Four pioneering women shaping Africa's sustainable travel scene

“When African women rise up, wildlife thrives,” says Deborah Kalmeyer, one of four visionary leaders interviewed by Africa's sustainable travel industry for International Women's Day.

What do they have in common?

They are restructuring responsible tourism and proving that conservation-driven travel can enhance both ecosystems and communities. They also lead the way in high-end, low-impact tourism, indicating that economic success and environmental responsibility are closely related.

And perhaps most surprising, they break the barriers of male-dominated industries and guide a deep commitment to tenacity and community-driven change.

Now, meet the women who will shape the future of sustainable travel in Africa.

Beverlygeveil – Great Plains

Born in South Africa, Beverly Geubert is a well-known filmmaker, photographer, designer and wildlife conservationist. As a whole, National Geographic Explorer, she co-produced over 40 films (8 Emmy Award-winning) with her husband Derek Joubert, and co-authored 12 books to show off African wildlife.

She co-founded the Great Plains in 2006 and oversaw 15 sustainable safari camps in Botswana, Kenya and Zimbabwe. In 2014, she co-organized the Great Plains Foundation, a US-based 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to conservation and community development.

In an email interview, she recalled that a commitment to sustainability really began in Masai Mara when she and her husband came across a pile of plastic waste left behind by the crew of a Chinese film. She calls the moment a definition, and drives her and her husband to act instantly. “It was shocking that everyone could actually be so insensitive to the pristine nature of the environment that came to the film for its quality,” she says.

She takes great pride in initiatives such as Solar Mamas, Conservation Education, and Great Plains Earth Academy.

For her, sustainable travel means “being carbon negative and responding to the goal of choosing a place or business that fully embraces these values.”

If she could change one thing about how the world perceives travel in Africa, she would understand that travel will come in many ways. She explains that reducing carbon footprint is essential, but stopping travel to Africa altogether will have devastating consequences and drive millions into poverty.

“The poor people rely on cows who poach, cut down the forests and destroy the landscape,” she says. In her opinion, this loss will far outweigh the impact of high-end, low-impact travel that supports the community.

When asked about the role of women in sustainable travel, she replied that women, the backbone of the community, often have a natural tendency to conservation and sustainability. She believes that if women are empowered through education, leadership roles and economic opportunities, women can drive meaningful change.

Tinolla Rodgers – African Monarch Lodge

Tinolla Rogers is the Managing Director and Owner of African Moner Clog and operates two lodges and campsites in Buwabuwata National Park, in the heart of Namibia's Zambezi region.

This is one of the country's most remote regions with unique challenges. There are no power grids, rapid supply execution, waste management systems, and local maintenance specialists. Rogers built more than a thriving tourist destination from inevitability and pioneering spirit. She has established a circular economy that creates value, makes a sustainable living for the community, and preserves the land under the umbrella of the now award-winning Sijwa project.

When asked about her most proud moment in an email interview, she recalled a meeting in 2018 with a member of traditional authority, a member of the Meini Conservancy, a community member, and her late husband. Create jobs, provide skill training and generate revenue for the entire community.

Two years later, Chief Meiniri is back to see their progress. “In that moment, we were able to show him that all the promises we made were brought to life. That day is one of my proud moments and evidence that responsible tourism can create lasting changes in reality,” she said.

The Sijwa project goes beyond waste management. It includes beehives, permaculture nursery, sewing, carpentry and recycling workshops designed to make a sustainable living. She is building an entire economy from scratch to provide jobs and opportunities for the area.

“Everything we do is preserve this precious land and our impact will reach our community and make a real difference,” she says.

Stepping into the sole leadership of African Monarch Lodges was not part of her plan. She called it the path she chose for her. “A moment I felt the weight of anticipation, there was an unspoken question of whether I could fill my late husband's shoes. But at that moment I turned to the land, the wild, pristine beauty of this place teaches resilience.

She says being a sustainable woman is not just about protecting the environment, but building heritage. It means celebrating the past while shaping the future. It is to prove that leadership can come in many ways, and trust will continue if you guide your heart, authenticity and deep love for the land and its people.

“Today, I stand not only as a leader, but as a guardian of something much bigger than me. And in the eyes of the community, I can see that I am not alone on this journey. We are together,” she says.

Deborah Calmeyer -Roar Africa

Born in Zimbabwe, Deborah Kalmeyer has a deep connection to Africa due to his ancestral connections dating back to 1688 in Cape Town. She founded Roar Africa, a luxury travel agency in 2005.

She believes that true sustainability is about reciprocity, and travel has changed tourists, but leaves a lasting and positive impact on destinations they visit. For Africa, this means a delicate balance between wildlife conservation and community support.

“Africa is a vast, diverse, deep and deep continent with a rich culture, cutting-edge conservation efforts and potentially life-changing travel experiences. It is more than just a place to visit.

In an email interview, she reflected on launching the first women's empowerment retreat in 2019, explaining the deep satisfaction she feels when amplifying women's voices to shape the future of conservation and tourism.

The retreat brings global travelers to Africa and connects with African women who have broken barriers both tribal and western. These conferences brought scholarships, conservation funds, women's health initiatives, documentary films and exchange programs.

Although tourism and conservation in Africa is male dominant, we believe that being a woman brings a unique perspective rooted in a joint, community and long-term vision.

Julie Church – Seas4Life

Julie Church is a four-generation Kenya and is the founder of Seas4Life and Ocean Sole. Her background in marine conservation and eco-entrepreneurship has helped her work with leading organizations such as the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), Kenya Wildlife Service, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

In 2005, she founded Ocean Saul, a flip flop recycle company, transforming marine pollution into art and impact. “We not only wiped out the beaches, but also created revenue and awareness for our communities and buyers through our products,” she says.

After years of consulting, she realized that the most powerful way to connect people to the ocean is not through impact reports or policies, but through direct and practical experiences that emphasize how the ocean shapes our daily lives and how our actions shape the ocean.

In her opinion, it is difficult to integrate sustainability into tourism, especially in areas where short-term economic pressures exceed long-term conservation goals. However, establishing Seas4Life in 2018 is a way to use travel as a platform to advocate for sustainable travel and marine conservation.

Encourage her guests to swim with the sharks, which transforms fear into charm. By promoting direct connections, travelers may begin to understand these often assumed marine life. She believes that “the impact of tourism can be truly transformative with the idea of ​​observation, learning, and engaging.”

Her defining moment came when she first saw the effects of sea turtle conservation along Kenya's north coast. She realized the power of education, training and alternative income opportunities. She saw how these efforts led to more protected nesting and foraging sites and reduced poaching.

But she feels that the biggest obstacle to marine conservation is making people realize that ocean travel in Africa is more than a beach vacation. She often visits the ocean to compare safari experiences. She encourages everyone to ask.

When asked about her experience as a woman leading sustainability efforts in Africa, her response was short: “It's challenging.” But she believes in setting an example and delivering results that speak more eloquently than words.