The African wilderness has long been an area where myth and majesty intertwine, where the thunderous roar of lions echoes across the boundless savanna or the gentle rustle of leaves means a herd of elephants is passing by. In this majestic setting, African women are carving out their own unique roles, challenging age-old norms, and offering an unparalleled window into the wonders of Africa's wilderness.
The Pioneering Women of Safari Guiding
Safari guiding was traditionally thought to be a male role and has been dominated by men for decades. The role was thought to require physical strength, in-depth knowledge of wildlife, and wilderness survival skills that were traits customarily associated with men. Women have been interested in guiding but cultural and societal norms, as well as all male quarters for guides in safari lodges in East Africa have also played a role in keeping women out of the industry. Becoming a guide is not easy but women also have to compete against decades of preconceptions. The vision has been a brawny male safari guide as set in many Hollywood movies.
The road for women in the safari industry has been long and arduous, but trailblazers like Kenyan-born Verity Williams have paved the way. In 1962, Williams started as a secretary at Ker & Downey, and two decades later, she became one of the continent's first female safari guides. Her tenacity and love for the great outdoors inspired generations of women to follow in her footsteps, challenging societal norms and proving that they, too, could excel in this demanding profession.
A number of foundations, including African Bush Camps in Southern Africa, is helping with all-female guiding programs that include training to receive the precious 4x4 driver’s license, handling of a jeep, changing tires in the bush, and handling a weapon in case of emergencies. Gender equality for guides must involve the traveler, and more safari-goers are helping empower women to become the face of the safari industry. To accept that a female guide is as knowledgeable, passionate, and capable as the historic male vision of the Africa safari guide, they must demonstrate their ability but also show more empathy for their guests’ needs.
Addressing Gender Inequality
Before 2021, more than 90% of safari guides in Southern Africa were male, with less than 5% of women receiving regular training and development opportunities. Companies like Africa Bush Camps, Ker & Downey in Botswana, and Dunia in Tanzania recognized this glaring disparity and took action. While African Bush Camps has set a goal to have 25 female guides in the safari industry by 2025, Dunia has created Africa’s first all-female-run safari camp, employing only women, from the camp manager to the expert guides.
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The Journey to Becoming a Safari Guide
The path to becoming a safari guide is a demanding one, requiring a unique blend of knowledge, skills, and determined focus. For the women enrolled in the African Bush Camps Foundation's program, this journey begins with a comprehensive theoretical and practical training curriculum.
Theoretical and Practical Training
Participants delve into the intricacies of wildlife biology, ecology, and conservation principles, laying the foundation for their future roles as ambassadors of the natural world. Practical training sessions take place in the heart of the bush, where they learn to track animals, identify bird calls, and navigate the rugged terrain with confidence. Alongside their formal training, the aspiring female guides have the opportunity to learn from experienced mentors and job shadow seasoned professionals. This hands-on approach allows them to gain invaluable insights, develop their skills, and build a network of support within the industry. The journey is not without its challenges. From navigating cultural and societal expectations to mastering the physical demands of the job, these women must overcome numerous obstacles.
Female Safari Guides Have Access and Opportunities
The rise of female safari guides is more than just a milestone in gender equality; it represents a transformative shift in the industry that promises to enrich the experience for visitors and local communities alike. By diversifying the ranks of safari guides, the industry is embracing a wealth of perspectives, experiences, and approaches. This diversity not only enhances the quality of the safari experience but also fosters a more inclusive and representative environment, inspiring future generations to pursue their dreams. As more women take on leadership roles in the safari industry, they become powerful role models for young girls and women, challenging traditional gender norms and demonstrating that no dream is too ambitious. Their presence in the field serves as a beacon of hope, igniting a passion for conservation and environmental stewardship in the hearts and minds of those who witness their dedication firsthand. Their sensitivity to the subtleties of the natural world can enhance the overall experience, from interpreting animal behavior to sharing cultural insights. Female guides offer a fresh and compelling narrative that enriches the understanding and appreciation of the African wilderness. More female guides also provide the independent, solo female traveler with a greater comfort level-not only feeling safer in their guide’s company but also often enjoying a woman’s perspective of life in Africa.
