National Women's Day

On the 9th of August 1956, 20,000 South African women participated in a national march in protest of "pass laws" (apartheid legislation that required people of color to carry identity documentation to prove that they were allowed to enter a "whites only" area). Each year, National Women's Day is celebrated to acknowledge the brave, frustrated and angry women who delivered their petitions to the Prime Minister's office while singing freedom songs -  including the well-known, powerful verse "when you strike a woman, you strike a rock." Women represent half of the African population and produce 62% of economic goods, but only 8.5% are salaried, demonstrating that the battle is still uphill.

However, MalaMala (Sabi Sand Reserve, South Africa) has stepped up to the plate. The local N'wandlamhari community owns the land upon which the lodge sits and is an equity owner in the company, making MalaMala one of the few genuine black economic empowered eco-tourism businesses in South Africa. Job creation is a core principle of the business and over 60% of employees are women, with the vast majority hailing from the local community.

To the north, in Tanzania's Serengeti National Park, the pioneering Dunia Camp may be exactly the role model that MalaMala is trying to emulate - the camp has operated for over two years now with a 100% female staff contingent, and generates some of the most enthusiastic client reviews that we receive.