When Women Lead, Communities Thrive

Even though women make up more than half of Africa’s workforce, most are earning a living in informal jobs that offer little stability or protection. Too often, their opportunities don’t match their potential.

When women gain access to education, employment, and financial independence, the impact is profound: children stay in school, households grow stronger, and communities thrive. In tourism, supporting women doesn’t just change individual lives, it enriches the places and people who rely on their leadership.

Our Women in Tourism Program opens doors for women from underserved communities near our Experiences in Botswana, Zambia, and Zimbabwe to enter the tourism and hospitality sector. Over nine months, participants complete classroom-based training at a certified hospitality school, followed by six months of hands-on experience across our Experiences. Rotating through different departments gives each woman a full view of safari operations while building confidence, practical skills, and a strong foundation for a long-term career in tourism.

The program costs $800 per participant, and each year we train 15 women.

Beneficiaries and Impact

The program supports young women from underserved communities who have completed Grade 12 but face financial challenges, limited opportunities, or social barriers that make continuing their education or finding work difficult. We focus on high-achieving students who show promise but need support to reach their potential.

For many participants, this is their first real entry into the tourism and hospitality industry. Through a combination of certified classroom training and practical experience, they gain confidence, hands-on skills, and qualifications to pursue meaningful work. This is vocational training at its best: practical, empowering, and truly life-changing.

By the end of the program, each woman leaves with strong technical abilities, real-world experience, and the foundation to build a sustainable career in tourism and hospitality ready to make a difference for herself, her family, and her community.

World Safari Day 2025

This World Safari Day, 25 November, African Bush Camps transformed Hwange National Park into a runway of Zimbabwean creativity as they teamed up with leading local artists for a groundbreaking fashion photoshoot. The result? An extraordinary celebration of what emerges when safari, fashion, and culture collide. 

The photoshoot was a first for many of our African Bush Camps staff: their first time in front of the camera, their first time wearing couture, their first professional makeup experience. Yet beyond the novelty, it was a profound act of self-expression and a celebration of Zimbabwean identity. 

Among the models were graduates of our Women in Tourism Program.