They call it Mosi-oa-Tunya, “the smoke that thunders,” notes Vimbai Masiyiwa ’17, CEO and chief creative officer of Batoka Africa.

The spray from Victoria Falls, one of the world’s largest waterfalls, geysers into the air as nearly 25,000 gallons of water pour over its cliffs every second, causing a deafening roar.

Located on the Zambezi River on the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe, the waterfall stretches for more than a kilometer and rises to more than 100 meters, a breathtaking testament to nature’s awesome power.

Witnessing that majesty in person, Masiyiwa notes, can be inspiring and humbling at the same time — and she has made it her mission to share that wonder with the world.

In the last few years, Masiyiwa, who was born in Zimbabwe and now resides in London, has received numerous accolades, including induction into Forbes Africa’s 30 under 30 class of 2024 and being named Outstanding Young CEO by the Zimbabwe CEO Network in 2022. A devotee of African couture, she was chosen by Tatler magazine, a Condé Nast publication, for their “Best Dressed List,” which described her style as “all-out glamour.”

But Masiyiwa also knows what it means to track lions on the hunt and come face-to-face with an 11-ton elephant in the wild — to bow to the power of nature and be one with its grandeur. Equally at home in the boardroom and on safari, in both ballgowns and expedition attire, she launched the Batoka Africa eco-tourism company (“Batoka” being the Tonga word for “sky”) in 2020 with her mother, Tsitsi Masiyiwa P’17, ’24H, to introduce visitors to Africa’s beauty — and to redefine African hospitality.

Zambezi Sands, Bakota’s first lodge, is nestled inside Zimbabwe’s Zambezi National Park, just upstream from Victoria Falls; a larger sister lodge, Gorges Lodge, is under construction at the edge of nearby Batoka Gorge. Both, she says, are conduits for life-changing experiences.

“It is a chance to see how incredible nature can be,” notes Masiyiwa. “So many people travel from all over the world to a city like London, to see Buckingham Palace and these beautiful man-made buildings and sites. But there is also so much beauty in these less-touched spaces — in what nature itself has created.”

Under her leadership, Masiyiwa has used Batoka, the first Black female-owned safari lodge group in Africa, to introduce visitors to new adventures while also helping to transform local communities in Zimbabwe. She has found other ways to give back as well, including as an advisor to the African Unions Special Envoy for Youth, advocating for mental health awareness, and co-creating the Innovate Elevate Youth Conference.

Below, Masiyiwa discusses her mission, her passions, and her hopes for the future.

Why is it so important that people broaden their horizons or try new things through travel?
“Traveling to new places is about more than just seeing different landscapes; it’s a way of truly immersing ourselves in the world and connecting with cultures and perspectives that are different from our own. While screens give us a window to other places, experiencing them firsthand has a unique power. Walking through a bustling market, feeling the energy of monsoon season in India, or sharing a meal with locals offers insights that go far deeper than what we see online.

“This kind of immersion helps us appreciate the diversity of human experiences, teaching us respect for different ways of life. It broadens our understanding that life in London, Rhode Island, or Johannesburg is just one of many ways people live. Each place has lessons to offer, and by engaging with people and their stories, we gain a sense of empathy and understanding that enriches our own lives and, in turn, makes the world a bit more connected.”

Do you have a favorite place you go, or a place that fills you with awe?
“I don’t know if there’s a specific spot, exactly, but if you’ve ever been on safari, it’s such an amazing experience. You get out there and you realize that while humans may be the king of the modern world, once you get out into the wild, they are not. It can be hum-bling.  

“Our Zambezi Sands location is located in a national park, which means there’s wildlife roaming around freely. They don’t wander into the camp very often, but sometimes they do. It’s incredible to see an elephant walk through, or to be able to simply watch and observe lions in nature.  

“Just recently, I took a group of 14 people to our property, and as we were driving, we came face to face with a young bull elephant, and he just stared us down. When you see them like that, you realize just how powerful they are.” 

What do you do in that situation?
“Our guide asked us to remain calm, which allowed the elephant to lose interest! Male elephants tend to be less threatening; it’s more unsafe when it’s a female elephant with baby elephants around because they become very protective. Elephants don’t have very good eyesight, so all they can see is a big structure. They just need to know it’s non-threatening, so you turn off the car’s engine, sit quietly, and just give it a little bit of time to observe. Usually, it will back away. Being on safari with a trained guide is essential, as they understand wildlife behavior and are best equipped to ensure your safety.”

