Thige Njuguna is a Kenyan wildlife photographer and filmmaker whose work explores where people, culture, and wildlife meet. His storytelling centres on the human relationships that underpin meaningful conservation across Africa, focusing not only on animals but on the communities, histories, and systems of care that allow coexistence to endure.
Nomad 50th Cover Artist
Thige, the artist behind the cover photo, shares the story of the image: “This image was made during my time at Reteti Elephant Sanctuary in northern Kenya, where orphaned elephants are cared for by a team drawn from the surrounding Samburu community. Spending time there reshaped how I think about conservation, not as an abstract mission, but as something deeply human, rooted in trust, patience, and shared responsibility. The photograph captures a simple moment of contact, but behind it lies months of quiet observation and learning. It represents not ownership or control, but coexistence.”
Where it all began
Thige’s journey into photography began while studying wildlife management in college, where he picked up his first camera. Field trips to Kenya Wildlife Service parks quickly revealed he was drawn less to lectures and more to observing and photographing animals and landscapes. Photography became a way of paying attention: a tool for understanding the environments he was studying and the stories within them.
After graduating, Thige secured an internship as a photographic studio assistant at Angama Mara, one of the first dedicated photographic studios within a safari lodge. Immersed where wildlife, tourism, and storytelling intersect, he refined his technical skills and sense of narrative. It was there that photography shifted from fascination into a calling.
Since then, the camera has taken him across diverse conservation landscapes in Kenya and beyond. What began as a passion for wildlife imagery evolved into a deeper commitment to storytelling, recognising conservation is about people as much as animals. His work follows communities living alongside wildlife, documenting not only species but the knowledge, resilience, and stewardship that sustain these relationships.
From passion to scholarship
In 2023, Thige received a full scholarship from the BBC Natural History Unit to pursue a Master’s in Wildlife Filmmaking at the University of the West of England in Bristol in the United Kingdom. The program expanded his practice into long-form storytelling, exploring narrative, ethics, and African-led perspectives in global environmental media.
After completing his studies, Thige returned to Kenya, where he worked across conservation landscapes, including at Reteti Elephant Sanctuary, a community-owned initiative embodying locally driven conservation. He also collaborates with organisations across conservation, wildlife, and travel, while developing documentaries that centre African voices in global narratives.
Here to inspire a new generation
For Thige, photography is not about untouched wilderness or distant spectacle, but about connection. He hopes his work contributes to conservation conversations by raising awareness and inspiring change.
As part of a small but growing community of African wildlife storytellers, he is committed to opening pathways for the next generation. Growing up, he rarely saw people like himself in this field. Today, he hopes his journey reminds young Africans that these stories belong to them too, and that they have every right to tell them.
