SafariSeat: Low Cost All Terrain Open Source Wheelchair

Author: SafariSeat
Published: 19 Oct 2016 - Updated: 27 Aug 2026
Publication Type: Product Release, Update

Table of Contents:
Synopsis - Definition - Overview - FAQs - Insights, Updates - Related Content

Synopsis

This information details SafariSeat, a low cost, open source, all terrain wheelchair created for people with disabilities living in developing countries where paved roads are scarce and mobility equipment is hard to obtain. Built from ordinary bicycle parts in basic local workshops, the chair uses a patented suspension mechanism that mimics a car's system so every wheel stays on the ground for stability across rough terrain, and its simple design makes it easy to repair locally. The project matters because roughly 1 in every 200 people in East Africa needs a wheelchair, and the freely shared blueprints let communities build their own chairs while creating sustainable local employment. Designed by Janna Deeble and the Uji team after his own experience of temporary disability and years of witnessing a friend's isolation in Kenya, the account is useful to disabled people, caregivers, aid workers, and designers because it explains a practical, affordable approach to independent mobility rather than relying on costly imported equipment.*

At a Glance

• 1 - SafariSeat is the first project from Uji, a social enterprise. The company designs tools that help people break free from the poverty cycle.
• 2 - Designer Janna Deeble grew up in Kenya and returned in 2015 to build it. His plan was inspired by Letu, a Samburu man disabled by polio since birth.
• 3 - The chair launched a Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign to fund production. The money also supports the creation of a free open source build manual.
• 4 - Uji operates on open source principles to avoid a culture of dependency. Its team includes Janna Deeble, Cara O'Sullivan, James Seers, and Bertie Meyer.

Topic Definition

All Terrain Wheelchair

An all terrain wheelchair is a mobility device engineered to travel over uneven, soft, or rough surfaces such as sand, dirt, gravel, and grass that would stop or bog down a standard chair designed for smooth indoor floors and pavement. These chairs typically use wider or specialized wheels, reinforced frames, and suspension systems that keep the wheels in contact with the ground to maintain balance and traction on unstable terrain. In settings where paved infrastructure is limited, an all terrain wheelchair can be the difference between isolation and independence, allowing a user to move through their own environment without relying on others. Designs like SafariSeat show how such chairs can be made affordable and repairable by using common bicycle components and open source instructions, extending access to people who cannot obtain or maintain expensive imported models.

Overview

SafariSeat is a wheelchair designed for people in developing countries. It's low cost, all-terrain and open source. SafariSeat can be made in basic workshops using bicycle parts, which makes it easy to repair.

Where sand replaces pavement, SafariSeat helps people with disabilities lead independent lives.

Today, SafariSeat launches a crowdfunding campaign on Kickstarter, to raise money to build as many chairs as possible, and develop an open source manual. Local workshops can then use the manual to make SafariSeats for their communities.

SafariSeat designer, Janna Deeble grew up in Kenya. He was a child when he first met Letu, a Samburu man disabled by polio, living an isolated, traditional lifestyle with his family in the wilderness.

Letu had been disabled since birth, with no access to healthcare, suitable wheelchairs or any of the assistance much of the world takes for granted. To move, Letu had to crawl; he was totally dependent on others.

Janna didn't understand the reality of Letu's situation until, as a design student, he had an accident that left him wheelchair-bound for months. As his independence disappeared, he thought of Letu and his daily struggle to fulfil life's basic needs.

In East Africa alone, 1 in every 200 people lives in need of a wheelchair, imprisoned by their disability. Determined to help, Janna returned to Kenya in 2015 to develop SafariSeat.

SafariSeat climbs over rough ground like no other wheelchair. It uses a simple, patented mechanism that mimics car suspension, ensuring all the wheels remain on the ground at all times for maximum stability.

The SafariSeat campaign is about enabling communities to help themselves. Janna plans to make the blueprints absolutely free, as part of an open source toolkit that will enable workshops to make SafariSeats for their community - to help people with disabilities and create local, sustainable employment.

SafariSeat has already allowed Letu to discover his independence and teach his son what it means to be a Samburu. With SafariSeat, Janna hopes many others will be able to experience the same freedom.

SafariSeat is the first project from Uji, a social enterprise company determined to make a difference. Their goal is to design tools that help people break free from the poverty cycle. Uji is led by a team of young designers: Janna Deeble, Cara O'Sullivan, James Seers and Bertie Meyer.

The Uji philosophy is to help people help themselves - to avoid a culture of dependency, by operating on open-source principles.

Frequently Asked Questions

NOTE: Researched FAQs by Disabled World (DW)

How much does an all terrain wheelchair like SafariSeat cost to build

SafariSeat is designed as a low cost option because it uses common bicycle parts and can be assembled in basic workshops, though the exact price varies by region and the local cost of materials and labor.

What does open source mean for a wheelchair design

Open source means the blueprints and build instructions are shared freely so anyone can make, study, repair, or improve the chair without paying licensing fees, which lets local workshops produce chairs for their own communities.

Can SafariSeat be repaired without special tools or parts

Yes, because it is built from standard bicycle components, repairs can often be done with the same tools and spare parts already used to fix bicycles in most towns and villages.

Who founded Uji, the company behind SafariSeat

Uji is a social enterprise led by a team of young designers including Janna Deeble, Cara O'Sullivan, James Seers, and Bertie Meyer, with a focus on tools that help people escape the poverty cycle.

Why are standard wheelchairs unsuitable in many developing regions

Standard wheelchairs are built for smooth indoor floors and pavement, so they struggle on sand, dirt, and rough ground, and they are often expensive to import and difficult to repair when they break.

What is the patented suspension mechanism used in SafariSeat

The chair uses a simple mechanism that mimics car suspension, keeping all wheels on the ground at once so the user stays stable and the chair can climb over uneven terrain.

How does SafariSeat support local employment

Because chairs are made in local workshops rather than imported, the open source model creates ongoing work for builders and repairers, keeping skills and income within the community.

Where can communities get the SafariSeat build manual

The team planned to release the blueprints as a free open source toolkit so workshops could download the manual and produce chairs for people who need them.

Insights, Analysis, and Developments

Editorial Note: What sets SafariSeat apart from conventional aid efforts is its refusal to create dependency - rather than shipping finished chairs that break down with no means of repair, the team hands communities the knowledge and blueprints to build and maintain their own equipment using parts they can already source locally. The approach turns a mobility problem into a local manufacturing opportunity, meaning a single workshop can serve many neighbors while generating income and skills that stay in the region. For families supporting a disabled relative, seniors facing reduced mobility on unpaved ground, and small workshops looking for viable work, the open source model offers something rare in assistive technology: a solution that remains fixable, affordable, and adaptable long after any charity campaign ends, which is why it earned selection by disability community editors for its practical relevance.*

Attribution/Source(s): This quality-reviewed publication was selected for publishing by the editors of Disabled World (DW) due to its relevance to the disability community. Originally authored by SafariSeat and published on 19 Oct 2016, this content may have been edited for style, clarity, or brevity.

* Editorial additions by Ian C. Langtree.