Škoda Enyaq explores the source of human life

The Great Rift Valley in northern Kenya is one of the world’s most important scientific landscapes. On the shores of Lake Turkana – the world’s largest permanent desert lake – the region preserves an unparalleled record of early human evolution, with fossil evidence spanning several million years.

Shaped by ancient river systems and layers of volcanic ash, the region allows archaeologists to date discoveries with exceptional precision, creating a rare, continuous archive of evolutionary change across time.

During the visit, the team met archaeologists and researchers at the Turkana Basin Institute (TBI), founded in 2005 by renowned paleoanthropologist Dr Richard Leakey in partnership with Stony Brook University (New York). With permanent research centres on both sides of Lake Turkana, the institute is internationally recognised for its long-term scientific work focused on understanding the origins and evolution of humankind.

Beyond the scientific sites, the expedition explored a number of striking landscapes and communities across the Turkana region. These included the palm-lined oasis of Eliye Springs on the western shores of Lake Turkana; the dramatic rock formations known as the Waddach Pyramids; and the vast Natong'obong sand dunes, where the team drove to the summit for sweeping views across the lake towards Central Island – a volcanic outcrop that serves as a breeding ground for the world’s largest population of Nile crocodiles.

The journey also provided an opportunity to visit a traditional Turkana manyatta settlement, where families live in circular thatched huts built from local materials, offering insight into the region’s enduring pastoral culture. The team passed through the fishing village of Kalokol and continued to Lodwar, the region’s largest town and administrative centre, located around 10 hours by road from Nairobi.

A standard Enyaq Coupé vRS in extreme conditions

The Enyaq Coupé vRS used on the adventure was in standard production specification, with the only modification being all-terrain tyres. Powered by a dual-motor all-wheel-drive system producing 340 PS and with an 84 kWh battery, the car covered more than 300 miles across tarmac, dirt tracks, sand and challenging terrain, often in temperatures approaching 40°C.

All-wheel drive and instant torque provided consistent traction on loose and uneven surfaces, while Dynamic Chassis Control helped manage heavily corrugated tracks. Inside, the Enyaq’s climate-controlled cabin offered comfort and shelter from the intense heat, underlining its credentials as a practical everyday car, even in extreme conditions.

Charging where infrastructure is limited

Despite the absence of public rapid-charging infrastructure in the region, electric driving proved entirely possible. Using a three-phase power supply of the type commonly found in workshops and industrial buildings, combined with a portable charging adaptor, the Enyaq was able to charge at speeds of up to 11 kW.

This approach provided sufficient range for long days of driving and demonstrated how flexible charging solutions can support electric mobility far beyond established charging networks. In more familiar environments closer to home, the Enyaq Coupé vRS is capable of a WLTP range of up to 344 miles, suitable for longer journeys without frequent charging. DC rapid charging at up to 185 kW allows a 10-80 per cent charge in about 26 minutes.

From human evolution to electric evolution

The Turkana Basin is a place where evolution can be traced step by step – from early hominids to modern humans. By crossing this landscape in a fully electric vehicle, the expedition highlighted a clear parallel between humanity’s long history of innovation and adaptation and the ongoing evolution of mobility.

The Enyaq travelled close to sites where the world’s oldest known stone tools were discovered, as well as the location where the famous ‘Turkana Boy’ Homo erectus skeleton was unearthed in 1984. Estimated to be around 1.6 million years old, the discovery transformed scientific understanding of human anatomy, growth and behaviour. In doing so, the journey connected the origins of human ingenuity with contemporary technological progress, illustrating how innovation continues to shape the future.

Product and technology overview

The Enyaq Coupé vRS combines high performance with extensive standard equipment, well suited to both everyday driving and the demands of long-distance travel across a wide range of environments. Specification highlights include LED Matrix beam headlights, a bespoke vRS interior Design Selection with sports seats that come with a massage function for the driver.

Driving dynamics are enhanced by progressive steering and a sports chassis that lowers the front axle by 15 millimetres and the rear by 10 mm, while the optional DCC adaptive chassis control offers 15 selectable levels of stiffness.

Driving Mode Select includes a dedicated Traction mode, which optimises the four-wheel-drive system for challenging surfaces, while enhanced front brakes support the model’s performance credentials. Two external sound profiles, Sport and Futuristic, can be assigned to driving modes or selected individually via the infotainment system.

Intelligent assistance for real-world driving

Driving in northern Kenya presents a unique set of challenges, from long open roads to busy market towns where traffic and hazards are unpredictable – and where conditions can change quickly. In this environment, the advanced driver assistance systems of the Enyaq Coupé vRS provided valuable reassurance.

Travel Assist comes as standard and combines Adaptive Lane Assist, Predictive Adaptive Cruise Control, Traffic Jam Assist, Emergency Assist and Side Assist into a single, integrated system. Enhanced by online swarm data, it responds intelligently to changing surroundings by collecting and evaluating anonymous vehicle data. The system is then able to warn of approaching hazards such as slippery or damaged road surfaces.

Additional connectivity features further underline the Enyaq Coupé vRS’s focus on intelligent mobility. Smartphone-enabled functions via the MyŠkoda app support features such as Remote Park Assist, allowing the vehicle to manage complex manoeuvres autonomously while the driver supervises from outside the car. Together, these systems reflect the same principles seen throughout the expedition: using technology, data and intelligent design to make progress safer, more intuitive and better suited to the realities of modern travel – wherever the journey goes.

Pietro Panarisi, Head of PR and Communications, Škoda UK, said: “Bringing this project to life required months of careful planning, coordination and collaboration between multiple teams in the UK and Kenya. Operating in such a remote part of the world presented unique challenges, but the result is a fascinating journey and a powerful piece of storytelling that connects the origins of humankind with the evolution and future of electric mobility.“

"To see the Enyaq in this extraordinary landscape was a special moment for everyone involved. It demonstrates that electric driving is not limited to familiar environments or everyday tasks – it also provides opportunity for adventure and exploration of extreme environments. Visiting a place that holds such deep significance for human history is a powerful reminder of the ingenuity, resilience and curiosity that define us.“

"We are grateful to the Turkana Basin Institute for sharing their expertise, and above all to the local communities who welcomed and supported us throughout the project.”

This expedition forms part of a wider series of Enyaq adventures: in 2023, Guinness World Records recognised a Škoda Enyaq with the title for the Longest Continuous Vehicle Drift on Ice, while in 2024 a fleet of Enyaq models completed an ambitious drive to the edge of the Sahara Desert.

A feature story in the April 2026 issue of BBC Top Gear Magazine is on sale now.