Ongoing training, workshops, and mentorship opportunities will help participants continuously enhance their skills, stay abreast of industry developments, and grow into leadership roles within the safari industry.
The mission of many foundations and established projects in Africa are meant to share in the conservation efforts demonstrated in the impact of the Female Guides Training Program. By empowering women and challenging traditional gender norms, the safari industry is undergoing a transformative shift.
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Practical Advice for Women on Safari
Here's some practical advice for women planning a safari:
- Pack light, layer smart: Choose neutral, breathable clothing that can be layered for changing temperatures.
- Periods on safari are manageable: With a little preparation and communication, menstrual care is entirely doable in the bush. Remember to bring sufficient supplies with you. If you are due to have your period on safari, please do NOT assume that you will be able to purchase tampons or pads easily.
- Practical clothes (shorts, trousers, T-shirts) in the following colours: green, brown, grey and khaki.
- Essential toiletries only: sanitary products, toothpaste and toothbrush, deodorant, moisturizer, sunblock, and any prescribed medicines.
- A sports bra - this is especially prevalent for our well-endowered ladies. Roads are often rutted and the further you sit back in the game-drive vehicle, the more you will be bumped about. A good, supportive sports bra can make the drive a lot more comfortable.
What not to wear on safari:
- Blue clothes - they attract tsetse flies.
- Black clothes - they also attract flies and become very hot.
- White clothes - they create a high contract for colourblind animals and get very dirty.
- Bright colours and busy patterns are also a no-go due to their high contrast.
- Clothes that have animal prints.
To answer the “can you wear perfume on safari?” question that crops up now and then, we would say no. Any strongly scented perfume, hairspray or body spray are likely to ward off animals due to their unfamiliar scents.
Etiquette and Safety Tips
Safety on safari is everyone's duty. It's important to listen to your guide or ranger and always obey instructions given by the staff. They have years of training and experience, especially in predicting the behaviour of wild animals. Never, ever take food back to your tent or leave food lying around. Wild animals have a very keen sense of smell and are driven by the need to eat. Always zip up your tent or close the door to your suite when leaving.
Be gracious when staff offer to carry your bag, refill your water bottle or assist you into the vehicle. In Africa, offering assistance is a sign of respect and that you are liked; accepting it shows that you appreciate and acknowledge the courtesy being afforded you. It is considered good manners to greet the person and enquire how they are before you ask for something.
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Spending time on safari usually means trying new things - every place you visit will have a private chef, or culinary team, that work hard produce delicious meals throughout your stay. If you have strict dietary requirements, let your Africa Safari Expert know during the consultation process.
African Bush Camps Foundation and Community Empowerment
Our African Bush Camps Foundation is a female-founded organisation. In 2006, with the establishment of the Foundation, Sophia Klein achieved a lifelong dream of working side by side with rural communities. The Foundation aims to work in partnership with communities to develop a sense of ownership and a vested interest in the success of their communal ventures instead of the unconditional ‘hand-out’ mentality. The resilience and dedication of women is reflected in the groups who receive business mentorship and skills development through the Foundation. These groups are women-dominated and have been diligent, responsible, reliable and consistent in running their sustainable businesses and empowering their villages through this. They have managed to transform their own lives and reclaim their place as the matriarchs of their communities. These women sustain not only themselves but their children and the greater community. The African Bush Camps Foundation was built to empower communities. The Community Empowerment Projects such as the Vuche Vuche Craft Cooperation, Thandanani Sewing Projects, Vukani Group and Detema Sewing Group are comprised of dedicated, talented women.
Beatrice Mukang’andu is one of the leaders of the Maunga Village, the closest community to Thorntree River Lodge that the Foundation is in partnership with. Her official title is ‘Deputy Senior Head Woman of the Maunga Community’, and she helps lead the community with resilience and grace. She is also an Elder of the Zambian Royal family, where she functions as the ‘Keeper of Traditional Knowledge’, which must be where her wisdom and leadership stems from.
The clinic in Maunga was built with women in mind, as the infant and maternal mortality rates in Zambia are very high, particularly in remote rural areas like Maunga, where the closest health centre is a 20km walk away.
