A Landmark Partnership
Silent Savannah is proud to announce that Asilia Africa has signed a long-term lease for two electric Land Rover Defenders and a double solar charging container - for deployment at their camps in the Maasai Mara.
Asilia Africa is one of East Africa's most respected safari operators. Their camps are known for exceptional hospitality, conservation credentials, and an unwavering commitment to the places they operate in. For a company of Asilia's standing to commit to electric vehicles and off-grid solar charging is a significant moment - not just for Silent Savannah, but for the direction of sustainable safari operations across the region.
"For a company of Asilia's standing to commit to electric safari vehicles is a significant moment for sustainable operations across East Africa."
What Asilia Is Taking On
The package comprises two Silent Savannah electric Land Rover Defender conversions and a double solar charging container - all on long-term lease agreements for Asilia's Maasai Mara camps.
The electric Defenders will be used for guest game drives, replacing diesel-powered vehicles currently in the fleet. The double solar container provides all the charging infrastructure required to keep both vehicles operational - completely off-grid, with no dependency on generator fuel or grid connection.
The full system - vehicles and charging together - is what Silent Savannah calls the complete solution. Neither component works in isolation. The Defender conversions are built for the demands of safari use: robust enough to handle the Mara's terrain, quiet enough to enhance the guest experience, and powerful enough to match the performance of diesel vehicles in the field. The solar container is sized and configured to match the charging requirements of the fleet.
Why the Maasai Mara
The Maasai Mara is one of the world's great wildlife destinations. It is also one of the most demanding operating environments for any vehicle - long daily distances, varied terrain, and extreme seasonal conditions. If electric vehicles can perform here, they can perform anywhere in East Africa.
It is also a place where the case for silent, zero-emission safari experiences is most compelling. Game drives in the Mara involve close encounters with some of Africa's most iconic wildlife. The noise and fumes of diesel engines are a real intrusion on that experience. Electric vehicles remove both entirely - and the wildlife responds accordingly.
Asilia's camps have long been at the leading edge of responsible safari operations. Adding electric vehicles to their Mara fleet is consistent with everything they stand for.
What a Long-Term Lease Looks Like
Silent Savannah's lease model is designed to make the transition to electric vehicles straightforward for operators. Rather than a capital purchase, the lease covers the vehicles, the solar charging infrastructure, and ongoing support - giving operators a predictable cost structure and full technical backing from the Silent Savannah team.
For Asilia, this means their Mara camps can go electric without the complexity of procurement, installation, and maintenance falling entirely on their own teams. Silent Savannah handles the technical side. Asilia focuses on what they do best.
A Signal to the Industry
The safari industry is watching. Operators across East Africa are asking whether electric vehicles can genuinely work in remote, demanding environments - and what the transition looks like in practice.
Asilia's decision to commit provides a clear answer. A world-class operator, in one of the most challenging environments on the continent, running electric vehicles on solar power. The model works. The question now is who is next.
If you are an operator considering the move to electric, we would like to talk.