African Bush Camps Welcomes First Female Guide Graduates in Botswana

African-based safari company aims to make safari industry accessible and inclusive for women.

African Bush Camps Foundation (ABCF) welcomes its first female safari guides, the cream of a cohort of motivated women from communities in Botswana who have been trained in the ins and outs of guiding travelers safely and rewardingly through the bush. ABCF is a nonprofit organization that funds community empowerment, education, human-wildlife conflict resolution, and conservation. Since its inception, the Foundation has spearheaded 72 community projects across Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Zambia; 42 of those projects are currently in operation under the Foundationʼs wing. Launched in 2006, the Foundation operates through a multifaceted partnership with African Bush Camps (ABC). At least 2.5% of ABCʼs revenue goes toward the Foundation annually.

ABC was founded in 2006 by Beks Ndlovu, a professional safari guide born and raised in the village of Lupane on the outskirts of Hwange National Park in Zimbabwe. From the start of operations, Ndlovuʼs mission has been to operate a portfolio of luxury tented camps and lodges across Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Zambia that reincarnate the fantasy of ʼ Old Untouched Africaʼ while treating guests to professional guide-led experiences and bespoke safaris that can only be found in the bush. Ndlovu is a leading voice in the tourism and conservation spheres, advocating for tourism to be used as a vehicle to transform African communities.

A 100% owner-run effort, ABC is an African-based safari company designed to delight from luxury in the wild to the wildly luxurious with authentic safari experiences amid untamed nature. Operations are always focused on the guests, with 17 luxury-tented bush camps and lodges offering seamless safari experiences with internal flights, food, drinks, and activities included. ABC promotes and influences travel to Africa on a global scale while operating with a strong focus on conservation and an environmentally sustainable footprint that celebrates the culture of communities in the areas in which it operates. The company has been awarded the Green Tourism Gold Certification and named a Global Winner in the 2023 World Travel Awards.

ABCFʼs Female Guide Program is an intensive, two-year curriculum of theory, practical, and on-the-job training in ABC camps, designed to boost confidence, build companionship, and sharpen critical skills, from wildlife and conservation to photography and tracking. The graduates play a key role in paving the way for more balanced gender representation in the safari industry and offer strong support for women pursuing guiding careers. Their success is helping to break barriers and create opportunities for more women to enter this traditionally male-dominated field.

Among them, Baemule “Bae” Siethuka has become the first female guide to be promoted to trainee guide at ABC. Hailing from the village of Tutume in the countryʼs northeast, Bae dreamt of being a pilot but instead studied law and public administration before being inspired by a female guide and answering ABCFʼs call for trainees. The Female Guide Program ignited her passion for nature and conservation, “things Iʼve been interested in for as long as I can remember,” noting that her guiding combines her love of the wild and practiced communication skills.

“As a woman, there were challenges to being in such a male-dominated field, but that made me even more determined.” Now working at Atzaró Okavango Camp, ABCʼs wildly luxurious oasis tucked amid winding waterways and grasslands in the vibrant and diverse Okavango Delta, Bae enlivens time on safari by sharing fascinating details of what waits in the bush and reassuring guests with her knowledge and preparedness. Confidence and professionalism quickly earn trust, she says. “By the end of the day, the guests and I have great connections that go beyond everyoneʼs expectations.”

With the success of its first cohort of trainees, ABCF has expanded the Female Guide Project with three additional cohorts in Botswana and three in Zambia. The foundation plans to launch the Zimbabwe program in 2025, completing its vision of having female guides in the three countries in which it operates.