South Africa operator to welcome electric boat to river safari fleet

Pangolin Photo Safaris, a wildlife photography safari excursion company based in Cape Town, South Africa, will soon welcome a new trimaran river boat into service.

Built in Namibia by ESB Boats, Pangolin Voyager replaces an earlier similarly named vessel that Pangolin Photo Safaris acquired in 2015.

The new Pangolin Voyager features five identical cabins, each of which can be configured with either double or twin beds. Each cabin has an en-suite shower and toilet as well as air conditioning and plug points for charging batteries and devices.

The near floor-to-ceiling windows are fitted with mosquito nets, allowing guests to rest comfortably during nighttime.

The upper level features living and dining areas as well as a bar. Large glass sliding doors offer unobstructed views of the river.

Adjacent to the lounge on the upper level is an air-conditioned and darkened editing suite where guests can download, review and process their images. During hosted photo safaris, the hosts will often use this room to hold editing sessions as well as presentations.

The roof of the boat supports an array of solar panels that can generate all the electricity required to power the onboard systems. Propulsive power is provided by four fully electric drives. There are two drives near the bow between the hulls and two near the stern.

Pangolin Voyager will be operated primarily on the Chobe River, which serves as the natural border between Namibia and Botswana. The vessel will be based on the Namibian side of the river with the Chobe National Park as the opposite bank.

The vessel will have three designated mooring spots, visited over the course of guests' stays, alongside a specially designed eight-seat photo boats for morning and afternoon safaris.