These women aren’t just driving change behind the scenes; they’re building brands, empowering communities, and reimagining sustainability. Across Africa, a powerful movement is taking root — From Kenya’s courtrooms to South Africa’s skies, and from community campsites to luxury retreats, these changemakers are challenging the norms of a male-dominated space and putting people and planet at the heart of the travel experience. Their work reminds us that when women lead, nature follows — and both thrive.
Dr. Paula Kahumbu – Kenya’s elephant advocate
Picture/Capital News
The powerhouse behind WildlifeDirect in Kenya is one of the continent’s most vocal and effective advocates for elephant conservation. As CEO, she spearheads the Hands Off Our Elephants campaign — a groundbreaking initiative that not only combats poaching but also rallies everyday Kenyans to become stewards of their natural heritage.
The campaign has driven policy reform and accountability across the judicial chain, from legislation to law enforcement, setting a new precedent for wildlife protection in Africa.
But Paula’s impact extends far beyond advocacy. She is also the producer and host of Wildlife Warriors, an award-winning documentary series that celebrates African conservation heroes and brings their stories to screens across the continent.
In recognition of her bold leadership and the tangible change she’s championed, she received a special commendation at the United Nations Person of the Year celebrations — a testament to her role in mobilising national and global action for Africa’s elephants.
Beverly Joubert – The Storyteller of the Wild
Picture/Saving Wild
From behind the lens to the frontlines of conservation, South African-born Beverly Joubert has spent decades championing Africa’s wildlife.
Alongside her husband, Dereck, she’s co-produced over 40 National Geographic films and authored 12 books — but her passion goes far beyond storytelling.
In 2006, the couple co-founded Great Plains, a luxury safari brand with sustainability at its core. A moment in the Maasai Mara, where they found a heap of plastic waste left by a film crew, became a personal wake-up call.
“It was shocking to me that anyone could be so insensitive to the pristine nature of the environment they had come to film,” she told Forbes in an interview.
Since then, Joubert has led initiatives like Solar Mamas, Conservation Education, and the Great Plains Earth Academy, all underpinned by her belief that “sustainable travel means living up to the goal of becoming carbon negative and choosing locations and companies that embrace these values fully.”
She’s particularly passionate about ensuring the world doesn’t misinterpret sustainable travel as an excuse to avoid Africa.
Jana Meyer – Hope for Wildlife helicopters
Picture/My Wildlife SA
Based in Hoedspruit, Jana Meyer is the force behind Hope for Wildlife Helicopter Services — a pioneering operation dedicated to airborne conservation support.
Passionate about protecting South Africa’s wildlife, Jana plays a key role in anti-poaching efforts, including flying during high-stakes rhino darting operations for dehorning and partnering with K9 units during counter-poaching simulations.
Her work doesn’t stop there: she and her team also carry out aerial game censuses, conduct pangolin rescue missions, and locate animals caught in snares, often providing the critical lifeline these creatures need.
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Deborah Calmeyer – The connector between cultures and conservation
Picture/Xigera
Born in Zimbabwe and with deep ancestral roots in Cape Town, Deborah Calmeyer channels heritage into purpose through ROAR AFRICA, a luxury travel company she founded in 2005.
Her vision is believed to be a travel experience that transforms the traveller and gives back deeply to the destination. “Africa is not just a place to visit — it is a place to engage with, learn from, and be changed by,” she told Forbes.
In 2019, she launched the first Women’s Empowerment Retreat, where global travellers connect with African women leading change in their communities. The ripple effects have been huge: conservation funds, health programs, scholarships, and international awareness.
“Tourism and conservation in Africa are male-dominated spaces,” she notes, “but women bring a perspective rooted in collaboration, community and long-term vision.”
Her motto for sustainability is reciprocity — a two-way exchange between land and traveller, host and guest.
Monica Mthabine – Empowering youth through nature
Picutre/Conservation.org
Monica Mthabine serves as the outreach coordinator for Conservation South Africa within the Kruger to Canyons (K2C) Biosphere in Mpumalanga — part of a global network under Conservation International that champions nature-based development.
With a deep commitment to nurturing future conservation leaders, Monica launched a dynamic Scouts programme that engages young people through outdoor adventures and hands-on learning.
At Thornybush Nature Reserve, participants get the rare chance to camp in a protected area, observe wildlife up close, and build a lasting connection with the natural world.
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