Beyond ‘girl power’: The changing face of women-only safaris

Women-only safaris are gaining popularity across Africa but not for the reasons traditionally marketed by the travel industry.

“Forget empowerment and focus on possibility. Women don’t need companies to tell them they’re strong – they already know that. What they need are experiences that meet them where they are,” says Nadine Smith, co-creator of the Kalahari Desert Women’s Safari & Expedition at Natural Selection.

These safaris break away from the high-intensity, bucket-list-driven model that has long defined the industry and instead focus on immersion and flexibility. “It’s not about avoiding men; it’s about space,” explains Gaby Grieveson who helped develop Natural Selection’s women-only expedition. “A space…