Sande Society: Women's Initiation and Cultural Significance
Sande, also known as zadεgi, bundu, bundo and bondo, is a women's initiation society in Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea and the Ivory Coast. In addition, Sande champions women's social and political interests and promotes their solidarity vis-a-vis the Poro, a complementary institution for men.
Anthropologists believe that Sande originated in Gola society and spread to the neighboring Mende and Vai; other ethnic groups adopted Sande as recently as the present century. Although anthropologists and art historians sometimes describe the Sande society as an all-embracing, pan-ethnic association, there is considerable cultural variation throughout the region. Adolescent girls are initiated as a group during the post-harvest dry season in a specially cleared area of forest surrounding the town or village.
After their wounds have healed, the girls are instructed in domestic skills, farming, sexual matters, dancing, and medicine. Specialized skills such as dyeing cloth may be taught to girls who demonstrate special aptitude or, according to some sources, to girls from high-ranking landowning lineages. The most essential lessons learned are deference to authority and an absolute respect for secrecy.
After initiation, members obtain the feeling of a larger cultural identity. Membership in Sande is a lifelong identity that members carry down to their daughters. Through this bonding, women are also taught to maintain the peace of the town. At the conclusion of their initiation the girls are ritually washed and returned to the community as marriageable adults. They emerge from the forest dressed in their finest clothes, with new names signifying their newly achieved adult status and their persona (i.e. rank) in the association's ritual hierarchy.
The Role of Masks in Sande Society
Women generally do not wear masks in West Africa, but in this region the most numerous and most important wood masks are produced for use by women for the Sande. Several types of masks, some in wood but many made of leather, fur, and cloth, are used in conjunction with the counterpart male initiation society, the Poro.
The women's Sande and men's Poro associations alternate political and ritual control of "the land" (a concept embracing the natural and supernatural worlds) for periods of three and four years respectively. Due to the interconnected nature of the Sande and Poro societies, women are regarded as valued and essential community leaders. Although men and women are not regarded as being complete “equals,” Sande society holds a large sway over the community and zoes play an integral role in community conflict resolution.
Controversies and Challenges
At the heart of the debate surrounding these traditions is the issue of female genital mutilation (FGM). As a result of Sande society’s integral role in local national level politics, legislation that has tried to limit FGM practices in Liberia has been largely ineffective. Humanitarian and feminist activists have problematized Sande's FGM practices and the dangers that it poses to women’s health and freedom. Concern has been raised over the age of consent for initiation into Sande societies. Girls as young as two have been sent into bush school.
Most Fascinating African Tribes Still Thriving Today
Discover the most fascinating African tribes still thriving today, from the iconic Maasai warriors of East Africa to the artistic Ndebele people of South Africa.
- The Maasai are arguably the most famous of the African tribes. According to Maasai oral tradition, Maasinta, the first Maasai, received cattle as a sacred gift from Ngai, the sky god.
- The Hadza are an indigenous hunter-gatherer African tribe residing in Tanzania, around Lake Eyasi in the Arusha region. The Hadza are one of the last remaining groups of traditional hunter-gatherers in Africa.
- The Samburu people speak a dialect of the Maa language, which they share with the Maasai. What sets the Samburu apart from other African tribes is its gerontocracy-a social structure governed strictly by elders.
- The Karo practice flood-retreat cultivation along the riverbanks, similar to the ancient Egyptians along the Nile, growing sorghum, maize, and beans.
- The Himba are nomadic pastoralists who travel between waterholes with their cattle and goats. The Himba are known as the "Red People of Africa" due to their distinctive otjize body paint-a mixture of butter, animal fat, and ochre.
- The Zulu people are the largest ethnic group in South Africa.
- The Xhosa recognize uThixo or uQamata as their Supreme Being, though daily spiritual practices focus on ancestral intermediaries.
- The Khoisan are renowned for their close connection to nature. Traditionally, hunter-gatherers, the San people, lived off the land, roaming vast tracts of bushveld across southern Africa.
- The Ndebele women are responsible for decorating homesteads with vibrant patterns and colors.
