Women Making Their Mark on Safaris
The African bush has long been seen as a "man's world," but things are starting to change. A new generation of female safari guides is stepping up to drive safari vehicles, lead and inform travelers and protect wildlife across sub-Saharan Africa. These women not just part of the safari industry; they bring a fresh perspective to guiding and conservation.
Becoming a guide is not always easy for women in Africa who are up against decades of preconceptions. I discovered this first-hand on a recent visit to the Okavango with African Bush Camps. The guide-in-training, Sharon Mohlambi, who accompanied us on game drives expertly tracked everything from lions to leopards. However, she faced obstacles many men do not. "Not having a driver's license is the biggest hurdle for women guides in Africa," said Mohlambi, who does have her license and handled the jeep like a pro on my visit. "Families often don't train daughters, but a license brings almost as much freedom as education."
Tswalu's head guide, Deirdre Opie, agrees that women still face an uphill battle when they explore a career in guiding. "For women guides, it is a lot harder to prove you are capable. This includes driving a 4x4 vehicle, changing tires and handling a weapon, which have traditionally been viewed as more masculine activities," she said.
To help women overcome barriers to guiding, African Bush Camps launched the Female Guide Program in 2021. The two-year training accepts five women annually, focusing on skills like driving and animal tracking. While African Bush Camps received 90 applicants initially, the program saw over 200 apply last year, demonstrating women's strong desire for guiding careers despite societal limits.
"Clearly there is need; African women want to prove they deserve the same options," said African Bush Camps' Sylvia Zulu-Mwelwa. By 2025, African Bush Camps aims to graduate 25 female guides, enriching perspectives in a male-dominated field.
Source: Travel Weekly
