Jambo! my name is Sophie Augustino, I am a Tanzanian freelance guide as well as founder and owner of Matriarch Hill Safari. (Jambo! is a Swahili greeting)
I started my career in Wildlife Tourism almost 5 years ago. I was offering day trips to volunteer groups that were visiting the Moshi and Arusha area. Our day trips would include day hikes around the Kilimanjaro area as well as day safaris to Tarangire National Park and Lake Manyara National Park.
Eventually I joined the College of African Wildlife Management, where I received my diploma in Wildlife Tourism in 2017. It was a life changing experience for me. I learned how to organize, conduct, observe and interpret wildlife for western tourists while conserving the wildlife. This education also gave me an intense background in understanding the laws in and around the wildlife tourism industry.
This foundation allowed me to then create Matriarch Hill Safari in March 2017. During my studies in wildlife tourism I not only found a niche market but also an important social business strategy that empowers the women within the Tanzanian safari industry.
At Matriarch Hill Safari, we have set out to fully employ our safari with women. With a percentage of our income going to East African women’s rights, including those that support the elimination of Female Genital Mutilation, we promise to educate and help all fractions of women’s lives. Matriarch Hill Safari will also be a interlink, selling hand-made products crafted by Tanzanian women in the surrounding areas, giving them a higher sense of self and dignity.
Matriarch Hill Safari is one of the extraordinary women focused travel businesses that are listed on WomenTravel.info. Here you can find a local woman guide, search 400+ tours just for women, and connect to women owned businesses around the world.
Join us to discover Tanzania’s wildlife and culture. Experience the breathtaking beauty of my country. Meet local women and make a difference in their lives through Give a Heart to Africa. Build friendships, camaraderies and confidence with some of the first women guides in Africa.
