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After seeing several overseas organisations like Women Who Hike, which offers hiking experiences worldwide for women, Carmen Claire van der Westhuizen realised that Africa had great potential for similar women-only experiences.

And so, together with co-founder Melanie van Zyl, they launched Womxn For Wild, and outdoor adventure company just for the ladies.

Van Zyl grew up in an adventurous family that camped and toured all over the country as well as Botswana, so she was naturally interested in conservation from an early age. With a history in marketing and a newfound enthusiasm for adventure – along with their understanding of African travel and the best local tour operators – the two women set about creating Womxn for Wild in late 2020.

Since hosting their first experience, hiking the Mnweni Circuit, they’ve organised many more, from mountain biking to surfing and scuba diving, some that prioritise learning and conservation principles, and others focusing more on an activity’s technical components.

 

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“We engage with women from all walks of life via Instagram and keep our price points as accessible as possible by varying the types of experiences we run, from multi-day hikes and wild camping in the Drakensberg to our Mountain Biking 101 at Boschendal Wine Estate, including chalet accommodation and all meals.”

Womxn For Wild takes safety very seriously, especially in remote areas, hence, not only are the guides they pick reputable and certified, but they’re also locals and know the region well and know which pathways to follow and where you can and cannot start a fire.

 

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Van der Westhuizen also says that beyond adventuring, there’s an educational component to Womxn for Wild’s experiences. “We work with a specific NPO for each trip, which a portion of participants’ fees go towards. During our South Coast Surf Camp, we showed a film by WildOceans to give the women a 360-degree view of the water where they were surfing and help them understand the human impact on the wildlife living there.”

“Women have reached out to us, women who’ve been through a tough time and needed a catalyst to shake things up, make them see things differently and help them get out of their comfort zone.”

If you want to know more about upcoming adventures, check out the Womxn for Wild website.

[source:getaway]