Zainab Ansell Honored with the 2025 East Africa Business & Women Tourism & Travel Excellence Award

 

Zainab Ansell Honored with the 2025 East Africa Business & Women Tourism & Travel Excellence Award

 


At the 2025 East Africa Business & Women Awards, one of the most significant recognitions in the region’s corporate and tourism landscape, Zainab Ansell Founder and Director of Zara Tanzania Adventures and Zara Charities was celebrated for her outstanding contribution to the tourism and travel sector. The award titled “Tourism & Travel Excellence Award –2025,” stands as a powerful symbol of her transformative leadership and long-standing dedication to sustainable tourism, community empowerment, and environmental conservation.

 

The event brought together leading entrepreneurs, professionals, and change-makers from across East Africa. Representing Zara Tanzania Adventures, a member of the team proudly held the award, signifying the collective pride of the entire Zara family and the communities they serve.

 

A Legacy of Leadership in Tourism

For more than three decades, Zainab Ansell has played a groundbreaking role in shaping Tanzania’s tourism industry. As one of the few women pioneers in adventure tourism, she built Zara Tanzania Adventures from the ground up, turning it into one of East Africa’s most respected tour operators.

 

Under her leadership

                •             Zara Tanzania Adventures has become a leading operator for Mount Kilimanjaro climbs, safaris, and cultural tours.

                •             The company has hosted tens of thousands of international trekkers and tourists, contributing significantly to Tanzania’s global tourism visibility.

                •             Zara opened doors for local communities and young people to access opportunities in tourism through fair employment, skills training, and mentorship.

 

A Champion of Communities and Porters

One of Zainab’s greatest achievements is her dedication to improving the welfare of mountain porters—the hardworking men and women who make every Kilimanjaro climb possible.

 

Through Zara Charity she

                •             Helped found and empower the Mount Kilimanjaro Porters Society (MKPS).

                •             Advocates for fair wages, proper gear, safe working conditions, and respect for porters.

                •             Established programs that support porters’ families through education, healthcare, and livelihood training.

 

Her humanitarian work has been recognized globally, making her a respected voice in sustainable and ethical tourism.


 

Environmental conservation remains one of the strongest pillars of Zainab’s mission.

Over the years she has led numerous conservation efforts including:

                •             Tree-planting campaigns across Moshi Municipality and the slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro.

                •             Community clean-ups and awareness programs about protecting Tanzania’s natural heritage.

                •             Partnerships with national and international organizations to support environmental sustainability.

 

Her recent initiatives such as planting more than 1,500 trees in collaboration with TESO continue to demonstrate her long-term commitment to protecting the ecosystems that support tourism.


 

Empowering Women and Youth

Zainab Ansell is widely admired as a role model for women in business. Through her leadership:

                •             She has opened employment and training opportunities for women and youth in the tourism and hospitality sectors.

                •             She actively supports young entrepreneurs and guides them on how to grow within the industry.

                •             Zara Tanzania Adventures has become an inclusive workplace where gender equality is celebrated and promoted.

 

Her story continues to inspire young women across East Africa to break barriers and pursue leadership roles in male-dominated sectors.

 

 

What This Award Represents

The 2025 Tourism & Travel Excellence Award recognizes:

                •             Zainab’s outstanding leadership in Tanzanian and East African tourism.

                •             Her dedication to ethical travel, environmental sustainability, and community development.

                •             The long-term impact she has made on local livelihoods and the tourism ecosystem.

                •             The success and global recognition of Zara Tanzania Adventures, one of Tanzania’s strongest tourism brands.

 

This award is a celebration not only of Zainab Ansell’s achievements but also of the entire Zara family, the porters, guides, staff and the communities who have grown alongside her vision.

 

 

A Future Focused on Sustainability

As she continues to champion responsible tourism, Zainab’s focus remains on:

                •             Expanding opportunities for local communities

                •             Strengthening conservation efforts

                •             Growing international partnerships

                •             Enhancing tourism experiences in a way that protects nature and uplifts people

 

Her work serves as a shining example of how tourism when managed with heart and purpose can transform lives and build a lasting legacy.

 

 

 

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