From Housekeeping to Leadership: African Bush Camps Empowers Women in Safari Tourism

Bernadette Banda’s journey at Thorntree River Lodge near Victoria Falls exemplifies the transformative impact of the African Bush Camps Foundation. Starting as a room attendant in 2017, Banda rose to Head of Housekeeping and now serves as a Foundation ambassador, connecting guests to meaningful community projects in Zambia.

The African Bush Camps Foundation operates across Botswana, Zambia, and Zimbabwe, focusing on women’s empowerment, education, and conservation. Banda’s work highlights how tourism can extend beyond luxury hospitality to create lasting local impact. She helps guests understand that every stay at Thorntree contributes to programs like school feeding, clinics, and educational support in Maunga Village, improving outcomes for children and girls.

The Foundation’s Women in Tourism Program provides nine-month hospitality training for young women from low-income communities, combining professional qualifications with real-world lodge experience. Since 2023, 45 women have been trained, with several joining African Bush Camps lodges in roles ranging from chefs to supervisors.

Banda’s story underscores the importance of representation in tourism: by seeing her rise from housekeeping to leadership, young girls and women can envision meaningful careers in hospitality. African Bush Camps’ model shows how luxury safari experiences can be intertwined with community empowerment, sustainable tourism, and gender equality in Southern Africa.