costs. Enthralled by electric technology, the agency gradually expanded its fleet to include 21 electric vehicles (17 for safaris and 4 for logistics) and plans to add five more vehicles soon, bringing the share of electric vehicles in its fleet to 25%.
Furthermore, Denis Lebouteux aims to green another type of safari—mobile safaris—by 2028. In these safaris, clients visit a different reserve daily and stay in new lodges each night. Vehicles cover long distances daily at relatively high speeds on difficult roads, requiring significant energy—a challenging scenario for solar power recharging since vehicles only return to lodges at night. To address this challenge, Denis Lebouteux is exploring new solutions such as advanced storage systems or wind energy as an alternative source of power. It’s a challenge he tackles enthusiastically while hoping that these solutions will inspire broader applications in urban areas as well.
