Celebrating innovative, resilient women in tourism
Women are thriving in tourism and wielding influence from the boardroom to hiking trails, where they beat a pathway for others to follow. They occupy 70% of the tourism workforce in South Africa, and their voices are being amplified in the sector now more than ever. A powerful yet often overlooked statistic that underscores their vital role in the sector (source).
Today, CapeNature, through its groundbreaking podcast series Green Noise, honours women in tourism, by taking the conversation to places it has never been before. Like the spectacular Assegaaibosch Nature Reserve, near Stellenbosch, where we meet two special guests Julia Louw, Head of Leisure Tourism at Wesgro, and Itumeleng Pooe, Managing Director of Afri-Centric Luxury Travel, as they get their feet in the water and wade into the conversation about the SHE-E-O’s of Tourism.
This Women’s Month, we’re celebrating the extraordinary women who lead and shape South Africa’s tourism sector. With nearly 70% of the country’s tourism workforce, women’s contributions too often go unacknowledged, so I was inspired to dedicate an entire episode of CapeNature’s Green Noise podcast to them. The SHE‑E‑O’s of Tourism’ features two outstanding leaders and tourism partners sharing stories of innovation, resilience, and community impact amidst the breathtaking setting of CapeNature’s Assegaaibosch Nature Reserve near Stellenbosch
With their feet immersed in the waters of the Assegaaibosch Nature Reserve, the host of Green Noise, Dan Corder, caught up with Louw and Pooe to highlight the heroic work they do behind the scenes to bring light to women advancing tourism. At Wesgro, women’s empowerment comes naturally.
We have a very strong CEO who is a female. Most of our C-suite are females, and within my team, the majority are females. It's not something that we necessarily put out there, but it's something we know will be done automatically.
Pooe has worked in the travel industry for 30 years and found a place where she felt seen and empowered. The beauty and the potential of South Africa inspired Pooe to reach for her own dreams and pursue a new adventure. She wanted to tell the world about her country.
Getting into it as an entrepreneur was quite a natural flow, and I'm always excited about the opportunities that tourism brings. Any destination can narrow the gap between the rich and poor, in urban and rural areas. I've always been drawn to this industry for so many reasons.
But the journey for Pooe wasn’t without its challenges.
I didn't realise that it was so cold on the other side. You realise that there's a lot of support or incentives, but they're either sporadic or inconsistent. And half the time, you wonder, is it a tick box exercise or does it lack a sort of long-term vision?
At the heart of tourism in the Western Cape is the locals’ innate ability to tell a story, to teach and learn about a destination through the power of storytelling. It’s this phenomenon that brought about “With Love from the Locals”, a recent Wesgro campaign that supports and engages in community-based tourism.
With Love from Locals was born out of the insight that for people who come to a destination, there's no better way to teach or learn about a destination than from listening to the people who actually live there, because we are ultimately the best storytellers of our destination.
Women are the beating heart of tourism in the province, like Aunty Poppy, known for her legendary roosterkoek in Beaufort West, and Carmen Stevens, an award-winning winemaker who owns her own wine label.
Just having somebody that wouldn't necessarily be on your newsfeed or your Instagram reels is somebody like Aunty Poppy. The idea was to take these locals and suddenly put them onto people's reels and their Instagram feeds, and then we go up the West Coast speaking the local language of the San people and the heritage and the culture.
At CapeNature, we believe that conversations like these are essential. They amplify authentic female voices, showcase the economic and cultural pillars women represent, and serve as motivation for the next generation of women conservationists, entrepreneurs, and storytellers. By literally standing in the river with our guests, we framed tourism as a shared journey across boundaries and underscored the importance of giving women space to be seen, heard, and celebrated.
Listen to the full podcast episode via Spotify, Apple or watch on YouTube ( https://youtu.be/FV8NcwCwtIc?s...)
Related News
Freshwater science takes centre stage at the 2026 SASAqS Conference
The Southern African Society of Aquatic Scientists (SASAqS) is a learned society concerned with the research, management and conservation of inland waters and their associated biota throughout southern Africa. Established in 1964 as the Limnological Society of South Africa, SASAqS provides an important forum for discussion and sharing of scientific ideas. The two cornerstones of the society's activities are the annual conference and the African Journal of Aquatic Science.
Marine Protected Areas hold the key to human wellbeing
On 1 August, we celebrate Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) Day, a global occasion first marked in 2021 to recognise the role that MPAs play in conserving our oceans while supporting the wellbeing of people and communities. The day encourages us to appreciate the value of MPAs and the many ways they benefit both us and the extraordinary marine biodiversity they are designed to protect. This year's theme, "Ocean Protection Needs Human Connection," reminds us that conserving our oceans is a shared responsibility.
Bringing Conservation to Life Through Storytelling, Film and Digital Media
When was the last time a film, photograph or story about nature made you stop and feel something? Perhaps it was a breathtaking wildlife documentary. A short social media reel that transported you to a mountain peak. A travel video that inspired your next adventure. Or a story that highlighted the impact of a wildfire and reminded you why conservation matters. Every adventure has a story. Watch ours on our YouTube channel and subscribe for more.
CapeNature Wins Silver at International Tourism Film Festival Africa 2026
CapeNature has once again earned international recognition, receiving a Silver Award in the Sustainable and Responsible Tourism category at the International Tourism Film Festival Africa Awards 2026. The award was presented in Johannesburg on 5 June 2026 for Green Noise Season 3, Episode 3: Honouring Culture and Ancestors, celebrating CapeNature's commitment to authentic storytelling that promotes conservation, cultural heritage, and responsible tourism.
Picking a wildflower? Everyday choices can amount to biodiversity crime in Protected Areas
Biodiversity crime is often associated with poaching or illegal wildlife trafficking, but some of the most common offences threatening the Western Cape's environment stem from the everyday actions of ordinary visitors to Protected Areas. Entering Protected Areas without a valid permit, fishing without the required licence, leaving designated hiking trails, picking wildflowers, removing rocks or shells as souvenirs, or disturbing wildlife may seem harmless, but
CapeNature Cubs Club celebrates Kai's second birthday with a day of fun, friendship and recognition
CapeNature's Cubs Club celebrated the second birthday of its beloved mascot, Kai the Leopard Cub, on Thursday, 16 July 2026, at Helderberg Nature Reserve, bringing together children, families, and partners for a day of fun and environmental celebration. The special occasion welcomed children from three orphanages – Goeie Hoop, Hope & Light, and Heartlands Baby Sanctuary – who were given the opportunity to join in the festivities and experience a day