CONSERVATION7 AUG 2026Top ranger Nomcebo Tshabalala is SANParks torchbearer for womenAssistant section ranger Nomcebo Tshabalala stands undaunted in the male-dominated world of Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, passionately protecting wildlife and inspiring women in…Brian Sokutu5 min read

Assistant section ranger Nomcebo Tshabalala stands undaunted in the male-dominated world of Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, passionately protecting wildlife and inspiring women in conservation. Learn about her challenging role in anti-poaching, community education, and maintaining the park’s natural heritage. In a male-dominated world of men in camouflage, physically fit, heavily armed and alert to take on dangerous poachers guarding Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, one of 21 SA National Parks (SANParks) – assistant searching ranger Nomcebo Tshabalala is undaunted.

Based at the Kgalagadi a vast wildlife enclave in the Kalahari Desert region of Botswana and South Africa, bordering Namibia to the west – Tshabalala has told theMail & Guardian, about the passion for her challenging role. Kgalagadi is characterised by red dunes and dry rivers, including migrating herds of wildebeest, springbok, with predators like raptors and black-maned Kalahari lions, roaming around. Tshabalala’s job entails reinforcement: conducting anti-poaching operations in protecting the country’s wildlife from poachers.

To reinforce the SANParks conservation message of embracing all communities among key stakeholders, she also spends her time educating people, tourists and guests to Kgalagadi about wildlife. “We talk about the importance of taking care of our biodiversity, our natural resources, as well as the ecosystem that we have inside the park. “That education also extends out to our local community neighbouring the park, as well as to our farmers, whose depth conservation knowledge requires sharpening.

[paywall]

“Working with different stakeholders, including farmers – on the side of Namibia as well as Botswana, is crucial,” maintained Tshabalala. “Because Kgalagadi is a trans-frontier park, it commands all bordering countries to play an important role. “We also work in collaboration with the SA Police Service, the SA National Defence Force and local communities who are part of the park’s natural heritage sites,” she added. Tshabalala’s work demands require her to “take care of our infrastructure inside the park maintenance of our boundaries and electric fence, making sure that we keep our wildlife within the space of the protected area of Kgalagadi”.

[/paywall]