We at Desert & Delta Safaris are writing a bold new story for the safari industry. Empowering women is part of our DNA—a core value consistently woven into our daily work and shared by all who comprise our incredible team.
Throughout our organisation, we celebrate the women who make us stronger, alongside our guests who teach, encourage and support us. From leading game drives to managing lodges and keeping entire communities together, we know the force of empowered women.
It’s International Women’s Day and there’s no better time to spotlight the journeys and impact of our leading ladies and how their work is shaping travel and Botswana for the better.
The Power of Empowerment:
For us, empowering women is about recognising talent, potential, and leadership and offering equal opportunity for all. Our portfolio reflects a significant shift in an industry historically dominated by men, with women leading over 50% of managerial roles across Desert & Delta Safaris’ camps and lodges.
Gorata Nyame journey within our family is one we’re proud to shine a light on.
Gorata Nyame, General Manager at Savute Safari Lodge
Gorata’s career in the industry began at Camp Okavango, where she was promoted from waitress to Trainee Manager, Assistant Manager, and then Front of House Manager. Now, Gorata is the General Manager at Savute Safari Lodge, and we are so proud to celebrate her as a truly inspiring leader in our family.
Previously a special education teacher for deaf children, Gorata’s compassion, kindness, and effortless ability to communicate and connect have been instrumental in her ongoing success and in supporting and empowering her team at every point.
Gorata’s remarkable path reiterates our core values and passion for uplifting those who dream, believe, and never give up.
Where Angels Soar:
Chobe Game Lodge is a sanctuary of firsts: the first permanent lodge in Chobe National Park, where Botswana’s first fleet of electric boats and game vehicles continue to operate, and home to Africa’s first all-women guiding team, the now famed Chobe Angels.
Described as “the matriarch of Chobe National Park,” the lodge is, in many ways, where our impact of empowerment was born and keeps thriving. From our management structure to the Chobe Angels, Chobe Game Lodge blazes as a beacon of inspiration that has garnered tangible change across Africa.
The Chobe Angels
As a company that has long recognised the value of women in key positions—challenging the norms of the tourism industry—we have consistently provided a platform for women to hone their skills and thrive.
Chobe Game Lodge began employing female guides in 2004, when only eight women in the country held professional guiding licenses. In 2014, we became the first lodge in Africa to establish an all-female guiding team, a pioneering initiative that remains in place 11 years later.
Today, our team of 18 female guides is part of a growing community of over 80 women with professional guiding licenses, more than 60 of whom have been part of the Chobe Game Lodge family at some point in their careers. The success of the Chobe Angels has set a powerful example for other safari operators across Africa, including South Africa and Tanzania.
Further, the impact on solo female travel to Africa is significant. Online searches for “solo female travel” have increased six-fold between 2016 and 2024, surpassing the previous January 2020 peak. We’ve noted a surge in bookings from solo women seeking the guidance of skilled and knowledgeable female safari guides, camp staff and managers and have responded with itineraries built for women.
Within each of our camps and lodges, we nurture environments that feel safe, warm and inspiring for all of our treasured guests. “In our culture, women hold home and family together and it’s exactly like that here at Chobe Game Lodge,” says Lesh Moiteela, Deputy General Manager at Chobe Game Lodge.
The Ripple Effect of Women Rising:
Women in the industry are boosting local economies, creating job opportunities, and reinvesting in their communities. They’re sending kids to school, starting businesses, and proving that when women rise, entire communities rise with them.
They’re also leading the charge in sustainable tourism, ensuring that Africa’s breathtaking landscapes and wildlife remain preserved for generations to come. Their nurturing nature stands at the helm of making sure our future generations get the opportunity to see the world how we do or, perhaps, even better.
The women of Desert & Delta Safaris are more than guides and managers—they are role models, they are changing lives, and preserving our planet.
We are consistently in awe of all who inspire, lead and share stories of hope, growth and success with equal measures of grit and grace. This is why we’ve introduced our Epic Experience itinerary: Empowering Women, a Journey of Impact & Inspiration in Botswana.
This itinerary presents a unique opportunity to travel alongside the Chobe Angels, meet leaders like Gorata, spend time with local community leaders, learn from pioneering conservationists and more.
The Places You’ll Go, The People You’ll Meet:
Day 1-3: Chobe Game Lodge, Chobe National Park
Day 4-6: Savute Safari Lodge, Savuti Region
Day 7-9: Nxamaseri Island Lodge, Okavango Panhandle
Optional Add-On: Tsodilo Hills Sleep-Out Camp expedition
Day 10-11: Grays Eden, Maun
A Few Package Highlights:
1. Empowerment Through Travel: Connect with Botswana’s inspiring female leaders, from pioneering safari guides to dedicated conservationists and visionary community entrepreneurs. By joining this journey, a significant portion of the proceeds will directly support female-led initiatives, with the option to contribute further.
2. Supporting Women’s Futures: Visit women-led conservation projects in both rural and urban areas, support female-run initiatives, and engage with trailblazers driving change in tourism and community development.
3. Authentic Cultural Encounters: Immerse yourself in local traditions, learn time-honoured skills, and gain insight into the challenges of human-wildlife coexistence.
4. Luxury Meets Adventure: Experience Botswana’s finest lodges, exclusive game drives, rejuvenating wellness retreats, and enriching cultural journeys.
Bookings and more information here.
