Wild Shots Outreach Partnership with Pangolin Photo Safaris: Empowering Kasane’s Youth Through Photography

At Pangolin Photo Safaris, we believe that photography is more than just a hobby—it is a powerful tool for conservation, education, and personal growth. This April, we were honored to host a transformative series of workshops at the Pangolin Chobe Hotel in Kasane in partnership with Wild Shots Outreach (WSO).

Bridging the Gap Through the Lens

Wild Shots Outreach is a non-profit dedicated to connecting young Africans from disadvantaged communities with their natural heritage. For many youth living on the doorstep of Africa’s greatest national parks, the wild can often feel like a world away.

Through this programme, we recruited 15 young people from the Kasane area—including students and job seekers—to participate in an intensive photography workshop. The goal was simple but profound: to unlock confidence, ignite creativity, and foster a new generation of environmental stewards.

Beyond the Basics: The Workshop Experience

Led by WSO Programme Leader Rifumo Mathebula and Assistant Cibi Vutivi, the students engaged in five interactive workshops covering:

Technical Skills: Mastering camera settings beyond the smartphone.
Portraiture: Learning to capture the human element of storytelling.
Conservation & Tourism: Discussing the vital role wildlife plays in the local economy and heritage.

The highlight for many was taking their skills into the field. Our own junior Pangolin Photo Guides—Reece, Mehtla, Moses, Tamia, and Lily—joined the students on game drives through Chobe National Park. For some participants, this was their first time seeing the animals they’ve lived alongside their whole lives through a professional lens.

“Photographing wildlife made me have hope again.” — Nelly Masheleng, Workshop Participant

Impact in Their Own Words

The feedback from the students reminds us why these initiatives are so critical:

Otositwe Juta shared that the program made them more aware of how photos can “teach my community about the importance of wildlife conservation”.
Obakeng Matengu noted that the experience “boosted my confidence” and helped them “fall in love with nature”.
Olerilwe Mogale felt inspired to pursue wildlife photography as a career, using images to “tell a story and raise awareness”.

A Sustainable Mission

This partnership didn’t just impact the students; it empowered our Pangolin guides to carry this mission forward, ensuring that storytelling remains a pillar of the Kasane community. We concluded the week with an awards ceremony at the hotel to celebrate the incredible talent and growth we witnessed.

As Mike Kendrick, Founder of WSO, noted, together we are opening pathways for personal growth and future employment in the tourism sector.

We are incredibly proud of these young photographers and look forward to seeing how they use their new skills to protect and portray the beauty of Botswana.