Afrika Panthera, recipient of the esteemed Africa Travel 100 under 40 award, stands as a shining example of a company committed to the advancement of sustainable tourism through the skilling and empowerment of female tourist guides.
This honor, earned for their remarkable contributions to the industry, underscores Afrika Panthera’s dedication to gender equality and the promotion of a more sustainable and inclusive future for tourism in Africa.
They empower female site guides to excel as safari tourist guides, as they account for 70% of our services. Their recent FAM trip, led by seasoned tourism experts, provided hands-on training in Queen Elizabeth National Park. This focused on nature interpretation, product packaging, excellent customer service, and guiding skills.
READ: Tourism: Afrika Panthera Safaris, Managing Director, Violet Komuhendo wins Africa Travel 100 Under 40 Award
Afrika Panthera Safaris takes pride in nurturing local talent. Our team of female tourist guides includes dedicated individuals learning driving skills and languages like German, Belgian, and Spanish to compete favorably in a male-dominated profession.
Furthermore, Violet serves as the Ukarimu regional coordinator for Bunyoro and Rwenzori regions, leading a practical tourism and hospitality skills program. This benefits over 100 youth, providing them with employable skills to work in hotels and lodges, addressing youth unemployment.
Violet Komuhendo, a Uganda-based tour operator with 7 years of experience, leads Afrika Panthera Safaris, a female-led company offering authentic wildlife safaris, cultural experiences, beach holidays, and adventure tourism in East Africa. Violet also mentors female guides to enhance their competitiveness in a male-dominated field.
In addition to her tour company, she heads a community-based organization (CBO) called Tooro Community Tourism and Conservation Center. This initiative focuses on changing attitudes toward wildlife conservation, addressing human-wildlife conflicts, preserving the environment and culture, and creating alternative income sources for women living on the outskirts of Kibale National Park. Violet’s efforts have earned her the prestigious award in September 2023 for her remarkable contribution to skilling female tourist guides and advancing sustainable tourism.