How conservation, community, and photography helped Thabiso reconnect with his own story. Below is an insight into how our work with Wild Shots Outreach is shaping individual lives.
When Thabiso Maburunyana first picked up a camera during the Wild Shots Outreach workshop in Khwai, he was at a personal crossroads.
“My first Wild Shots experience was great and exciting,” he shares. “It came at a time when I was stuck, confused — almost lost. I didn’t know what door to knock on next.” He remembers the introduction to photography not just as a technical skill, but as something deeply personal — a reminder of what was already within him.
“It wasn’t that it changed everything about my future,” Thabiso explains. “It was more like a wake-up call. It reminded me of what I already had — my knowledge, my abilities, and the responsibility to use them.”
The experience lit a spark. Driven by a renewed sense of purpose, Thabiso began visiting the Khwai Private Reserve (KPR) Maun office twice a week, determined to find an opportunity to contribute. That opportunity came — and today, he works as a dedicated waiter at Skybeds and Elephant Pan, welcoming guests, preparing meals, and helping create unforgettable memories. Growing up in Khwai, surrounded by the rhythms of the wild, gave him a unique perspective that enriches his work every day.
“Because I grew up near wild animals, I can explain their behaviour to guests,” he says. “It makes the work richer — not just for me, but for them too.”
Thabiso also credits his growth in confidence and communication to the mentorship he received.
“My Wild Shots experience and my own life in Khwai have helped me speak more confidently with guests. I now use English more professionally — and every time I hear encouraging feedback from a guest or manager, it makes me proud.”
But beyond photography skills and professional growth, what left the deepest impression was the sense of connection — to land, people, and purpose.
“I used to wonder why people paid so much to be in the wild,” he admits. “But now I understand. Nature, tourism, wildlife — they matter. And now I want to help others enjoy and respect them too.”
To young men and women thinking of joining Wild Shots, Thabiso has a message:
“Don’t hesitate. Don’t be scared of trying something new. You never know what you don’t know until you experience it. Take the leap — you won’t regret it.”
For Thabiso, conservation and community are not abstract ideas. They’re his everyday reality in Khwai.
“Tourism is our diamond and gold. To protect it is social justice — a responsibility that should come naturally to us. We must protect this balance.”
He reflects on the powerful lesson he’s learned: the value of coexistence — between cultures, between people and wildlife, and between humans and the land.
“No man is an island,” he says. “We need each other. Thank you to Natural Selection, KPR, Wild Shots — and mostly to Sandra Rubins and Neelo Baheyi for seeing the little light in me and helping it shine.”
Thanks to the Canon Young People Programme who help finance this course.
