Lydia Eva Mpanga | Female Empowerment, Community Impact & Competing with Big Brands
Lydia Eva Mpanga is the co-founder and CEO of Nkuringo Safaris, a multi-award-winning, female-led travel group operating at the forefront of East African tourism.
She is the force behind the globally recognised Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge, the founder of the Gorilla Junction Foundation, and a trailblazer in community-led luxury travel and sustainable conservation safari experiences.
Lydia is an absolute powerhouse and it was such a pleasure to hear her story.
It’s completely different to any other conversation I’ve had so far on the podcast and I came away inspired and full of ideas for things we could do at north9 as well as how other clients could benefit from Lydia’s knowledge.
There were many, many highlights, but some of the bits that stood out for me were:
- The impact being one of 5 daughters had on Lydia and everything she has gone on to do.
- How being purpose-led has enabled her to build a hugely motivated team that is clearly incredibly close and even dances together through good and hard times.
- Lydia’s commitment to the community and how Nkuringo Safaris growing has helped the local community. This is a particularly prominent topic in travel so it was great to hear perspective from on the ground.
- Going beyond expectations for guests and the effect that has had on the growth of the business.
- The effect of having Kenyan and Ugandan parents that has given her a mix of aggression and empathy that has enabled her to ‘fight for her space’ and always have hope.
- How she has dealt with the pressure of leadership and having so many people’s lives dependent on the success of the business.
- How agents and operators can work more effectively with DMCs
- Lydia’s alternative take on conservation and how to approach it so that it works for the community and everyone involved.
There are not many female founders and CEOs in the world of African tourism, but Lydia is showing why we should be fighting for more and creating spaces to hear their voices, as she is a true inspiration and has built something marvellous.
I hope you enjoy listening to it as much as I enjoyed recording it.
Podcast Timestamps
00:00 The Genesis of Nkuringo Safaris
03:00 Growth and Evolution of Nkuringo Safaris
05:49 Empowering the Community through Employment
09:07 Challenges in Building a Diverse Team
11:57 The Role of the Gorilla Junction Foundation
14:50 Conservation Efforts and Community Engagement
17:58 The Interplay of Business and Conservation
20:54 Maintaining High Standards and Awards
23:54 Marketing Strategies and Public Relations
33:55 The Sky’s the Limit for Coringo
35:10 Competing in the Safari Industry
36:00 Challenges of Small Operations
39:15 Building Strong Relationships with Agents
45:03 Marketing Uganda Beyond Gorillas
49:04 Navigating Challenges in Tourism
52:21 Maintaining Hope and Resilience
53:57 The Unique Qualities of a Leader
01:00:26 Future Plans for Nkuringo
01:04:12 Community and Conservation Efforts
01:08:17 Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs
