Joshua Kijape, a wildlife ranger in Kenya, rides his electric motorcycle quietly through the tall grass, listening for movement. It makes almost no sound, so he can approach wild animals — and, when necessary, illegal hunters.

"With this bike, I can get closer to the animals without disturbing them," he said.

For the past year, Kijape has patrolled the Maasai Mara, a wildlife reserve. His work is part of a growing effort to bring solar-powered vehicles into Africa's wild areas. Instead of using gasoline engines, conservation teams are testing whether electric transportation can cut fuel and maintenance costs and reduce noise.

The machine was built by ROAM, a Kenyan electric-motorcycle company. It can travel about 160 kilometers on one charge. It also plugs into a standard socket, so small solar stations can power it. Filip Lovstrom, the company's head, explained that removing engine noise creates a calm space, better for both animals and visitors.

Nearby, Emboo River Camp, a tourist lodge, has used solar-charged safari vehicles since 2019. Loic Amado, who helped start the camp, noted that making a vehicle electric costs between $35,000 and $45,000. The investment, he said, pays for itself in about three years. Amado added that his bigger goal is for the whole Maasai Mara to add no extra greenhouse gases to the air by 2035.