Empowering Women, Protecting Paradise 🦏

Good Morning 🌞

Welcome to another day of Joy Hour

Today, we're excited to share stories about the incredible women safari guides of Botswana. These amazing women are changing the game in a job that used to be mostly for men. They work in the heart of Africa’s wilderness and show great bravery, passion, and strength.

Empowering Women, Protecting Paradise

Let’s meet Bontle Cindy Mothogaathobogwe. Bontle is from the Bayei tribe and grew up in Boro, a small village by the Okavango Delta. Since she was young, she learned to steer mokoros (traditional canoes) through the Delta’s waterways. Now, she’s not just navigating mokoros, but she’s also an ambassador for her community and a protector of the Delta, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Bontle says, "To ride a mokoro through these waters is truly special. It’s like being an ambassador of our state, sharing our culture with tourists in the peaceful Delta."

The Okavango Delta is a beautiful, wild place that's still pretty natural and unspoiled compared to other safari spots like Kruger National Park. It's a biodiversity hotspot, looked after by the Bayei tribe. They work hard to keep it safe from poaching and other dangers, protecting hundreds of animal species.

A New Era in Safari Guiding

Women like Bontle are breaking old traditions and leading the way. In the past, women in the Delta would gather grass for building. Now, they're leading tours, teaching visitors about the wildlife and how to keep the ecosystem balanced.

This change is part of a bigger movement in Africa to give more power to women in the safari industry. For example, Botswana’s Chobe Game Lodge has an all-female guide team, and the Female Guide Program by African Bush Camps is training women in skills like driving and animal tracking.

Inspiring a Community

Bontle’s work does more than guide tourists; it inspires her whole community. She says, "My community sees me as an inspiration. They’re learning from me, and together, we’re changing old ideas and bringing more diversity to our work."

Let’s celebrate the bravery and leadership of these wonderful women who are not only guiding safaris but also paving the way for more equality and conservation success.

Some cool news from beehiiv 🐝

This is something soooo huge for the team and the company. Read the post from our CEO and feel the joy the team is feeling! 💃