Our Wild Women guides are everything. In Tanzania, they are Formula 1 drivers and as stealth as the predators of the Serengeti. Their superheroine powers are endless. Grace can find cheetahs obscured by monster termite hills from half a mile away. She can mimic a hippo, a lion and a white-browed coucal with startling likeness. She glances to her left and can point out a little bee-eater on a naked branch or a lilac-breasted roller in flight—all while navigating the potholed tracks of the national park behind the wheel of the Land Cruiser. Nora holds her own ground—she’s confident, spunky and saucy. It’s the kind of bold trifecta that makes you want to be in her company in the hopes that her spirit rubs off. She likes to dance like nobody is watching and often does.
Talented, patient and well-versed in group dynamics, our guides know how to juggle (some of them really do). They are 3D versions of a Fitbit, reminding everyone to hydrate and stop for snacks accordingly to ward off a trail bonk. If you’ve never used hiking poles before or feel the hot burn of a heel blister, they are armed with Band-aids and quick tutorials on how to lace your hikers differently and adjust your poles for a descent.
Like sheepdogs, they ensure everyone sticks together—no stragglers, no lead dogs! More water!
They are experts in so many fields. Some of our guides have had opera and circus training. They’re puppet masters, accomplished rock climbers, scuba divers, yoga instructors, moms, watercolour artists, birders, foodies and competitive runners. They love the wild as much as we do and bring it to life with a fiery spirit and fire that is contagious and empowering.
The Outdoor Classroom- Tanzania
The requirements for safari guides in Tanzania are rigorous and competitive, and the field is still largely male-dominated. Typical guide education includes bird identification (by sound), memory, IQ, and vision tests. Our Wild Women guides had to learn how to change tires on the safari vehicles, too!
In Egypt, to become an official tour guide, students must obtain a degree (four years) or complete a two-year post-grad certification. In Patagonia, our guides have all attended the EcoCamp Patagonia Guide School in addition to their previous training. New and returning guides spend two weeks in an intensive guide program, learning from experts in various fields. The curricula focus on the local history, hydrology, glaciology, geology, paleontology, botany, ornithology, wildlife and responsible wildlife observation in Torres del Paine National Park, where the EcoCamp is situated. EcoCamp Patagonia (where Wild Women spend four nights in the world’s first geodesic dome hotel) is committed to investing in their guides to ensure they feel confident in their roles and handling diverse situations while possessing a wide range of knowledge. If you’ve travelled with Wild Women before, there are always a lot of questions, and our Wild Women guides need to be at the Trivia Pursuit Hard level in all categories (including surprise ones).
For many of our guides, it’s their natural zest to share the flavours, history, quirks and evolution of their home. Their enthusiasm is shared over tagine recipes, rare bird sightings, traditional dance and Saharan sunrises.
Disnarda, Inca Trail Trek to Machu Picchu
Disnarda is a proud graduate of the Tourism program at Cusco’s San Antonio Abad University. She has been working as a professional guide since 2002 and loves introducing Wild Women to the distinct natural wonders and Inca culture of the Andes.
A native of Cusco, Disnarda grew up speaking Spanish as well as Quechua, the language of the Incas (and of the majority of the population who live in the mountains of southern Peru). For women who have followed in Disnarda’s footsteps along the Inca Trail Trek, she is the heart and beat of this trip.
“It felt like we were entering Disnarda’s playground; she has such an extensive knowledge of the Incan culture and the flora and fauna of the area. She has a great respect for Pachamama (Mother Earth) and her own family.”
~Ana B
Ayu, Bali Explorer
When Jill A. returned from Bali, she couldn’t wait to share her trip impressions and full heart respect for Ayu. Our team was equally impressed to learn how skilled Ayu was in house calls and finding a spontaneous tattoo artist!
“Her wonderful smile, her warm heart, her contagious laugh, her pride in her country and culture, her super organizational skills that kept our group of 10 on track and on time, and her generosity in catering to all our needs and requests.
The agenda for the Bali Explorer adventure is full and varied, but at no time did we feel rushed or run off our feet. Ayu kept us moving smoothly through all of the activities and sites, and even added in extra massages, a cooking class, a stop at a jewelry shop and visits to even more artisans.
When someone had an earache she arranged for the local doctor to make a “house call.” When someone wanted a tattoo, she arranged an artist to do it in the privacy of our hotel. When I wanted to visit a memorial commemorating a family member, she had a colleague track it down, while we were out on the road travelling and take me to visit it upon our return. Can you say “Superwoman”?
Whatever questions she asked, she patiently answered them, educating us and sharing her knowledge of Bali customs. I think we tasted every fruit grown in Bali at one market or another. And she was always pulling out snacks in the van, to make sure none of us were hungry (not much chance of that — we ate well!). We saw how local families live, observed marriage processions and learned about Shiva, the group cremation process and the sacred “cow coffins.”
Even after the trip had ended, Ayu was checking in with us to make sure our flights had departed and that we were making our connections for our return home. She will remain a friend and forever in our hearts.”
Is there a Superwoman guide 🦸🏽♀️who inspired you to dig deep or shaped your impressions of a country? We’d love to hear your story!
Thank you to all of our Wild Women guides around the world who continue to make us feel like family with their embrace, warmth, stories and generosity of spirit.
