Craft House Clients, MWCT and Campi Ya Kanzi, Featured in Tatler
This Custom Land Rover Is Making African Safaris Much More Sustainable
The custom-designed electric vehicle, made in collaboration with Sunreef Yachts, was created to help protect the biodiversity of East Africa and foster more sustainable tourism.
By Kaitlyn McInnis
“Luxury catamaran manufacturer Sunreef Yachts has this week announced its plans to donate a custom-engineered electric safari car to the Maasai Wilderness Conservation Trust (MWCT), a gesture it hopes will help protect the biodiversity and wellness of the Maasai community while aiding in sustainable travel efforts.
The East African organisation works to protect the ecosystems and biodiversity of Kenya through conservation efforts that benefit wildlife, wilderness, and local Maasai communities, as well as directly fostering a sense of responsible tourism through eco-friendly camps and lodges, including Campi Ya Kanzi and Chyulu Wilderness Camp, both of which host sustainability-minded travellers who hope to experience the East African wilderness in a responsible manner.
In order to create a safari truck that is equally practical for MWCT to put in use and sustainable, Sunreef Yachts’ technical and R&D teams used their knowledge of green technology to carry out and supervise the project, including all mechanical and electric aspects.
The innovative design borrowed the bodywork of an off-road classic—a Land Rover Defender from the UK—to create a fully electric 4x4 that was “specifically calibrated to respond to the needs of the eco luxury lodges working hand-in-hand with the MWCT” and equipped with a powerful battery bank, state-of-the-art electric engine and was even fitted with the same solar panels used on Sunreef Yachts Echo catamarans.
“The definition of responsible travel that the trust promotes is one of a kind and I feel Sunreef Yachts shares the same philosophy. The company’s leading position in sustainable yachting motivates us to share our knowledge and know-how with inspiring partners,” said Francis Lapp, Sunreef Yachts Founder and President, in a press release.
“The Sunreef Yachts Eco technology designed for yachts is now applied to an electric car. I am happy to witness this evolution and am confident it will lead to more exciting projects.