Every March we look forward to seeing celebrations of women across the world in what has become an unofficial month of tribute. Year on year, it feels more important to mark this occasion and raise awareness of the incredible work women are doing across the globe, shining a light on their achievements and raising them up.
We wanted to take this opportunity to showcase some of the pioneering women across Africa and share their stories and accomplishments so that they might inspire you too.
Joyce Beckwith
Hot air balloon pilot in the Masai Mara
Captain Joyce Beckwith might be better known to you by either her moniker or her amazing achievement - Captain Smiles, the world’s first black female hot air balloon pilot. Born and raised in Kenya, Beckwith earned her licence in 2018 and is passionate about introducing people to her home country and its incredible animals and scenery from the basket of her hot air balloon.
Founder of Conservation South Luangwa, Rachel McRobb has made it her life’s work to protect the wildlife of Zambia’s South Luangwa National Park. McRobb and her team work to educate local communities, tackle poaching and bushmeat trades, and run surveillance on the most remote sections of the park. As a result, CSL has become the area’s largest non-profit anti-poaching and community conservation organisation.
In the face of criticism, Botswana’s Chobe Game Lodge formed its all-women guiding team. Sceptics argued women were unable to change tyres or protect guests from wild animals but the lodge actually saw that women-led teams thrived under the challenge. Now, almost a third of all female guides in Botswana work at Chobe Game Lodge and it has become one of the most progressive safari lodges in Africa.
The Black Mambas are the world’s first all-female anti-poaching unit. Tough as nails, they patrol at all hours of the day and in all weather, monitoring snares, human tracks, sounds of gunshots, and other suspicious activity. Incredibly they embark on this often dangerous work entirely unarmed, believing the war on poaching can be won through close monitoring, community building, and education.
Kazawadi dreamt of working in the African bush and amongst its wildlife since she was young but she faced backlash from both her family and the male-dominated safari. In spite of it all she succeeded and is now a guide at Tanzania’s all-female Dunia Camp proving that given the right chances, and with the appropriate support, women can succeed in anything they choose.
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