National Geographic honoured 15 visionaries with the 2025 Wayfinder Award. The Nat Geo society named the recipients National Geographic Explorers.
Out of those 15 winners, 2025 Wayfinder Award recognised 5 Africans who are from South Africa, Zimbabwe and Mauritius. The explorers awarded are:
- Social Entrepreneur – Chido Govera from Zimbabwe
- Conservation Biologist – Moreangels Mbizah from Zimbabwe
- Filmmaker and Storyteller – Pippa Ehrlich from South Africa
- Geologist and Speleologist – Tebogo Makhubela from South Africa
- Founder and Leadership Educator – Veronique Couttee-Jenkins from Mauritius
Presented by Kia, the award list was announced on Thursday, June 05, 2025 and honoured a new cohort of National Geographic Explorers who redefined what it means to lead in science, conservation, education, technology and storytelling.
Among them was a traditional navigator training the next generation in ancestral wayfinding in the Cook Islands; a South African geologist uncovering ancient clues to human evolution; and a Colombian conservationist protecting the critically endangered brown spider monkey.
These awardees exemplify bold thinking and boundary-pushing action that aligns with the Society’s mission to illuminate and protect the wonder of the world.
About award recipients from Africa
- Social Entrepreneur – Chido Govera from Zimbabwe
Govera is a social entrepreneur, farmer and community empowerment advocate who developed an approach to turn agro-waste into nutritious food and income for households in Zimbabwe and Mozambique.
- Conservation Biologist – Moreangels Mbizah from Zimbabwe
Mbizah is a conservation biologist and founder of Wildlife Conservation Action, a non-profit focused on innovative strategies to promote human-wildlife coexistence and socio-economic development.
- Filmmaker and Storyteller – Pippa Ehrlich from South Africa
Ehrlich is a filmmaker, journalist and lifelong ocean advocate whose work explores the powerful connection between people and the natural world.
- Geologist and Speleologist – Tebogo Makhubela from South Africa
Makhubela is a geologist and speleologist exploring the fossil-bearing cave and surface deposits within the Cradle of Humankind, shedding light on the environmental and climatic changes that influenced human evolution.
- Founder and Leadership Educator – Veronique Couttee-Jenkins from Mauritius
Couttee-Jenkins is a nonprofit founder, entrepreneur, and leadership educator, passionate about empowering women in STEAM fields and using technology to catalyze social and environmental change.
National Geographic Society and Kia will support the Wayfinder Award recipients of this year who are advancing solutions to urgent global challenges. With the sustained commitment to their mission, these explorers have already contributed to tangible progress in their field.
This recognition will help to deepen their impact and drive lasting change for the planet and its inhabitants.
Considering this, Chief Explorer Engagement Officer at the National Geographic Society – Alex Moon said, “True to the name of this award, this extraordinary group of changemakers represents the bold spirit of purposeful exploration.”
“Their creativity and innovation are helping us to better understand and protect the natural world, and we’re proud to support them as they lead us into a more viable future,” highlighted Moon.
Upon joining the Society’s global community of National Geographic Explorers, each recipient received a monetary award to support their work.
They are celebrated at the Society’s annual Explorers Festival in Washington D.C. and are eligible to apply for further project funding through the Society’s Wayfinder Program, in addition to leadership development, speaking opportunities and a collaborative platform to connect across disciplines.