The Safari Condo Company started from this simple idea: produce a small camper more efficient, less expensive and more economical for travelling in America. For this idea to become a reality, Daniel Nadeau developed his "baby" through 9 months of work. His camping experience guided him in the development of the vehicle's accommodation. As with any good therapy, the stimulus, or trigger, dates back to his childhood. Daniel was part of a camping family, and his most precious childhood memories are related to the world of camping and travelling. By the age of 19, his thirst for wide-opened spaces led him skyward and he became a pilot. His creativity led to CGNAD, a single-engine he built entirely. One day, unable to find the RV that met his needs, he said to himself that if he could fly an airplane, he could drive one that corresponded exactly to his requirements.
Although his project surprised many in the beginning, soon it attracted the interest of investors. His brother Stéphane joined the company and took charge of public relations and everything related to graphics. Stéphane is the creator of our small snail and produces our yearly brochures and advertising campaigns. On March 5th, 1998, after 8 months of development, Par Nado presented Safari Condo # 1 one evening at the local GM dealership. At the time, the company called Par Nado purchased its vehicles through Ant. Labbé garage in nearby Vallée-Jonction. A year later, vehicles were purchased directly from General Motors. For this first year of activity, the business plan anticipated the production of 15 vehicles. In reality, the production mushroomed that year to 38 vehicles!
The first two Safari Condos were presented as a scoop at the Montreal show from March 12 to 15 1998, and later at the Quebec show from April 12 to 15. At the Olympic Stadium, the Safari Condo created a real uproar. Indeed, interest in this new product was such that security was called in to solve a traffic problem at the Par Nado booth! Consumer reaction was beyond any expectation.
The first plant was an open pit. Indeed, the Safari Condo # 1 was built almost entirely outside, in Daniel's backyard. Then, a small area was leased in a cabinet makers' plant in Ste-Marie, before purchasing in Vallée-Jonction a garage of modest dimensions and requiring several improvements. When completed at last, Safari Condo settled down and production was set in motion. Hiring of staff and the purchase of the plant occurred simultaneously; newcomers came to participate in our adventure and contribute their knowledge and experience to the business. Barely a year later, the demand was too much for our small factory's production capacity and we had to resolve to move elsewhere. We had completed more than 100 vehicles in our plant in Vallée-Jonction. December 5 1999 was moving day. The new plant, located in St-Frédéric in Beauce, had a production capacity of 400 vehicles per year. We could work on 12 vehicles at the same time, and its yard could park thirty. It is in this plant, on February 18, 2000, that Par Nado launched its Savana Condo 18 and 20 foot Series. Equipped with the amenities similar to the Safari Condo, Savana Condo targeted customers looking for a more spacious interior, while remaining a vehicle that can be used every day. In 2003, Safari Condo officially became the name of the company, and the vehicles were now identified as S, M and L series.
Johanne, Daniel's sister, took up the position of Sales Director in 2001. After almost 5 years as a tenant on Chemin Filteau in St-Nicholas, Safari Condo sales office needed more room, and above all, a showroom worthy of the name. It was time to invest to provide customers and the sales team with a convenient and friendly environment. Started in May 2005, work ended in October of the same year. Opened in May 2006, the new Sales Office at 1378 Chemin Filteau in St-Nicholas, has a showroom that can accommodate up to 10 vehicles, allowing customers to go one vehicle to the other comfortably, whatever the weather outside.
To build its vehicles, Safari Condo deals with more than 100 suppliers and several subcontractors. A dozen of these subcontractors produce hundreds of different parts, made to measure, specially designed for our vehicles. Putting together a vehicle takes some 200 hours of work at the plant only. Before marketing a new model, we must test each modified seat and seat belt at the plant, in order to obtain Transport Canada approval. Fire tests are also carried out on the textiles of the sofas and curtains. At Safari Condo, your security is at the top of the list of our concerns, which is also the reason we have invested so much energy to make our vehicles meet the requirements of the CSA standard. The Safari Condo Company is not that a simple plant, it is primarily the history of its personnel. Safari Condo staff form a dynamic team. Each small transaction or each part of the assembly work requires the same attention from the team. It is when all members of a team work together that they can achieve the goal set initially.
The history of Safari Condo is a work in progress, thanks to a healthy research and development division. We draw our ideas directly from our love of camping, but also from suggestions and requests by our customers. This dynamism has also earned the company several awards and nominations over the years. Mérite commercial Desjardins in May 2004, Perséides technologie/innovation 2004 for the design of the electrical roof and runner-up as Company of the year at the 2005 Fidéides. All these awards, although most remain unknown to the public, have given much credibility in the business world to that young company: Safari Condo.
The year 2008 gave rise to a new product: the Alto. The Alto design of originates in Daniel's head in the fall of 2005. He wanted to offer an alternative to customers who dreamed of travelling while keeping the family car. This new outdoors equipment had to be as light as possible and cut through air like a knife. Built of aluminum and honeycomb board, with its electric sunroof and aerodynamic shape, Alto heads right into the future.
In 2010, the Safari Condo family grows once more with the arrival of the Mercedes Sprinter. Available on either a 19 or 22 foot chassis, 5 new Mercedes models were introduced at the Salon du VR de Montreal and Quebec last March.
Green energy always attracted Daniel in his teens, while friends raced driving powerful cars; he calculated fuel consumption and tried to beat another type of record. At the age of 20, he designed a system for heating water using solar energy. This pivoting system followed the sun's path. Therefore, no generators in Safari Condo products but rather rigid or flexible solar panels that provide the energy needed to operate the equipment in the vehicle while camping in the wild. It is efficient, clean, and quiet and offers incredible freedom!