Introduction: Voices Emerging from the Wild

Across the vast landscapes of Southern Africa—where arid deserts stretch into the horizon, mopane woodlands echo with the calls of elephants, and riverine forests teem with life—a quiet but powerful transformation is taking place. More women are stepping into the traditionally male-dominated world of safari guiding. In Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe, and South Africa, female guides are not just breaking gender barriers—they are reshaping the narrative of who gets to lead in the wild. These women are storytellers, conservationists, cultural ambassadors, and trailblazers, each navigating a terrain as complex and dynamic as the landscapes they traverse. In this interview-style narrative, we hear directly from some of Southern Africa’s most inspiring female guides, sharing their challenges, triumphs, and passion for the bush.

Thandi Dlamini – Greater Kruger, South Africa

“People think the bush is no place for a woman. I say, it’s where I feel most alive.”

Thandi grew up in a rural village near Kruger National Park. Her first exposure to wildlife was through stories told by her grandfather around the fire. “He would talk about the elephants as if they were family,” she says. “That storytelling stayed with me.” After studying nature conservation and enduring a tough, male-centric training program, Thandi emerged as one of the few female guides in the Greater Kruger area.

“Guests often expect a man when they arrive,” she says with a smile. “But once we’re out in the bush, their hesitation fades. I let the wildlife do the convincing.” Thandi believes women bring a different energy to guiding. “We’re more patient, more intuitive with animal behavior. And often, guests open up more—especially female travelers. They feel safe and heard.”

She’s now mentoring young women from her village, encouraging them to enter the tourism industry. “This job gave me a voice and a purpose. I want other girls to know they can do this too.”

Nyarai Mufunda – Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe

“Every track tells a story. You just have to learn how to read it.”

Nyarai’s calm, grounded presence makes her an unforgettable guide. Trained under some of Zimbabwe’s most respected bush mentors, she has earned her stripes through rigorous walking guide certifications—one of the most demanding in Africa. “I didn’t get any shortcuts because I was a woman,” she says. “If anything, I had to work harder to prove I could do it.”

Her favorite moments on safari are the quiet ones—reading tracks in the early morning, listening for alarm calls, noticing the subtle shifts in wind and light. “The bush is like a book. Some people flip through. I like to read every word.”

For Nyarai, guiding isn’t just about wildlife—it’s about trust and connection. “When guests trust you to walk them through lion territory, it’s not about bravado. It’s about skill, awareness, and confidence. That’s what I try to embody.”

She’s also involved in anti-poaching education, helping communities understand that wildlife protection and female empowerment are interconnected. “When women succeed, the whole community rises.”

Miriam Tshwene – Okavango Delta, Botswana

“The Delta is my heartbeat. I know its rhythms like my own.”

Miriam is a specialist in mokoro (dugout canoe) safaris in Botswana’s Okavango Delta—an area known for its beauty and biodiversity. As one of the first local women to guide water-based safaris in the region, she’s had to navigate both literal and societal currents. “At first, the men laughed. They said the mokoro was too heavy for me to pole. But I practiced every day. Now I glide through channels they can’t even enter.”

Her deep knowledge of aquatic ecosystems, birdlife, and Delta lore makes every trip with her a soulful immersion. “I teach guests to listen to the water, to move with respect. The hippos watch you. The fish eagles call you. This place is alive.”

Miriam has also started a local initiative that trains young women in hospitality and boat handling. “Tourism is our future,” she says. “And women must be part of that future.”

Selma Shilongo – Etosha National Park, Namibia

“The desert may look empty, but it holds more life than you can imagine.”

Selma grew up on the fringes of Etosha National Park, where wildlife and human survival often intersect. “We lived with elephants breaking our fences. But we also knew their movements, their personalities,” she says. That knowledge gave her a unique perspective when she trained as a guide.

Now working with a leading lodge near the park, Selma takes pride in offering more than just sightings. “I explain how the wildlife and people have coexisted for centuries. Guests are amazed when they hear about our tracking techniques, our herbal medicines, our history.”

As a female guide in a remote area, Selma has faced suspicion from both within her community and outside it. “Some said guiding is a man’s job. But I knew my worth. I knew I belonged in the bush.” Today, she’s helping local girls with scholarships to pursue tourism education. “Once, no one believed I could do this. Now, people come to me for advice.”

The Impact of Their Presence

What unites these women is not just their skill or courage, but the transformative impact they have on the safari experience. Guests often describe feeling more engaged, more relaxed, and more emotionally connected during a guided experience led by a woman. Female guides tend to blend knowledge with warmth, intuition with scientific insight, and authority with humility—qualities that enhance both learning and enjoyment.

Beyond guest experience, their presence is changing the tourism industry itself. More lodges are investing in female training programs, more communities are seeing the benefits of supporting girls in conservation careers, and slowly, a new generation is growing up knowing that women can—and do—lead in the wild.