Despite the longstanding male-dominated reputation of the industry, many women have been increasingly stepping into field guiding roles, bringing with them a unique blend of empathy, meticulous attention to detail, and an unyielding passion for wildlife and conservation.
This Women’s Month, Lalibela Game Reserve in the Eastern Cape honours the women pioneering the path forward for others to follow, including three female guides -Tarene Labuschagne, Nelmarie Willemse, and Liezel van den Bergh.
Since Lalibela is first and foremost a conservation project – all profits generated from the reserve are allocated to the conservation of the land, animals and wider community – the guiding team is a reflection of this broad mission; each member displays an unwavering commitment to the environment regardless of gender or background. Lalibela’s success is built on the collective strength and vision of its guides, and each of the highly-trained women in the team elevates that success in their singular way, highlighted Johann Lombard, CEO of Lalibela Game Reserve.
“We have found the female guides are more sensitive and often tend to listen to guests in a more compassionate and honest manner, providing excellent care and service,” he said.
Guides share their stories
All three women have nurtured a deep love and respect for nature. “Growing up in Gauteng I was exposed to the Kruger National Park at an early age, with my parents taking me there almost every school holiday,” shared Van den Bergh. “This ignited my interest in nature and the wild, and I knew I wanted to be a part of it and be able to share that with others.”
Each embarked on different paths to guiding, with Willemse first studying agriculture and working in winemaking before finding her calling and studying field guiding: “I knew these were my people and I'd found my passion. I needed to be in the bush.”
For Labuschagne, the journey to become a field guide was not a quick one: “They say, ‘Rome wasn't built in a day’, and every day I work towards building my Rome. I started doing conservation and working at wildlife rehab centres, and it was during this time that I got the opportunity to do the FGASA course which I, of course, jumped at!”
As women in the guiding industry, however, they have faced certain challenges, particularly when it comes to people doubting their ability to perform in the bush. As Van den Bergh explained, “Some guests make the judgement that a woman can’t drive a cruiser, or can’t control a difficult encounter with animals.”
But they continue to demonstrate that not only can they handle this, but also handle their guests with charm and confidence. “Given the opportunity, I always change their minds,” said Van den Bergh.
Advice for aspiring field guides
The guides have good advice for aspiring female field guides, or anyone following an unconventional career path. “Don’t let anyone ever tell you what you can’t do. Chase your dreams so that one day you can look back proudly,” commented Labuschagne.
Van den Bergh reminds women they bring their own distinctive touch to the role: “In many ways, women can be better guides than men,” she said.
At its core, the rise of women field guides in the industry is not just about breaking gender barriers; it is about recognising and harnessing the potential of all individuals, regardless of gender, to contribute to the stewardship of our planet.
