Vimbai Masiyiwa is transforming African tourism into a locally-owned, women-led, eco-conscious engine for community empowerment.
In 2020, Zimbabwean entrepreneur Vimbai Masiyiwa co-founded Batoka Africa with her mother, Tsitsi Masiyiwa, establishing the first Black African female-owned safari lodge group in sub-Saharan Africa. As CEO and Creative Director, Vimbai aimed to create a profitable hospitality business that would turn tourism into a means for economic justice, social upliftment, and African ownership.
Based near Victoria Falls, Batoka Africa runs two luxury lodges: Zambezi Sands River Lodge and Gorges Lodge. Both properties were acquired and refurbished under her leadership following a capital raise. The lodges are eco-friendly, solar-powered, plastic-free, and constructed with natural materials. They also provide premium experiences such as private plunge pools, curated safaris, and riverside stays in Bedouin-style tents.
Vimbai designed Batoka to reflect what she calls “sustainable luxury with soul,” intended to uplift the communities around the lodges rather than leave them behind.
Batoka employs a significant number of locals, many of whom are women. Through the Women of Shingani sewing collective and the Tesse Fund – an initiative that allocates 10% of lodge revenue to local health, education, and infrastructure projects – Batoka integrates tourism with long-term community development. Her focus is on utilising hospitality to build entire economic ecosystems that can support local livelihoods through job creation and entrepreneurship.
Vimbai’s commitment to leadership extends beyond business. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Computer Information Systems from Bryant University and a Master’s in Entrepreneurship from University College London. She is also an advisor to the African Union’s Special Envoy for Youth and co-founder of the Innovate Elevate Youth Conference, a platform supporting young African changemakers.
Her work has received international recognition. In 2024, she was named to Forbes Africa’s 30 Under 30 list and previously received the Outstanding Young CEO award from the Zimbabwe CEO Network. She has challenged the dominance of foreign-owned safari businesses and maintains that Africans can and should lead in luxury tourism.
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