Bus boat makes a splash
The Waterfront Duck, reportedly the first amphibious bus boat in Africa, is making waves.
The Waterfront Duck launched it’s tour experience on Tuesday August 6 — taking the phrase “chasing the horizon” to another level, as it takes commuters on a wild ride around the town before splashing into the sea during an hour long tour.
The 36-seater amphibious vehicle, built by Seahorse Amphibious, in Windsor, UK, was the brainchild of Keith Lindsay, the managing director of the Waterfront Duck Co, who fashioned the idea from his experience on the Boston Duck in America while visiting family in 2008.
“I loved it, and I thought, ‘why not in Cape Town?’”
Despite many obstacles, including the Covid-19 pandemic, and lots of red tape, the Waterfront Duck was completed and shipped to South Africa earlier this year.
The yellow and blue bus boat, named after Mr Lindsay’s daughter, Bella, weighs 12 tonnes, is 11.5m long and is made of glass reinforced plastic, which is light weight but strong and versatile.
Mr Lindsay said the bus boat is currently licensed to carry 12 passengers on a trip, however, it will increase to its full-capacity of 36 once it is fully operational.
The bus will leave from its newly-built kiosk at the Silo District, opposite the Zeitz MOCAA, and will start it’s one-hour tour to the city centre and the Atlantic Seaboard, while the tour guide on board, or the “ConDUCKtors", will tell tales and share facts about the city’s history.
After 30 minutes on land, the bus returns to the Waterfront to enter the marina via a slipway, passing the seal platform and the Two Oceans Aquarium, under both the Bascule and Swing Bridges and through to both the Alfred and Victoria basins. The bus boat does not leave the confines of the harbour.
The driver and captain on board is Ronny Pugin, who has been a skipper for 35 years on charter boats and delivery yachts around the world.
He said he first saw the Waterfront Duck on Facebook while working in the Maldives, and returned to Cape Town to operate the bus boat.
“I thought it was crazy, but its very exciting.”
He said with the experience being a first for Africa, they had run into many challenges with licensing, as well as the “road” aspect of the bus boat.
He added that the first time he operated the vehicle was just as challenging, but “challenge accepted”.
“She doesn’t behave like a car on the road, and doesn’t behave like a boat on the water.” She runs like a tractor, and not quite like a speed boat — more like a tank.”
The Mayco member for economic growth, James Vos, said The Waterfront Duck not only enhances Cape Town's appeal for both locals and visitors, but will also drive tourism and economic growth.
“It's wonderful to see our tourism sector continually push boundaries and create memorable experiences.”
He said the newest addition to the tourism sector brings fun to the city, but also boosts the local economy and showcases Cape Town’s vibrancy.
Tickets cost R395 for adults, R295 for children 12 years old and younger, and R95 for infants 3 years-old and younger.
For more information about The Waterfront Duck Co, and to book your tour, visit theduckco.co.za or follow them on social media.