Last updated on March 6th, 2026
Featured image: The all-women team at Conservation Through Public Health (CTPH), founded by Ugandan veterinarian Dr. Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka, Uganda’s first wildlife vet and the recipient of global awards for her work in mountain gorilla conservation. | Photo provided by Conservation Through Public Health (CTPH)
Small group trips are curated for women, by women
by JourneyWoman Staff
JourneyWoman is collaborating with three women-owned travel companies in Africa to provide women travellers with unique opportunities to learn about conservation from visionary women in the field. These small group trips in Uganda, Tanzania and South Africa are led by women with decades of experience, and feature visionary women such as Uganda’s Dr. Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka, founder of the award-winning Conservation Through Public Health. Each company is a vetted member of JourneyWoman’s Women’s Travel Directory, which provides women travellers with a trusted resource to find and book multi-day tours to over 100 countries around the world.
“I’m always looking for ways to support both the women traveller and our women-owned business partners, who are creating unique experiences for women that not only educate us but inspire us to take action as the world’s most influential travellers,” says Carolyn Ray, CEO, JourneyWoman. “I can’t imagine a better way to experience conservation than through the eyes of the women who live there. I’m also committed to personally joining these trips so that I can advocate from a place of knowledge and first-hand experience.”
Across Africa, women are becoming more visible in tourism roles that they were once excluded from. When done properly, tourism can women gain financial independence, conserve and protect their communities and empower other women to learn new skills and careers. JourneyWoman’s “Women Trailblazers” series features some of the women who are doing just that, including Uganda’s Irene Nalwoga of Women Tour Uganda, Maggie Duncan Simbeye of Maggie’s Tours, Tanzania’s First Indigenous Woman Safari Owner, Kenya’s Mary Wykstra, founder of Action for Cheetahs and many more inspiring women, as documented by our Kenyan-based writer Rupi Mangat.
Tourism is one of the world’s most important economic sectors. It employs one in every 10 people on Earth and provides livelihoods to hundreds of millions more. Of these, most are women. Tourism also contributes to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goal Number 5: “To achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.” When we choose a woman-owned business, we are uplifting entire communities and helping to shift longstanding norms and stereotypes.
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Three wildlife conservation trips by women-owned businesses to Africa in 2026
1. Rhino Conservation in South Africa with Blue Sky Society Trust in September 2026
JourneyWoman’s second annual conservation trip with Blue Sky Society Trust to South Africa takes women to the wild heart of KwaZulu-Natal near Durban. JourneyWoman CEO Carolyn Ray joined the first trip in September 2026, which began in the golden beaches of Ballito to the remote beauty of Thonga Beach near Lake St Lucia, and the conservation-rich savannahs of Manyoni Private Game Reserve. This all-women trip features several meaningful conservation and community initiatives, in collaboration with Project Rhino and the Zululand Conservation Trust.
“This is not just another safari — it’s a bespoke, immersive experience where luxury, adventure, and conservation meet,” says Carla Geyser, Founder of Blue Sky Society Trust. “Imagine sipping sundowners as hippos wallow and crocodiles glide through the waters of Lake St Lucia, tracking the Big Five across private reserves, and connecting with passionate conservationists and local communities. It’s a journey that will leave a lasting impact — both on you and on the wild places we visit.”
Date: September 13 – 21, 2026, with an add-on trip available from September 21-25 to Cape Town. This women-only trip is limited to 10 women; 6 are required to make this trip happen (6 singles, 2 sharing x 2). Mobility: Women must be able to get in and out of a safari vehicle, and some accommodations have stairs only, although there should be first floor availability. Read all terms and conditions on the Blue Sky Society Trust page prior to booking.
This all-women trip in South Africa features exhilirating wildlife experiences / Photo Carolyn Ray
2. Gorilla Mountain Conservation in Uganda with MoonLion Safaris in October and November 2026
The October trip sold out in days, so MoonLion Safaris has opened a second trip from November 1-9, 2026 to Uganda with Dr. Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka, founder of the award-winning Conservation Through Public Health. JourneyWoman’s Carolyn Ray will be joining the October trip.
Dr. Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka is Uganda’s first wildlife vet and the recipient of global awards for her work in mountain gorilla conservation. In 2024, CTPH celebrated its 20th anniversary to save mountain gorillas in Uganda, living in the dense forests of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, in partnership with the communities living alongside. Today, Bwindi’s population of Mountain gorillas is increasing, and the mountain gorilla is listed as Endangered on The International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List of Threatened Species (IUCN) Red List, up from Critically Endangered.
Dates: November 1-9, 2026 (9 days/8 nights) is sold out. A second safari is being planned for December 2026.
The trip starts and ends in Entebbe, Uganda. The women-only trip is limited to 12 women; 6 are required to make this trip happen. Mobility: Women must be able to get in and out of a safari vehicle, climb steep hills at elevation and some accommodations have stairs only, although there is usually first floor availability. Read all terms and conditions on the MoonLion page prior to booking.
White sand beaches await with Astanga Yoga Mam / Photo by anelehbakota via Envato
3. Lion Conservation in Tanzania with Intent on Safari in November and December 2026
This Tanzania Safari with Intent on Safari starts in Arusha, and travels to the Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, Eastern Rift Valley and more. Led by owner Laura Simpson, this safari in Tanzania is designed for a small group of no more than 12 people, including JourneyWoman CEO Carolyn Ray. Laura and her husband Colin have operated Intent on Safari since 2020 and this is their third trip with JourneyWoman, offering luxury tented accommodation, elegant lodges and local guides. And yes, a balloon ride over the Serengeti, making this a once-in-a-lifetime experience no woman should miss!
As part of this trip, we’ll learn about lion conservation with KopeLion, a non-profit, in Ngorongoro, which is often referred to as the cradle of mankind. With about one-third of the world’s lions, Tanzania is one of the most important countries for the lion’s long-term survival.
Dates: December 7-15, 2026 is sold out / November 27- December 5 (still spots available)
Starts in Kilimanjaro Airport, Tanzania. This trip is limited to 12 people; 8 are required to make this trip happen. Mobility: Women must be able to get in and out of a safari vehicle, and some accommodations have stairs only, although there is usually first floor availability. Read all terms and conditions on the Intent on Safari page prior to booking.
Lions in the wild in Tanzania / Photo provided by Intent on Safari
About the JourneyWoman Women’s Travel Directory
JourneyWoman, the world’s first resource for solo women travellers established in 1994, hosts the JourneyWoman Women’s Travel Directory as a free service to help women plan safe, women-friendly solo travel, while supporting women-owned and small tourism businesses around the world. The Directory includes hundreds of curated and vetted multi-day tours, retreats, small ships and train experiences, as well as a concierge service to connect women with travel advisors, coaches and guides. Featured categories include adventure travel, wellness, hiking and walking, special interest trips, as well as accessible, LGBTQ+ and Indigenous tours. Within the Directory, there is a ‘Places to Stay’ resource where women can find and share safe, affordable women-friendly hotels, hostels and other accommodation options.
Please note: JourneyWoman does not operate or organize trips but we do partner with vetted companies in our Women’s Travel Directory to offer our readers unique experiences that support women-owned businesses.
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