Sam is a conservationist, writer, educator, tour leader and award-winning photographer from the UK. Sam’s background in Zoology has helped to steer his photographic style which aims to engage, educate and inspire audiences while supporting sustainable conservation initiatives. Sam is also passionate about impactful photographic travel and aims to provide incredible experiences that also benefit local people, businesses and wildlife.
WHO WE ARE
Our Team

GENERAL MANAGER
Sam Turley

EXPERIENCE COORDINATOR
Amy de Nysschen
Amy was born and raised in South Africa’s stunning Drakensberg area, and she’s now based in Cape Town with her partner and dog. Her career has been driven by her passions for both travel and animals, and she’s worked in the hospitality and the equestrian industry. She’s now combining her work experience with her interest in photography, and she loves to help people join incredible photographic journeys.

MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR
Heidi Hughes
Heidi grew up in the quaint hillsides of Rome. With a background in graphic design and a love for travel, she brings her passion for visual storytelling to the Penda team. Having studied amidst the Cornish landscape, she finds constant inspiration in nature. Her journey with Penda began in 2023 when she joined our humanitarian photography program in Zambia, igniting her desire to support nonprofit initiatives through photography. When out of reach, you can bet she’s MIA on a hike with her dog, exploring somewhere new.

TRAVEL CONSULTANT
Anna Lusty
Originally from the UK, Anna has lived and worked in South Africa for almost two decades. She divides her time between helping people find their ideal photo tour, and documenting the work of charitable organisations. Anna is a strong believer of photography as a powerful tool for nonprofits to tell their stories and raise funds. She travels extensively for her photography work, and her images have been used for websites, annual and donor reports, brochures and flyers, coffee table books for major donors and for specific campaigns.

CO-FOUNDER & DIRECTOR
Marleen Lammers
Marleen (pronounced ‘Marlane’ – sensitive subject) started her career as a broadcasting journalist in the Netherlands, but was drawn to African adventure and moved to Zambia a decade ago. For several years, she developed and managed community and conservation volunteer projects in Zambia, Zimbabwe, and South Africa, before moving into communications and marketing. She then moved onto managing fundraising and communications for Greenpop, a Cape Town-based environmental nonprofit, before starting Penda. Marleen is a keen photographer and passionate about the potential it has to inspire and drive positive change. She’s also a writer and has published children’s books in both South Africa and the UK.

CO-FOUNDER & DIRECTOR
Greg Bows
Greg has worked in African tourism and development for over a decade. Originally from the UK, Greg spent the past fifteen years in Africa, where he worked as a wildlife researcher and bush guide before co-founding and managing a number of tourism companies, including Africa & You, an award-winning tour operator, and African Impact, Africa’s leading voluntourims organisation. Greg also co-founded the African Impact Foundation, a conservation and community nonprofit. Greg has seen first-hand how travel has the potential to not only provide amazing experiences, but to also be a force of good. A few years ago, he won the IHIF Young Leader Award, which recognised his contributions to the travel industry. Greg recently co-founded Cultivate, a nonprofit supporting agricultural entrepreneurs in Africa.

TOUR LEADER
Alan Hewitt
Alan Hewitt is a wildlife and conservation photographer, writer, and workshop leader. Mainly driven by his appreciation for and fascination of wildlife, Alan’s aim with his photography is to document our natural world and use this as a tool for conservation. His work has been used to support wildlife conservation organisations in Kenya, as well as ones closer to his home in the UK, including campaigns to save nature reserves that are home to iconic and endangered species. Alan is an official UK ambassador for FUJIFILM.

TOUR LEADER
Karolina Norée
Karolina Norée is a wildlife photographer and photographic guide originally from Sweden, but been living in South Africa since seven years back. She is passionate about nature and the wildlife that call Africa home. Through her photography she wants to captures the beauty of it in hopes to evoke this same passion in people who view her work and inspire them to explore the wild wherever in the world they are.

TOUR LEADER
Lucia Griggi
Lucia is a multi-award-winning photographer based between the US and the UK. Her photography covers a broad range of areas, including travel, editorial, and lifestyle. Lucia’s work has been internationally recognized and awarded by, amongst others, National Geographic, PDN, Windland Smith Rice International Awards, Black and White photography and the Masters Cup.

TOUR LEADER
Will Hall
Will is a professional wildlife guide, photographer, filmmaker and outdoor instructor. He has presented for ITV and written for the BBC, RSPB and more. Will’s passion lies within education and adventure and he loves sharing the natural beauty of Scotland and all it has to offer. Will has previously led tours to remote and exotic locations including Borneo, Norway and Java.

TOUR LEADER
Hanna Wigart
Hanna is a wildlife photographer with a background in zoology, so she’s able to offer insight into both the photography and the wildlife you’ll be photographing. Hanna has worked with incredible wildlife around the world, and is passionate about using photography to spread awareness of conservation and research projects.

TOUR LEADER
Emil von Maltritz
Emil is an internationally recognized landscape photographer from South Africa with two decades of experience and special expertise in photo editing and production. Emil’s keenest interests lie in the application of advanced composition in landscape photography, and he runs fantastic works on this topic. He also has extensive skills and knowledge in the Adobe suites and provides invaluable guidance in photo-editing, helping you transform good shots into stunning works of art.
Working for Penda
We love working with inters from around the world! Our friends at Roots Interns coordinate this for us, so please reach out to them if you’re interested.
Or have a look to see if we have any job openings!