A Young Voice for Conservation: Celebrating A Standout Junior Guide

When conservation is placed in young hands, something powerful happens. At the inaugural Junior Ranger Event hosted by African Bush Camps Foundation, that power came through clearly in the words of Dimakatso Jacob, a 10-year-old learner from ABCF’s Junior Ranger Program, and the proud winner of the Foundation’s first-ever Junior Guides essay competition.

Inspiring the Next Generation of Conservation Leaders

Launched in July 2024, the African Bush Camps Foundation’s Junior Ranger Program was created to connect classroom learning with real-world conservation. Working closely with Khwai Primary School, the Program brings learners together twice a week with African Bush Camps staff and local teachers to explore topics such as wildlife conservation, biodiversity, soil erosion, and waste management.

Since its inception, more than 500 students have participated in hands-on environmental projects, from tree planting and recycling art workshops to contributing to a youth environmental magazine. In June 2025, 69 Junior Rangers proudly represented Khwai at the Maun Environmental Education Conference, sharing their own sustainability ideas with confidence and pride.

A Day to Remember at Khwai Leadwood

On 31 October 2025, 25 Junior Rangers were invited to experience conservation first-hand at Khwai Leadwood. The day began with a warm welcome from Beks Ndlovu, Founder and CEO of African Bush Camps, followed by inspiring talks from the safari and guiding team about what it truly means to be a ranger: not only conserving wildlife, but supporting communities too.

Equipped with Junior Ranger kits including hats, shirts, wildlife booklets, and Ngwana Club packs, the learners set off on a guided game drive. Here, they practiced wildlife spotting, tracking, and basic field skills, experiencing the bush through the eyes of a professional guide.

After returning to camp for lunch, each child received a certificate recognizing their participation. The highlight of the afternoon came with the announcement of the top five essays, written around the theme “What being a ranger or guide means to my community.”

A Winning Perspective from a Young Conservationist

The winner, Dimakatso Jacob (age 10) was awarded a pair of National Geographic binoculars, a powerful symbol of clarity, curiosity, and a future focused on conservation.

Dimakatso, winner of the Junior Ranger essay competition, receiving her National Geographic binoculars

Dimakatso’s essay stood out for its moving sentiments, insight, and deep understanding of conservation’s role within her community. In her own words:

“They are involved in responsible travel to natural areas and conserving the environment. They also improve the well-being of local people. This is achieved by minimizing environmental impact and supporting funding and conservation. The guide is the perfect person for this.”

At such a young age, Dimakatso beautifully articulated the very heart of responsible tourism, recognizing that conservation, community well-being, and guiding are intrinsically connected.

Capturing Stories That Matter

The day was beautifully documented by Botswana-based documentary photographer Kefilwe “Fifi” Monosi, whose work centers on amplifying the voices of women and children and telling authentic stories from marginalized communities. Her lens captured not just the activities of the day, but the pride, curiosity, and hope reflected in each young ranger.

As Selly Kegakamang, Botswana Country Lead for African Bush Camps Foundation, shared:

“The Junior Rangers Program is already changing how young people in Khwai see their environment. They’re more confident, more curious, and more hopeful, and that’s exactly the kind of impact we want to create.”

Looking Ahead

The Junior Ranger Program is only the beginning. The Foundation plans to expand environmental education across its partner schools, introduce Coaching Conservation to additional primary schools in 2026, and create long-term pathways for young people to pursue careers in guiding, conservation, and environmental management.

As Ndlovu so powerfully stated:

“The children of Khwai are the future guardians of Botswana’s wildlife and landscapes. By giving them the tools, knowledge, and inspiration today, we are ensuring that tomorrow’s conservation efforts are led by the people who call this land home.”

For Dimakatso Jacob (and many young rangers like her) that future has already begun.