CH Zambia: Barker Performance Products
Off-road electric Land Rovers, stadium seating and grill-mounted bars from our Zambian transport specialists
For our first Cool Hunting Edition travel experience we brought 24 friends and readers on safari in Zambia. Over the course of eight days CH Zambia guests experienced the wonders and wildlife of Africa with a few surprises from our brand partners. More stories and videos here.
Started in 1997 by father and son team Cliff and Sean Barker, Barker Performance Products is a leading outfitter of safari transport out of Zambia. Our photo safari with the Bushcamp Company put their custom Land Rovers through some punishment over miles of bush. Barker produces 80-100 vehicles per year, each of their fleet of Toyota Land Cruisers and Land Rover 110 Defenders are formed with steel that is fabricated and mandrel-bent on-site, and given custom upgrades and color schemes fit for Zambian touring.
Much of our safari took place on the stadium seating aboard Defenders from Barker. The configuration allowed for high viewing angles without interference from fellow photographers. The reinforced undercarriages took on off-road conditions and river fording with ease, and select vehicles were kitted out with sun canopies and swivel seats.
Beyond practical performance elements, our Rovers also featured drink coolers and the all-important fold out bar on the bull bars—which was heartily used to serve up morning coffee and Champagne at sundown.
Green tourism is essential for Zambia to conserve their natural reserves, and Barker Performance Products is at the head of this effort, having partnered with Land Rover to create the Electric Defender Game Viewer Concept. The EV off-roader reduces emissions, noise levels and the overall human impact in the Zambian wilderness, and represents yet another step toward fully sustainable eco-tourism.
Images by Josh Rubin. Still of the Land Rover EV courtesy of Barker.
