Supporting Gender Equality in the Safari Industry

Safari guiding across Africa is predominantly a male-dominated space. In Botswana over 90% of safari guides are men. Women in the region do not have access to the same career paths that tourism offers to their male counterparts. To date, there has been little active or ongoing investment, training and skills development in female guides that would empower them to pursue their dreams, open new career choices and provide for their families. The notable exception is Chobe Game Lodge with an all-female guide team, the Chobe Angels.

In November 2021, the African Bush Camps Foundation launched a female safari guide project that is targeted at creating job opportunities for local women. The project aims to develop female safari guides through skills training, mentorship, job shadowing and rotations at African Bush Camps lodges. The response was overwhelming with 350 applicants but only 5 positions were available for the first intake. The training is a two-year program that will provide theory, practical and on-the-job training at ABC camps as a safari guide.

This program will allow the new recruits to gain significant professional experience in travel and tourism, as well as hospitality. Once the training is complete the female guides will be experts in wildlife, conservation, safe practices, photography, natural history, tracking, communication, and patience! The female guides will join the renowned team of professional guides at African Bush Camps, who are an integral part of the safari experience.

The Slow Fund is proud to invest in the female guide training program through a partnership with The African Bush Camps Foundation. B&R has committed to sponsoring two female guides per year for three years, commencing in mid-2022. You can meet the trainee female guides during a stay at African Bush Camps Linyanti or Khwai properties, which we love to include when planning a Bespoke Botswana trip.

In 2023, the female guide training program is rolling out in Zambia, restricted to only 10 applicants, and only three new trainees will be selected. B&R's 2023 Slow Fund sponsorship will go to two new Zambian trainee guides, who will commence their 2-year safari guide training in March.

About African Bush Camps Foundation

The African Bush Camps Foundation is a registered non-profit organization that has been in operation since 2006. The Foundation’s mission is to partner with communities that are located near our camps to improve quality of life and achieve long-term conservation through programs focusing on Education, Community Empowerment, and Conversation.

We have projects running in Zimbabwe, Zambia, and Botswana that focus on addressing challenges that include unemployment, food scarcity, poor education and healthcare infrastructure, low school attendance and dropouts due to financial constraints, wildlife poaching, and preserving natural resources.