Female-Run Safari Camps: Changing the Landscape

The sun has barely pushed its first light over the horizon when the coffee arrives — hot, strong, and carried by a smiling guide in khaki. She greets you with “Habari za asubuhi?” and the kind of warmth that makes you forget you’re thousands of kilometres from home. Welcome to one of Tanzania’s growing number of female-run safari camps, where the game is not only changing — it’s being rewritten.

For decades, the safari industry followed a familiar pattern: male guides up front, male managers in charge, male trackers leading the way. Women were often found behind the scenes in housekeeping, kitchens, or administration. But across Tanzania, that’s shifting. Camps like Dunia Camp in the Serengeti have embraced all-female teams, from management to guiding, and the results are turning heads — and preconceptions — in equal measure.

A different perspective

Ask guests what they notice first, and many will say: the patience. Female guides often bring a calmer pace to game drives, happy to sit for an hour watching the subtle changes in a lion pride’s body language rather than rushing off for the next sighting. They’re storytellers as much as spotters, weaving cultural insights, ecological facts, and bush humour into every kilometre.

The same skill, new role models

Make no mistake — these women are every bit as capable in the field as their male counterparts. They can reverse a Land Cruiser down a muddy track with millimetre precision, identify a bird call at dawn, and change a tyre in the middle of lion country without breaking a sweat. But beyond the technical skill, they’re also role models for local girls who now see safari guiding as something they, too, can aspire to.

Ripple effects

It’s not just about gender balance — though that matters hugely. Female-led teams often foster closer community ties, sourcing supplies locally and mentoring young women into hospitality or guiding apprenticeships. Many also lead conservation education programmes, bringing school groups into the parks for the first time.

The guest experience

For travellers, staying at a female-run camp often means a more personal touch. You might learn how to cook ugali over an open fire, hear stories about growing up near the parks, or get a guide’s insider tips on photographing elephants in soft morning light. And yes, you’ll still get your sunrise coffee, delivered with a smile.

📍 Must-visit example: Dunia Camp, Central Serengeti.