What’s next for Batoka?
“We’ve got a new property, which is much bigger than anything I’ve ever done before. We’re usually very boutique; we stick to 20 beds at most. This one is going to be over 100 beds, and it’s spread over a site that’s two kilometers across a gorge. We’re also working with the community in more depth than we ever have before. So, it’s a big project and we have a tight timeline.  

“My favorite part of what I do is creating new experiences for people, so I’m very excited about this one. The size can seem a little bit intimidating, but you only grow when you throw yourself into the deep end.”

As chief creative officer for both properties, you help to determine their visual aesthetic. You’re also  something of a fashion icon yourself. How does that inform your process?
“At Batoka, our design philosophy is all about harmony with the natural environment. We’ve taken great care to create spaces that feel like a genuine part of the landscape, using neutral tones and incorporating local elements like feathers and natural materials throughout the property. Even our farm-to-table menus reflect this connection to the land, offering an authentically African experience that immerses guests in the beauty and spirit of the region.

“Personally, this approach extends to my wardrobe as well. When I’m on safari, I dress in subtle, earthy tones that allow me to blend in with the surroundings — avoiding bright colors like red, which can unsettle the wild- life, especially lions. It’s about respecting the environment, whether in the details of our properties or in how we experience them.”

Is there ever a conflict between the creative side of you and the CEO side? Or do they work together?
“The creative side doesn’t have a budget, but the board and the CEO do, so it’s always been interesting (laughs).

“I think being creative is also about being innovative in business. The creative side is really important in informing how we become a business that will last past my generation. The only way we do that is if we are innovative and we’re doing something different. So, I think there’s a good balance.”

Do you have any advice for young women interested in business?
“Keep pushing forward. Society is nowhere near where it needs to be in terms of empowering women in the workplace, or making room for them, or respecting them, and that can take an emotional toll.

“But Bryant gives us the education we need to empower ourselves as we grow in these spaces. I found strength in really trusting that education and using it as a driving force in difficult spaces as a female in business or female in management.

“I also tell women to do as much reading as they can and as much learning as they can. Because when you have the facts, and people try to second-guess what you’re saying, you can back it all up.”

What do you remember from your time at Bryant?
“One of the things I truly loved about the university was that, despite its size, it felt intimate enough to foster a strong sense of community. Two girls I met my first week at Bryant during the 4MILE program are still two of my very close friends, and we’ve all really enjoyed getting to watch each other grow in our respective fields.

“I remember returning after a year off for medical reasons, feeling vulnerable and out of place since many of my friends had already graduated. But the warmth of the community quickly reminded me why I belonged there — people greeted me with smiles, and professors were exceptionally supportive and understanding. I do think that’s a sense of community that’s quite unique to Bryant. I’ve gone to two universities post-Bryant and enjoyed them, but that same sense of com-munity didn’t exist.”

Did you have a favorite class?
“I think my favorite class, a project management course with Professor Sousa, was also one of the most difficult ones. I think I might have thought of it as the worst one at the time (laughs). He was a tough professor but deeply cared about the quality of our work and our results — he genuinely wanted to ensure we were prepared for the workplace.  

“I often revisit the projects we worked on, which, though unrelated to hospitality, taught me invaluable project management skills. There’s a document on project planning that I still refer to, asking myself, ‘How did we tackle this?’ It continues to guide me in overseeing the construction of our sites.

“The emphasis on critical thinking and effective project management is something I believe will stay with me through-out my career.”

You’ve also done some work, through Batoka, on empowerment at the grassroots level. Could you tell us more about that?
“When we build on a plot of land, we lease that land from the community — and we become part of that community. I think there is a sense of responsibility that comes from using their land, from using their soil from their ground, to build and generate profits. And part of that should go back into the local community, too.

“At Batoka, we take 10 percent of the revenue from guest stays and we ask our staff, ‘We’re part of your community; how can we tackle some of our challenges?’ It’s important to have that conversation, because 99 percent of the time, as an outsider looking in, you get it wrong.”

What do you see as your legacy?
“At the end of the day, I just want more people to want to visit Africa and explore — even if it’s not with Batoka as their partner. I want to be part of building this image for the continent as a place where people love, appreciate, and value what it has to offer.

“I want it to be the same as when people talk about their summers in Europe. They want to go to Paris. They want to go to Positano or the Amalfi Coast. I want what we’re building to encourage people to be like, ‘Oh my God, this summer I’m going to Rwanda,’ or ‘I’m going to Ghana.’”

This February, Masiyiwa will return to campus for a two-day visit as a Presidential Executive in Residence, where she’ll share what she’s learned with a new generation of Bryant students.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.