Interview: Christian Grosch, Airboat Afrika founder
03. Aug, 2009
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Tell us about yourself, when were you born and where are you based?
Born in January 1966 in Stuttgart, Germany. A few continents & air miles later I found a new home in cozy Jozi, since ‘97.
What is your business all about and what inspired it?
The Airboat Afrika Company promotes airboats, for all kinds of applications. This includes tourism, conservation, search & rescue, fishing, law enforcement, transport and geometric work. Airboats are air-propelled all terrain vehicles that do not need roads, and hardly any water, either. They are quite happy without any surrounding infrastructure, launch straight off a trailer, and will go pretty much anywhere, fast if needed. Airboats are a much, much cheaper alternative to helicopters for operations in difficult conditions. Airboats allow access to the inaccessible – at the lowest possible environmental impact. And they’re fun, too. That’s pretty cool.
What were you doing before launching your business and when was it launched?
My passion is tourism, and I came from Paris to Jo’burg as Managing Director of the inbound operator Incentive Touring. I then got railroaded to be also MD of Shongololo Express, the African rail cruise operator. I started Airboat Afrika with some training during the 2008 hurricane season in the US.
How much was invested in launching your business and how was that capital financed?
Closing in on the 1 Mio. Rand, ongoing; from private sources.
What planning did you engage before launching?
Ohlala, lots. There’s a bit of clever technology involved, and airboats are generally unknown in Africa. There are a few old ones around, but well hidden. Some serious market research established potential for tourism, conservation and S&R all over southern and eastern Africa. And of course, there’s a private leisure market, too.
How many people do you employ?
Good men are hard to find… not enough yet.
Are there any major challenges that you had to overcome in launching your business?
Doing different things – differently – is always a challenge. That’s why I enjoy doing it.
What price is your entry level airboat?
They’re purpose-built to customer requirements; about the cost of an upmarket 4×4.
Do you have offices outside South Africa?
Not at this time. Wouldn’t mind a spot in the Luangwa Valley or on Lake Malawi, though.
I recall watching news on TV, the Nigerian Niger Delta rebels using airboats, do you supply them?
No.
What are your short and long-term business plans?
Short-term I want to wrap up the new ultra-quiet warp drive and have fun with the new AirScout myself.
Mid-term has us offering multi-day river adventures – like the Zambezi’s Barotse floodplains and Rufiji’s mangroves to Selous Game Park – to the tourism industry.
Long-term – mmmmhhhhh, make me an offer.
Is your business affected by the current economic climate?
It’s really an opportunity: material prices have come down, and people look for new ideas in an ever tougher competitive environment. We bring a new attraction to the tourism industry, affordable technology to conservation and S&R, and open access to new terrain without the need for roads, at minimal ecological impact. You can build and run a whole lodge without trucks and airplanes – only airboats.
What have been your business highlight(s) since launching?
I love it when a plan comes together. Travelling to explore & discover, building new things, finding new ways, and sharing the whole thing because it’s fun. The feedback and interest I receive is amazing.
What three blogs do you read daily, to stay abreast of the industry?
For SA, www.tourismupdate.co.za, for the only country that has paid holidays guaranteed in the constitution www.travel-one.net, and for the most difficult tourist to deal with www.lechotouristique.com.
My name is Muzi Mohale a full-time travel blogger, your host at Travelwires.com responsible for all editorial on this blog. I blog about the travel and tourism industry in Africa. Apart from blogging about tourism, I also run 
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