Electric vehicles quietly enter Kenyan game reserves
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Rangers in Kenya’s Maasai Mara are now using electric motorcycles to monitor wildlife and deter poachers. Joshua Kijape, a ranger at Entumoto Safari Camp, has been testing an electric motorcycle made by ROAM Electric for a year, finding its 160-kilometer battery range and three-hour charge time effective for patrols.
The near-silent operation of the bikes gives rangers a tactical advantage, allowing them to approach animals and suspects undetected, according to ranger Tom Kimbelekenya.
ROAM Electric hopes to expand the use of electric vehicles throughout Kenya and East Africa, protecting the region’s natural areas. Conservation groups are evaluating whether electric mobility can lower costs and reduce pollution in important ecosystems like the Maasai Mara, especially during the annual wildebeest migration. Emboo River Camp has been utilizing electric safari vehicles charged by solar power since 2019.
Loic Amado, Co-Founder of Emboo River Camp and EERA LAB, has broadened this effort to support 25 lodges in East Africa with sustainable technologies. EERA LAB has also created a system to monitor energy use, water recycling, and vehicle charging. Amado aims for the Maasai Mara to achieve net-zero emissions by 2035, noting that converting safari vehicles costs $35,000 to $45,000 but can save money on fuel and maintenance within three years.
