Dalia Militaru

Dalia’s Bio

Dalia’s curiosity about how people see the world led her to do a degree in Tourism Management and a thesis in Cultural Anthropology. Her research took her to South Africa, where she interviewed members from Zulu, Xhosa, Venda, Ndebele, and Tsonga communities about their traditions and beliefs that shape their relationship with wildlife and how younger generations view them today. This sparked a long-lasting fascination with the worldviews woven into folklore and tradition.

During the pandemic, Dalia spent almost a year living in Cape Town, volunteering in education outreach at a wildlife conservation centre that works to secure cheetahs’ future. She explored smaller reserves in South Africa, including Madikwe and Pilansberg with no other visitor in sight, spent a week road-tripping the Garden Route discovering the Winelands, and ventured up the coast to Durban.

Before joining YZ, Dalia worked for a tour operator in Bristol, always leading with a conservation-focused approach. She is now completing a master’s in Green Economy and Sustainable Development, researching the natural capital of ecotourism in Romania and exploring where tourism, communities, and wildlife meet.

Alongside this, Dalia volunteers as a writer, contributing to Moyo Nature Travel. She writes monthly pieces ranging from wildlife conservation to interviewing women in sustainable travel.

Outside work, Dalia loves photography, hiking, reading, and painting illustrations of her travels. However, her favourite moments are around a fire on a safari, listening to stories of the wild places she is lucky enough to explore. Wherever she wanders, it’s in Africa her heart feels most in sync.