Africa’s Women in Conservation: Stories of Strength, Spirit, and Safari

Across Africa's tourism landscape, our women are vessels that carry hope, strength, and sustenance. Their talents shine like the bold patterns of woven baskets, signposting the soft skills that feed whole communities: guides, hosts, conservationists, and storytellers.

Africa's Women Holding Posterity in Their Hands

I'm a proud member of this community. Throughout my 25-year career in African-based tourism, the resourceful and hardworking women I've worked alongside share one vital characteristic: a deep, unwavering love for our land and its people.

This blog honours the unsung icons of tourism. The women who do the quiet work that nourishes both our urban and wild places. They may not always be in the spotlight, but they tirelessly support the entire structure of Africa’s tourism landscape.

From guiding guests through remote wildernesses to curating spaces of welcome and wonder, these women are reimagining what it means to explore, protect, and belong.

Women Who Weave Africa's Wild Futures

Four remarkable women, each with her own story, yet all sharing a belief that women bring a particular sensitivity and strength to conservation. One that connects people not just to wildlife, but to the land itself.

Suzanne Bayly – Classic Portfolio

Suzanne leads Classic Portfolio, which represents privately owned lodges and camps across Africa and the Indian Ocean Islands. Each property in her collection is rooted in conservation and community upliftment.

"Women have this incredible capacity to collaborate around a shared purpose without letting ego get in the way. We juggle – mother, mentor, hard worker, team player, shoulder to cry on – all at once, and still manage to move things forward with energy and empathy."

As a bright and tenacious young entrepreneur, Suzanne's dream began to take shape over the course of 25 years, in the great company of many notable women. 

"True conservation is not a marketing strategy; it's a commitment to protecting biodiversity while ensuring the people living at the edge of protected areas are part of the solution. This is where women in conservation are making their mark. Women tend to think holistically. They weave together the threads of ecology, community, and economy. They recognise that protecting wild spaces isn't only about anti-poaching or policy, it's about creating viable futures: building circular economies where communities thrive, ensuring that conservation is not imposed but lived, and reimagining protected areas as landscapes of opportunity rather than boundaries of exclusion."

Nomtha Twala – Camissa House

Cape Town boutique hotel haven Camissa House, at the foot of Table Mountain, is a place shaped by care, culture, and connection. Nomtha and her team welcome guests with an intention that makes a place feel instantly familiar.

"I see our role as helping guests experience that harmony: to wake up surrounded by natural beauty, but also to step outside and feel the energy of an African city that's alive with culture and creativity. In that way, we're not only preserving our spaces but also reimagining how they fit together, showing that Africa is more than a single narrative. It's a balance of wilderness, history, and modern identity. And when guests experience that balance, it transforms the way they see and connect with this continent."

Chantelle Cook – Hospitality and Lodge Founder

Chantelle is the entrepreneurial force behind HillsNek Safari Camp and soon-to-launch Nkasa Linyanti (Natural Selection). Her passion for Africa is boundless, and it shows in everything she does.

"Ultimately, my goal is to carve out space for women to thrive, inspire others, and demonstrate that sustainable, women-led initiatives are vital to the future of travel. Especially here in the continent of Africa."

A particularly touching moment for Chantelle was during a recruitment drive in a remote local village in Northern Botswana.

"A lovely lady by the name of Lucy laid a mat on the ground, and we sat with her and her children, who played curious circles around us. Eager to work and willing to start from the bottom, she told me about the food shortages caused by human-wildlife conflict in her village, which made feeding her family a daily struggle." 

Years later, Chantelle had the pleasure of visiting a luxury lodge in the Okavango Delta, warmly welcomed by Lucy, who now served as the front-of-house host. Her smiling face and warm embrace were a powerful reminder of how far she had come. 

“When determination is present, the sky truly is the limit for women.”

Chantelle shares that it's these stories of strength, resilience, and unwavering determination that continue to inspire her. 

She concludes, “I'm committed to championing women like Lucy and others every single day, because their stories exemplify the true spirit of Africa. It's a spirit that's kind and relentless in its perseverance.”

Women Leading Africa's Tourism Renaissance

Travel is often celebrated for its transformative power. But for these women, transformation isn’t a date on the calendar. Instead, it's a daily practice. It's how they lead, connect, and preserve Africa's wild and rare urban sanctums for generations to come, paving the way for the future of women in tourism.

Africa's women in conservation are not just shaping the future: they're weaving it. Like the grasslands they protect, their collaboration carries more than just stories.

Travel to Africa and Become an Impactful Vessel

Ask Rhino Africa to book your trip, and when you next walk Africa's plains, countryside lanes or explore our vibrant metropolis byways, remember the blades of grass beneath your feet. Each may seem solitary, but they represent something vast and vital: a network of women in tourism whose strength lies not only in their independence, but also in their steadfast unity. Make your dream African safari a reality.

Featured Image Credit: Londolozi