Empowering Women Through Exploring the Wild Together

Equal rights. Equal opportunities. Equal power.

Join Nat Hab on March 8, 2025, to celebrate International Women’s Day under the theme, “For ALL Women and Girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment.”

This year’s theme “calls for action that can unlock equal rights, power and opportunities for all and a feminist future where no one is left behind. Central to this vision is empowering the next generation—youth, particularly young women and adolescent girls—as catalysts for lasting change.”

Women and girls suffer disproportionately from the impacts of biodiversity loss and climate change. Studies show that gender inequality exacerbates these vulnerabilities and threatens their livelihoods, health, safety and security.

Empowering women’s participation in conservation uplifts communities and transforms lives.

Nat Hab Guests on a Women’s Journey in Churchill, Manitoba. Photographed by Nat Hab Expedition Leader © Giulia Ciampini.

Trailblazers of the Travel Industry

Did you know the average U.S. traveler is a 47-year-old woman? Women have an outsize influence in the travel industry: They represent 57.1% of all travelers in the United States, make nearly 85% of all travel decisions and make up the lion’s share of the global tourism workforce at 54%.

According to the United Nations World Tourism Organization, the gender wage gap is lower in tourism, and the proportion of women in leadership roles is higher than in other industries. UNWTO and UN Women assert that keeping women’s empowerment at the ‘Center Stage’ of sustainable tourism development will help them achieve their ambitious goal for global gender equality by 2030.

Tourism enhances cultural appreciation, generates new economic opportunities, and encourages environmental stewardship across local communities. Increasingly, women are breaking gender barriers by taking on roles traditionally held by men, such as tour guides and naturalists.

Nat Hab Expedition Leader Payal Mehta. Photographed by Nat Hab Staff © Dana Cama.

Here are a few ways women are driving meaningful change on a global level:

Women’s Entrepreneurship Fuels Sustainable Development: Women’s participation in economic activities creates a ripple effect that benefits families and fosters more sustainable and resilient communities. They improve literacy, education and public health while also inspiring future generations of girls and women in ways that male entrepreneurs typically do not. Additionally, female business owners reinvest up to 90% of their earnings into their families and communities, compared to 30-40% reinvested by men.

Women in Conservation Leadership Roles: A review of 17 studies found that women’s involvement in conservation and natural resource management led to more sustainable extraction policies, increased compliance, enhanced transparency and accountability, and improved conflict resolution. The research indicates women are more likely to prioritize collective well-being over individual gain, resulting in decisions that promote the public good, ensure fair wages and benefits, and foster ethical and honest practices.

Read “5 Reasons to Support Women in Conservation” by Rebecca Self to learn more.

Nat Hab's Great Gray Whales of Baja all-women guide and field team. Photographed by Nat Hab Staff © Dana Cama.

Nat Hab’s Great Gray Whales of Baja all-woman guide and field team. Photographed by Nat Hab Staff © Dana Cama.

At Nat Hab, we know that empowered women are powerful agents of change for people and the planet. Toward that end, we launched Women’s Journeys, an adventure series exclusively for women travelers.

A Letter from Nat Hab’s President, Heidi Anderson

As a lover of nature, you know wilderness helps us connect with our most authentic selves. Our Women’s Journeys bring together like-minded travelers for inspiring adventures, forging deep connections in the wild.

As Nat Hab’s new president, I’m proud of these transformative experiences. I’ve witnessed their magic firsthand—like sharing the northern lights with a group of incredible women in Churchill, Manitoba.

Led by expert women Expedition Leaders, these journeys combine a love for nature with the thrill of discovery. Encounter polar bears in the Canadian Arctic, witness brown bear mothers nursing their cubs in Alaska, hear the hum of monarch butterfly wings in Mexico, or search for the Big Five on safari in South Africa.

But these trips are about more than wildlife—they foster meaningful connections. Whether you travel solo or with loved ones, you’ll find camaraderie and a chance to recharge among supportive women, free from daily burdens.

We also honor pioneering women in conservation, learning from researchers, explorers, and community leaders shaping our understanding of the wild. We celebrate the resilience of female animals, from elephant matriarchs to devoted beluga mothers.

