Green Safaris Partners with African Bush Camps Foundation to Bring Women in Tourism Program to Zambia

Green Safaris is proud to announce a landmark partnership with the African Bush Camps Foundation (ABCF) to expand its flagship Women in Tourism (WIT) Program into Zambia. The collaboration started in May 2026 with an initial intake of 12 young women, bringing a proven model of skills development and community empowerment to a new country and a new generation of hospitality professionals.

The WIT Program has already demonstrated measurable impact in Zimbabwe, where 45 young women have been trained since 2023 and seven graduates have secured full-time employment within the African Bush Camps group. This expansion into Zambia reflects the shared ambition of two purpose-driven tourism organisations to scale what is working and invest in the people who make exceptional travel possible.

A Partnership Rooted in Shared Purpose

Green Safaris will host six interns at Tongabezi Lodge, while African Bush Camps hosts a further six at Thorntree River Lodge. Both organisations are jointly invested in the programme’s delivery, contributing mentorship, training support, and structured pathways toward long-term employment in the tourism sector.

The programme is jointly funded at a total investment of $11,600 and combines accredited hospitality training through the Livingstone Institute of Business and Engineering Studies (LIBES) with six months of paid, hands-on experience at leading safari lodges.“Conservation is not only about protecting wildlife and landscapes, but also about creating opportunities for the people who live alongside them. We are proud to partner with the African Bush Camps Foundation to bring the Women in Tourism Program to Zambia and help young women gain the skills, confidence, and experience to build long-term careers in our industry. Women are already at the heart of tourism across Africa, and this initiative will help ensure they play an even greater role in shaping its future.”

—Vincent Kouwenhoven, Founder, Green Safaris

Empowerment with Tangible Outcomes

Each participant in the nine-month programme receives:

• Accredited hospitality training through LIBES
• Paid practical workplace experience at a leading safari lodge
• Mentorship and structured professional development
• Clear pathways into long-term employment within the tourism industry

One graduate from the Zimbabwe programme now works as a professional chef, supporting her family and raising her child. It is this kind of generational change that the programme is designed to create, and Green Safaris is honoured to help carry it forward.

“This expansion represents the next step in a journey that has already changed lives in Zimbabwe. By bringing the programme to Zambia in partnership with Green Safaris, we can extend the opportunity to more young women and strengthen the link between conservation-based tourism and community empowerment.”
—Ian Mills, Chief Conservation Officer, African Bush Camps Foundation

About Green Safaris Conservation Foundation

The Green Safaris Conservation Foundation was established to generate and deploy funding for community development, wildlife conservation, and ecosystem preservation across Sub-SaharanAfrica. Its work is implemented through the communities where Green Safaris properties operate in Zambia and Malawi, and is guided by 13 of the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals. The Foundation holds ANBI status and is registered as a not-for-profit organisation in the Netherlands.
Learn more: greensafaris-foundation.com

About African Bush Camps Foundation

African Bush Camps Foundation has worked alongside African Bush Camps since 2006, proactively partnering with local communities to create meaningful impact. Across Botswana, Zambia, and Zimbabwe, the Foundation strengthens education, restores health facilities, supports female rangers, and protects wildlife corridors.

Learn more: africanbushcampsfoundation.org