Zara Tanzania Adventures’ Zainab Ansell honoured at regional MSMEs Trade Fair

THURSDAY December 4, 2025

By The Tranquility News Correspondent, Tanzania

Zara Tanzania Adventures’ founder and Director Zainab Ansell has won the Women Champion Award for East African Trade, recognising her leadership in tourism, regional trade, and sustainable development across the region.

Zainab Ansell clinched the award during the 25th East African Community Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) Trade Fair held in Nairobi, Kenya, recently.

This year’s fair marked 25 years of regional integration, celebrated under the theme Advancing Innovation and Regional Value Chains for Competitive MSMEs toward Sustainable Development.

The recognition honours Zainab’s outstanding leadership in promoting tourism, trade, and women entrepreneurship across East Africa.

As one of Tanzania’s most respected women entrepreneurs, Zainab has built a tourism empire that has positioned Tanzania as a top global travel destination.

Through her company – Zara Tanzania Adventures – she has spent more than three decades creating unforgettable experiences for travelers, offering Kilimanjaro climbs, wildlife safaris across all Tanzanian national parks, beach holidays in Zanzibar, and tours across East Africa.

Her dedication to excellence, sustainability, and empowerment has transformed Zara Tanzania Adventures into Tanzania’s leading tourism company and a symbol of African innovation.

Zainab’s influence extends beyond tourism operations. She is also the visionary behind Zita Tanzania Wild Camps, a collection of eco-friendly lodges and camps designed to provide authentic Tanzanian hospitality while supporting local employment and conservation.

Her properties include Highview Hotel, Highview Coffee Lodge, Ngorongoro Wild Camp, Ngorongoro Safari Lodge, Serengeti Safari Lodge, Serengeti Wild Camp, Serengeti Wildebeest Camp, Ikoma Wild Camp, Springlands Hotel, Moshi the Gateway to Mount Kilimanjaro.

Each property reflects her commitment to sustainable tourism, community empowerment, and creating a positive impact through responsible travel.

Furthering her passion for social impact, Zainab founded Zara Charity, a non-profit initiative dedicated to uplifting Tanzanian communities through education, women empowerment, health, and environmental projects.

Through this foundation, she has empowered women entrepreneurs, supported underprivileged children, and promoted sustainable community livelihoods, bridging tourism and humanity.

Her recognition as a Women Champion for East African Trade is a celebration of her life’s work championing trade through tourism, connecting people and cultures across borders, and empowering countless individuals through opportunity and education.

Zainab Ansell stands as a true example of African excellence and female leadership, demonstrating that with vision, perseverance, and passion, one woman can transform not only an industry but an entire region.

Through Zara Tanzania Adventures, Zita Tanzania Wild Camps, and Zara Charity, she continues making Tanzania proud and setting standard for sustainable tourism and regional trade development across East AfricaΩ