Why One Woman Hosts Women’s Empowerment Retreats Across Africa

Last April, my guests and I prepared to leave the wild embrace of Xigera, a living art gallery in Botswana’s Okavango Delta. This is where we hosted Roar Africa’s fifth Women’s Empowerment Retreat. As we prepared to readjust to the clamor of city life back home, one guest uttered a sentence that stopped me in my tracks: “Empowerment begins with presence.” Those four words get to the heart of why these journeys—that women from around the world with extraordinary female change-makers who are transforming Africa—have become my life’s work.

The Heart of My Why

ROAR AFRICA hosting a wine tasting at a women’s empowerment retreat.

ROAR AFRICA

As a child who grew up in a staunchly patriarchal environment in rural Zimbabwe, I know that the single biggest impact I can make is to play my part in empowering the women of my home continent. At the core of Roar Africa lies our credo: When African women rise, wildlife will thrive. These retreats bring that philosophy to life with a measurable impact.

We had our first retreat in South Africa in 2019, and the progress I’ve witnessed on subsequent journeys to Kenya, Rwanda, my homeland of Zimbabwe, and now Botswana, has been nothing short of staggering. From photography enthusiasts like guides at Xigera Safari Lodge, to pilots like Dare to Dream founder Kgomotso Phatsima, to the conservationists and entrepreneurs spurring growth across the continent, African women are rising. With their ascent, critical metrics in maternal health, education, and conservation are also improving within their own communities.

What the Retreat is Like

The views from Singita Kwitonda Lodge in Rwanda.

ROAR AFRICA

Every moment of these retreats is meticulously designed by me to showcase the absolute best of the African destination we choose. Game drives, bush walks, and meditative moments connect us to nature, while inspiring female speakers like CEOs and founders of nonprofits share their stories. This creates an environment where collaborative relationships are nurtured—films and books, TED Talks, scholarships, and more have come out of the partnerships formed at our retreats.

My home continent’s landscapes—such as the majestic coastlines of South Africa, the rewilding success story and new rhino sanctuary at Kenya’s Segera, the mist-shrouded volcanoes of Rwanda, and the Grumeti Game Reserve in Tanzania where we’ll host our retreat in 2027—provide more than just stunning scenery. These locations offer an opportunity to slow down and dismantle the stress that clings to us. Our guests often return multiple times, drawn by the opportunity to connect and bear witness to unspoiled nature while guided by experts.

A group of women on a guided walk.

ROAR AFRICA

Transformation Together

To borrow the wise words of that dear guest, the success of Roar Africa lies in recognizing that empowerment truly does begin with presence. In a world that often feels divided, I believe that when women choose women—not only across borders and cultures, but in everyday life as your doctor, your lawyer, your travel advisor—extraordinary progress becomes possible. An old Kenyan proverb says it best: “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.”

Deborah Calmeyer is a member of Travel + Leisure’s A-List and specializes in trips to Kenya, South Africa, and Rwanda. You can create a tailor-made itinerary with Calmeyer at [email protected].