Namibian-built Pangolin Voyager world’s best river cruise ship
Pangolin Voyager, a solar-electric river cruise vessel built in Windhoek and operated by a Namibian crew, has been named the World’s Best River Cruise Ship 2026 and Africa’s Best River Cruise Ship 2026 at the World Cruise Awards, announced in Jamaica on 12 October.
The Voyager was built in Windhoek by Edelstahlbau CC (ESB Boats) and assembled on the banks of the Zambezi River. It operates from the Namibian side of the Chobe River.
The all-aluminium trimaran accommodates 10 guests in five en-suite cabins. It is powered by four electric drives supplied by UK-based specialist RAD Propulsion, while roof-mounted solar panels provide much of its operating energy during daylight hours.
Guest feedback has consistently highlighted the vessel’s silent electric cruising, specially designed photographic boat, and the quality of its food and service.
“Winning both World’s Best and Africa’s Best River Cruise Ship is an extraordinary result for everyone involved in the Voyager,” said Toby Jermyn, director and co-owner of Pangolin Photo Safaris.
“This is very much a Namibian success story – she was built in Windhoek, assembled here in the Zambezi Region and is looked after every day by an exceptional Namibian crew. To see something created here recognised on a global stage makes us enormously proud.”
Gerhard ‘Guts’ Swanepoel, co-founder of Pangolin Photo Safaris, said the vessel was designed to allow photographers to experience the Chobe River’s wildlife quietly and with minimal disturbance.
“The Chobe is one of Africa’s great wildlife rivers, and we wanted to create a boat that allowed photographers to experience it quietly and with minimal disturbance,” he said.
“Electric propulsion and solar power were central to that idea, so it is wonderful to see the concept recognised internationally.”
The double win places a Namibian-built vessel with a Namibian crew among the world’s leading river cruise ships, bringing international attention to the Zambezi Region and its wildlife tourism offering.
