From Housekeeping to Changemaker: Bernadette Banda’s Journey at Thorntree River Lodge

As Women’s Month comes to a close, we are proud to share a truly inspiring story from our lodges in Zambia. In March 2026, Olivia Liveng, Yahoo writer, visited our iconic Thorntree River Lodge near Victoria Falls and met Bernadette Banda, one of our Foundation Guides. Olivia was so moved by Bernadette’s journey that she wrote a feature highlighting her impact on guests, the community, and the future of women in safari tourism.

From Behind the Scenes to Leadership

When Bernadette joined Thorntree River Lodge in 2017, she began in one of hospitality’s least visible roles: housekeeping. Through dedication, skill, and perseverance, she was promoted to Housekeeping Supervisor and later Head of Housekeeping. But her impact grew far beyond maintaining lodges, she became deeply involved with the African Bush Camps Foundation, serving as the bridge between guests and our community projects.

Today, Bernadette introduces travelers to the people whose lives being transformed in nearby communities. Her leadership story is especially significant in safari tourism, an industry traditionally dominated by men. Bernadette shows that leadership is about heart, determination, and lived experience.

Changing Lives Through Tourism

Bernadette’s journey became personal almost immediately. Within three months of joining Thorntree, she helped identify the Foundation’s first projects in Zambia, centered around Maunga Village. The first major initiative was constructing a clinic to improve access to healthcare, particularly for expectant mothers. This work resonated with Bernadette, who herself had once been a single mother working tirelessly to provide for her daughter. That early experience of support shaped her lifelong commitment to community empowerment.

Through the Women in Tourism Program, the Foundation provides young women from low-income and remote communities in Zambia and Zimbabwe with nine months of certified hospitality training combined with practical lodge placements. This initiative creates pathways to employment, leadership, and economic independence. Since 2023, 45 women have completed the program, with several now employed at African Bush Camps Experiences. In 2026, the program is expanding further in Zambia, continuing to build opportunities for women in tourism.

Representation Matters

Bernadette believes that representation is key: when young girls see women leading teams, working in lodges, and participating in community projects like Maunga, they see that careers in tourism are possible. She tells guests, “If a young girl visited Thorntree and asked whether safari could be a career for her, I would tell her absolutely yes. With dedication, hard work, and the right opportunities, she can build a meaningful career in tourism. Her background does not define her future.”

Her story is a powerful reminder that tourism can do more than create unforgettable experiences … it can transform communities and inspire the next generation.

Building Futures in Maunga Village

The Foundation’s work in Maunga goes beyond career development. School nutrition programs, access to books, uniforms, shoes, sanitary packs, and meals have improved attendance, concentration, and learning outcomes. In just a few years, the Grade 7 pass rate has risen from 1% to 53%, showing how targeted support can unlock potential in education. Bernadette is proud to witness these transformations firsthand, connecting guests to the real impact their visits make.

Foundation Guides Across All Experiences

Across all African Bush Camps Experiences, our Foundation Guides serve as ambassadors of change. They connect guests with the Foundation’s initiatives, sharing the stories of communities, women, and girls whose lives are being transformed through sustainable tourism.

Through this model, African Bush Camps not only delivers exceptional safari experiences but also demonstrates how tourism can be a force for empowerment and conservation.

Read the full article by Olivia Liveng here: Yahoo Creators: She started as a room cleaner at a safari lodge in Zambia, and now she’s changing children’s lives