The female field the guide has already crafted a niche in ecotourism, a field that is mostly dominated by men.
But for her, this was nothing short of a surprise.
“I still have no idea of who nominated me for the awards, I just received a call from one of the organizers inquiring of my availability for the award ceremony,” recalls Mishi as she opens up about the gala event that took place at Kibo Palace Hotel in Arusha early this June.
Despite her the bewilderment on her nomination, the mother-of-two and a safari guide with Singita Grumeti, still believes that she deservedly won the award which was presented to her by the Minister for Natural Resources and Tourism Hon. Dr. Hamis Kigwangalla.
As she puts it, one has to endure all sorts of challenges, and according to Mishi, what has kept her grounded and motivated is perseverance and the passion she has towards what she’s doing for a living.
“As a safari guide you are bound to meet different characters…I have hosted famous actors and other prominent celebrities, your duty is to ensure that the visitor’s thirst is quenched and you show them the wonders of nature and explain the value of conservation,” she says.
According to Mishi, it takes a bold woman to survive and thrive in the male-dominated profession, adding that she fits the bill, earning her the award.
“It is so rewarding to see women getting honored in such a special way; it sends a strong message that women are capable of making a difference if they grab the opportunities with both hands.”
Ms. Mishi still recalls how she had to board a chartered plane from Western Serengeti to Arusha, just to make it for the awards.
She says she was informed by the organizers that she had to be taken through a brief one-on-one interview by some tourism and wildlife gurus before the gala awards.
It is there where she had an opportunity to rub shoulders with the movers and shakers of the industry, who then endorsed her for the victory.
“The panel was mostly comprised of people versed in tourism and wildlife-related issues, they asked me some tough questions which I still managed to answer,” she chuckles.
While growing up in a modest village in Serengeti District in the 1990s, Mishi would occasionally ask her father, who was a park warden of Serengeti National Park (Senapa), to accompany him during his daily routines inspecting the park and taking count of wild animals.
It was through such a privilege that she found herself riding in Senapa helicopters with her father. That is where it all began,” she recalls.
“The wild animals and beauty of the land caught my attention, and I felt I would one day take over from my father.”
However, it wasn’t a direct path to working in the conservation sector as Mishi took up a completely different job after she pursued a course in accountancy at the famous Institute of Accountancy in Arusha (IAA).
The mother-of-two would, however, not detach herself from what she dreamed of doing for a living.
“My father always updated me on what was happening in the national park and when not busy, he would tutor me on tourism issues,” explains the soft-spoken lady.
Even at college, Mishi ensured that she kept abreast of the conservation world.
She used the internet to look for the latest reports on tourism and wild animals.
Just like any other graduate, Mishi hit the road with her academic certificates, popping into one office after the other, hoping to land herself a job.
After numerous unsuccessful attempts Mishi found herself working for a marketing and events firm that also published tourism related journals based in the region,” she explains.
During her spell with the marketing firm, Mishi spent much of her time writing conservation articles in the firm’s journal.
She did this because she still harbored the desire of one day working in the tourism industry.
Mishi then got a job as an accountant at the world-renowned Singita Grumeti working at Singita Sasakwa Lodge.
“This is where it all began and because I was computer savvy and proficient in the English language, I finally got what I was yearning for. I could relate to Singita’s 100-year purpose to protect and preserve large areas of Africa for future generations.”
While working at Singita Grumeti, Mishi’s task would be to key in data of different animals found in the area, while also becoming an English language interpreter for the firm’s officials.
As she puts it, Mishi she would invest more spare time to study more about wild animals and their behaviors.
Her passion for wildlife and tourism didn’t go unnoticed by her managers at Singita Grumeti.
Then one day, while going about her daily chores she came across a vacancy advert on internal notice board.
The firm was looking for a field guide.
“This is what I was waiting for and didn’t give it a second thought upon seeing the advert,” Mishi recalls.
Mishi didn’t consider her shortlisting as mere luck.
“I knew I had all that it took to become a safari guide, that is why I wasn’t surprised when I was called up for the job.”
From the desktop computer she had as an accountant, Mishi now has a top-of-the-range safari vehicle to chauffeur tourists around. “Gauging from my life, it is fair to say that patience and hard work pays and that it was just worth the wait,” she says.
Donned in her khaki safari uniform, Mishi is now awing many international tourists that flock to Singita Grumeti Reserve for the award-winning guest experience.
According to her, tourists are left baffled by the prowess she exhibits in the field, even though she is a woman.
Mishi has now mastered the craft of being a safari guide regardless of the circumstances.
“My number one priority job is to ensure the safety of my guests especially knowing that wild animals are always near,” she explains.
She commits to support any girl child who wishes to follow her footsteps.
“The award goes out to all girls who struggle to realize the dream jobs; I’m always ready to support their endeavors.”
Ms. Mishi is further convinced that the award will put Singita Grumeti on the global map, as far as conservation and community work is concerned.
“As the company, our serious commitment to conservation and girls’ empowerment hasn't gone unnoticed. I truly thank them so much for the ongoing support since I started this journey with Singita.”
Singita has 15 award-winning lodges across five regions, and will be opening in Rwanda this year. Singita Grumeti is comprised of four permanent properties and one mobile camp – Singita Sasakwa Lodge, Singita Sabora Tented Camp, Singita Faru Faru Lodge, Singita Serengeti House, and Singita Explore – all set within 350,000 acres of land adjoining the expansive Serengeti National Park. Singita Mara River Tented Camp is a small camp situated in the remote Lamai triangle in Tanzania.
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