- Florence Kagiso’s Zanazi Mobile Safaris hits the shores
- Company operates in Botswana and Kaza region
Florence Kagiso, an experienced female tour operator continues to follow her childhood ambitions of working in the tourism industry as well as proving to young girls and women out there that they can also tap into the male-dominated profession.
After over two decades working in the industry, the veteran guide and also one of the first pioneers of female guiding has taken a step further, venturing into tourism business through ZANAZI Mobile Safaris: a company she registered in 2012. She becomes one of the first female guides to go it solo into safari business.
With the experience and the distinguished service that she offered across different tourism operations over the more than 20 years, Kagiso says she saw the need to venture into tourism business, to provide personalised service to her guests as they experience safari.
ZANAZI Mobile Safaris operates in the whole of Botswana and neighbouring countries (Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe), with offices located in Maun and Kasane.
Zanazi mobile safari, currently employs three permanent staff, and offers temporary employment during long trips to various tourism destinations. She revealed that the company has already received local and international bookings.
“Our aim is to employ more women because of their vulnerability as members of the community. We are going to reach out to schools in order to motivate young girls to follow their career dreams,” she said.
Kagiso, a 44-year-old professional female tour guide with over 21- years’ experience in the tourism industry has never thought that one day she would be among the most recognised individuals making strides in tourism.
This is until the Gumare native enrolled for a Professional Tour Guide Course at Botswana Wildlife Training Institute (BWTI) where she realised her passion from 2002-2003.
After the course, Kagiso was employed as a trainee tour guide at Chobe Safari Lodge from 2003-2004 and by that time there were only two ladies’ trainees at the company among a group of men.
Kagiso has revealed in an interview that although she was discouraged by men that the tour guide profession was not for women, she never allowed that to set her back. Kagiso noted that growing up in the rural Gumare, she had experienced wildlife and nature firsthand, which motivated her to pursue her career despite the discouragement.
‘‘Growing up in Gumare we used to go to the farms and we would come across wild animals heading into our farming area. I was raised by a very strong and courageous mother who taught me how to survive with wild animals, so while pursing my career I already knew that I had to work hard so that I can give back to my family despite the challenges I may encounter,’’ she narrated.
After completing her training at Chobe Safari Lodge, Kagiso revealed that she was employed by Chobe Game Lodge as one of the first female professional guide. She stated that the lodge shaped her career as she had the opportunity to attend different trainings.
In order to explore different tourism destinations and expand her career, from 2010 to 2013 Kagiso worked for the Okavango Wilderness’s Ngamiland Adventure Safaris operating in the Okavango Delta. After parting ways with Ngamiland Adventure Safaris, Kagiso went back to Chobe Game Lodge to continue with her career from 2016 until 2024.
