Why Women Wonder Wild
'Women Wonder Wild was born out of a call to follow a primal instinct to connect with other women in the wild.'
For millennia women have gathered together, to perform rituals, to cook, to create, to pay reverence to, to sew, to cleanse, to journey and to just be in the company of other women. It is a beautiful form of activism when women gather.
These gatherings are part of our tapestry of life, and it is essential that they are woven into our existence. These gatherings restore balance.
The Team of Wondering Women
Debra is the founder of Women Wonder Wild. In her mid-forties, she embodies connection with intention, and purpose with heart, nurturing and championing the courageous quests women are on. For who they are, what carried them here, and all that they are still becoming. Daughter to Karen, Debra carries the heartbeat of the bush, not just as inheritance, but as discernment. Her connection to the wild is rooted in empathy - for dust and leaves, feathers and stars. Knowing we are all made of the same breath and matter. She has built businesses, thrived in great cities, and navigated the turning cogs of the corporate world. Allowing each chapter its rightful timing, and every lesson earning its place. Every path has led her here. Debra believes that when we are curious enough to explore the wild, we uncover ourselves. And in meeting her, you may sense it too - this moment is not accidental.
You are exactly where you are meant to be.
Born and raised in Zimbabwe, Karen carries the bush in her blood. Though Europe claimed a couple of chapters, the wilderness has always been her truest home. Over a lifetime shaped by rivers rafted, pathways walked, and skies soared, she has honed the hard-won wisdom of experience. Honouring failures as fiercely as her successes, her knowledge of the safari world is expansive. Karen has a way of conversing with the land and its delicate ecosystem. With the people and their divergent cultures. She speaks the subtle language of birdsong, and pays attention to the bark. She leads with integrity and grit, balancing humour with passion, and empathy with a fluid and formidable force. Like the landscapes she knows by heart. Wherever Karen stands, learning follows, safety settles in, and laughter bellows out. She is both guide and grounding force, an inspiration, and the living cornerstone of this expedition.
As an apple never far from the matriarchal roots, Emma was born and raised in Zimbabwe, but claimed by the pulse of bush a little later on in her life. She only began to fully embrace the wonders of the wild by way of cities, stories. Her years in hospitality and travel across Europe and Africa shaped a rare gift - the ability to read a room, lift a spirit, and draw out the best in everyone around her. In her early forties, Emma carries the humour and heart of the wise. Always seeking opportunity, and sprinkling magic where it’s least expected. Since returning home to Zimbabwe, her bond with the bush has deepened into something instinctive. She spots the leopards draped in trees as if they’ve been waiting for her gaze. A trusted force of enthusiasm and kindness, Ems helps others see their own brilliance, reminding us that joy, when led with intention, is its own kind of mastery.
Partnerships that reflect our values
We believe how we travel matters. The decisions we make on where we choose to travel, who we choose to stay with and what we do when we travel, can have a profound impact. By partnering with local operators and travel companies, we support local expertise, building long-standing relationships and placing value on trust and connection over cost and consumption.
Travel House Africa is a specialist tour operator based in Cape Town, South Africa. They work with their clients to create unique experiences and personally curated travel packages. Their team of expert travel planners have personally experienced every destination they offer. They have built a reputation as one of the most trusted and personable travel partners in Africa with a network of suppliers in every corner of the continent.
Led by renowned safari guide Kaz Dube, Great Guide Safaris offers guided safaris that take you deep into Zimbabwe’s iconic wilderness. In the spirit of Africa’s original explorers, Great Guide Safaris celebrate the raw beauty of the wild and the thrill of discovery. As the founder and owner of Great Guide Safaris, Kaz is also a passionate conservationist. He collaborates with local communities to improve livelihoods, using tourism revenue to support sustainable farming projects.
Bulisani Mathe—known to all as Buli—is a Zimbabwean professional guide, wildlife photographer, and storyteller whose warmth and deep knowledge bring the African wilderness vividly to life. As the Managing Director of Awande African Expeditions Buli has led safaris across Tanzania, Botswana, Zambia, Namibia, and throughout Zimbabwe, including epic walking safaris in Hwange, Gonarezhou, and Mana Pools. His passion lies in understanding the intricate relationships between nature and culture, and in sharing experiences with curiosity, clarity, and joy.
With nearly two decades of experience guiding under his belt, he holds advanced walking safari qualifications and leads with exceptional ethics, enthusiasm, and care. Embarking on an adventure with Buli offers more than a safari, it’s a deeper immersion into African landscapes, culture, and the cycles of life.
Rukoko Safaris is an experiential eco-tourism company founded in 2020 by two enthusiastic Guides Sam Mushandu and Abraham Mhlanga. The founders have a combined 50 years experienced in the Tourism Industry.
Rukoko means a Bradfield’s Hornbill in local Kwangwali language. This reflects their African heritage, with both founders being avid birders. Their speciality is guided walking and driving experiences in the Zambezi National Park and surrounding areas. They are proudly local.
