Community

Community empowerment is the heart and soul of Babanango Game Reserve

COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT

INVESTING IN PEOPLE

Babanango Game Reserve has partnered with surrounding communities to create and sustain economic opportunities and ensure social development. We focus on true sustainability, and more than just conserving the environment, Babanango is a ground-breaking conservation project that will benefit local communities and protect precious wildlife for future generations to enjoy.

COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT

The Reserve currently comprises several private game farms and community land owned by the Emcakwini Community Trust. Additional community-owned land in the area has been earmarked for incorporation into the Reserve, thereby onboarding other Community Trusts and their respective beneficiary members. These communities will benefit from the project through various initiatives undertaken by the dedicated African Habitat Conservancy Foundation. The AHC Foundation is a non-profit organisation through which African Habitat Conservancy’s corporate social responsibility programmes can be implemented. These include the AHC Bursary Programme and support of community-based projects, such as the sponsorship of schools and clinics in the region.

COMMUNITY EMPLOYMENT

Zululand is a rural district impacted by unemployment and poverty. Babanango Game Reserve aims to help alleviate this through community empowerment and development. The Reserve has not only injected investment into the area but has also created jobs for community members who are appropriately skilled and qualified. We also provide training opportunities for those without any formal skill set or qualification.

JOB
CREATION

The protected conservation area incorporating the Babanango Game Reserve will further the job creation and training opportunities available to the community. By increasing tourism in the Babanango area, further opportunities are being created. Community businesses may offer products and services such as fresh produce, charcoal, transport, crafts and catering. Township and traditional Zulu community village and cultural lifestyle tours, as well as tours of historical sites and battlefields, also provide important economic opportunities for community members.

WILD SHOTS OUTREACH

Wild Shots Outreach engages young people from disadvantaged communities in wildlife conservation through the lens of photography. The programme teaches new skills, and helps inspire the conservationists of tomorrow through photography and wildlife education.

As well as nurturing an appreciation of wildlife, and developing life skills in course participants, Wild Shots Outreach aims to promote artistic skills and deepen knowledge and understanding of the environment, conservation and wildlife tourism.

Each course consists of five workshop sessions culminating in a game drive in a game reserve. We prioritise high school students aged 15 to 17 and the young unemployed. We work with groups of eight students at a time, and use donated DLSR cameras. The course is run over a few days in the school or centre, or over a weekend in a game reserve. Each workshop is followed by a discussion session for the students to review their work, and the course concludes with a presentation session and student feedback. Students are presented with certificates and prints of their photographs. Each school or group receives a camera so that the students can continue to use their new skills.