Nat Hab’s founder, Ben Bressler, credits his mother, Rosalind “Rozie” Bressler, for inspiring his journey. Her pioneering spirit lives on in these empowering adventures, uniting women who seek to make a lasting impact on our planet.

Let’s continue this journey together.

With gratitude,

Heidi Anderson

Women’s Journeys

Nat Hab launched Women’s Journeys in 2023, to immediate success. With overwhelming demand to offer more, we’ve increased our capacity for women-only trips by 75% in the last year alone and plan to double that again by 2025.

In intimate travel groups averaging just nine guests, our accomplished women Expedition Leaders—including Ph.D. scientists, wildlife biologists and conservationists—cultivate connections among women of all ages and life contexts. They offer deep insight into the destination’s wildlife and cultural history and introduce guests to the women community members who positively shape the environment.

“Our women-only departures build an immediate and meaningful community while empowering women to reconnect with their inner ‘wild,’” says Renata Haas, Nat Hab’s Head of Adventures, North America. “The impact of bringing women together to intimately witness the natural world spurs a ripple effect for active discourse and change.”

Nat Hab Guests at Hudson Bay in Churchill. Photographed by Nat Hab Staff © Megan Brief

Nat Hab Guests at Hudson Bay in Churchill, Manitoba. Photographed by Nat Hab Staff © Megan Brief

Empowering Stories About Women in Conservation Travel

Women’s Journeys champions women and their stories. Get inspired by watching this curated collection of Nat Hab films!

Women’s Journeys: Empowering Adventures in Nature

Growing in the Galapagos: A Nat Hab Guide Story

When Josy Cardoso was a child, her single mother moved her family to the Galapagos to help build a better life for her two young daughters. Josy says her mother’s brave decision was “the best thing that could ever happen to us.”

When asked what International Women’s Day means to her, Josy says: “It means that women are finally being recognized as an important part of the pyramid, needed to make this world work. We respect that we all need to be part of the team in order to have a successful life, career and family—and women are the keystone in all this.” Watch to see how Josy’s unique upbringing led her to pursue an exciting career as a professional Expedition Leader.

Churchill’s Awesome Aurora: A Nat Hab Guide Story

Discover the winter wonders of the aurora borealis with Canadian Expedition Leader Lianne Thompson, who loves guiding nature travelers around the subarctic town of Churchill, Manitoba, to witness the awe-inspiring nighttime spectacle of the northern lights.

Finding Home in Alaska: A Nat Hab Guide Story

Caprice Stoner has managed Nat Hab’s Lake Clark Alaska Bear Camp since 2006. Find out what keeps this Tennessee native—and grandmother of five—coming back year after year to the Alaska wild and our guests.

Walking with Gorillas: A Rwandan Guide Story

Rwandan ranger Jolie Mukiza has been leading nature travelers to view endangered mountain gorillas in Volcanoes National Park since 2012. One of three female guides currently leading gorilla treks in the park, Jolie hikes this mountainous area five days a week during the high season, delighting her guests with her enthusiasm, expertise, and in-depth knowledge of the local terrain and wildlife.

Exploring East Greenland: A Nat Hab Traveler Story

In this personal encounter shared with firsthand footage, Nat Hab guest Kristin Hansen shares her experience visiting East Greenland and the meaningfulness of traveling here with her mother.

Wild Women of Alaska: Daily Dose of Nature Webinar

The Last Frontier’s siren song has often been answered by men, but some of Alaska’s boldest and most adventurous pioneers were women. Their legacy has given rise to modern women leaders charged with managing the state’s natural resources and wildlife. Expedition Leader Samantha Strauss celebrates women who shaped Alaska by sharing stories sure to inspire contemporary women to adventure north.

Inside Our Women’s Journeys: Daily Dose of Nature Webinar

Our guests on these popular adventures often tell us they feel more comfortable in an all-women setting, especially when it comes to trying new things—from snowshoeing to kayaking with belugas to camping in brown bear territory. Expedition Leaders Judy Wilson and Jessica Morgan discuss our empowering Women’s Journeys and the positive impact they have on our travelers.