When Tongabezi Lodge introduced the eDhow in August 2023, they called it the world's first electric dhow. It still might be. What matters more is that it works.
The Zambezi River upstream of Victoria Falls is one of Southern Africa's most extraordinary places. The water moves through a landscape that looks untouched, and you will find crocodiles dozing on the banks and elephants coming down to drink. For decades, the experience of being on the river meant the sound of a fuel engine, which meant the crocodiles submerged before you saw them clearly, the elephants moved away from the sound and the birds scattered.
The eDhow changed that. With just a 10-kilowatt electric motor, it is silent yet fast enough to navigate the Zambezi's currents, and reliable enough that after two years of operation it has become the preferred boat for guests seeking an actual encounter with the river and the ecosystem in and around it.
