L. RENEE BLOUNT

In the cool morning air, I pan the surroundings looking for wild dogs alongside conservationists in Kruger National Park. Lifting the binoculars to my face, I recognize I am living out a dream. The dream of getting into wildlife conservation genuinely seemed out of my grasp until now. I believe we all deserve the opportunity to try. And as I scan the landscape for wild dogs, it’s a reminder that dreams are possible.

This 3-week journey into South African bush meant the world to me. This trip was a concentrated effort in wildlife and conservation photography. The goal was to shed light on critical species. These photographs help conservation programs like the Endangered Wildlife Trust to count threatened species and see how key members are surviving.

This access was due to the incredible conservationist and Sony teammate, Charlee Wild. I felt so lucky to join her on this expedition.

Having visited the continent on a prior expedition, an animal I had not witnessed was the leopard. Seeing them, first through binoculars and then through the lens of my camera left me in awe. The day started in the early morning at Sabi Sands, which shares an unfenced border with Kruger National Park. This creates an expansive ecosystem that allows wildlife to roam freely. Leopards, typically nocturnal, have a special reputation here because they can be seen during daylight.

Before the sun rose, we were up and preparing to search for the early-rising leopards. In the darkness, we started roaming the bush. The land cruisers hummed, as we listened intently for the screeching calls of antelope or birds. Leopards are masterful at blending into their surroundings – their rosette-covered coats make them nearly invisible against the mottled light and shadow of a tree. As a result, we relied on those prey animals to tell our team that there was a predator nearby. Growing up watching prides and packs of big cats on Nat Geo did not prepare me for the wild scene I was about to witness.

Approaching a tree, we noticed two hyenas at the base. They patrolled, frequently looking up and standing on their hind legs. With the binos, I looked up into the tree. I couldn’t believe the chaotic scene that the binoculars revealed.

Two juvenile leopards paced in the branches, guarding a dead impala. This was their precious meal, that could last them days. Feeling pressure from the hyenas below, the juvenile cubs were trying to dislodge the already perfectly lodged kill. They seemed to be trying to pull the antelope higher into the tree, thinking it would be safer. A third hyena stood out in the distance. Turning the binoculars there, I could see it was snarling and yapping at a bigger leopard, the cubs’ mother. Without her, the juvenile cubs were frantic. Now, one was running quickly in the tree as the other frantically pulled on the impala carcass.

I watched completely in awe at this scene. The binoculars offered me a connection to a leopard that would have otherwise been impossible. I was rooting for the leopards while being impressed by the hyenas’ wit. Without their mother, the cubs were dragging the kill higher and higher, eventually moving to a branch that was too small. The carcass fell to the ground. In milliseconds, the hyenas ran away with the kill. Through the binoculars, I admired the intricate patterns of the leopard’s fur, their frantic breathing, and the grace in every slight movement. It also allowed me to see where to quickly focus my camera, to capture this incredible drama.

The thrill of spotting wild dogs in South Africa is nothing short of magical. We spent over two long days with Kehlani, the Wild Dog Conservationist at the Endangered Wildlife Trust inside Kruger National Park, trying to find them. Our mornings would start early. At 5 am, I was up to prepare for the day. I grabbed tea and a morning rusk, a South African biscuit, to dip in the local rooibos tea. I checked my equipment and never forgot to grab the binos. We set out before 6 am, covered in blankets in open-air vehicles, zipping through the cold morning air.

With special access, we drove deep into the bush onto less traveled roads. Kruger National Park is twice the size of the Grand Canyon, so we covered a massive area in search of the wild dogs, from dawn until dusk. Known for their distinct, beautiful markings, wild dogs are incredibly rare. They represent the second-rarest predator in Africa. They are incredibly elusive with territories that span hundreds of square miles. The leader of the pack is collared but the Kehlani received radio pings only twice per day.

Scanning the bush with binoculars in quiet, the sounds also became so essential as we slowed down — listening, waiting, and geolocating. When the GPS pings, it’s not in real-time due to the lack of service in the wild. The pack could be a long distance away. Thus, finding the pack is essentially playing Marco Polo in an area bigger than Yosemite. Over a speaker, we’d call the dogs with a recording of wild dogcoos and yowls, to help call them closer. These intelligent dogs often come to inquire about the sound from a distance, traveling long distances to inspect. We called a few times, never knowing if the dogs had already left in pursuit of a kill and were already hours away.

After two full days of searching with Kehlani, I got a quick glimpse of the collared pack leader, using the binoculars, as he started to walk toward our call. With the leader still a quarter mile away, the binoculars offered a glimpse into the lives of these rare predators.

Determined to see the pack, I kept going. After more days of searching, I got the chance to see an elusive pack at the nearby Manyelite Game Reserve that shares an open border with Kruger. This is the pack Kehlani mentioned. Holding the binoculars closely allowed me to see their movements for an hour, bringing the distant animals into sharp focus as they lazed by water after a hunt with full bellies. Wild dogs are actually of the most successful predators on the continent, succeeding more often than lions and leopards, due to their stamina. Built for long-distance chases, once they start chasing prey, they can maintain speeds of up to 40 miles per hour (64 km/h) over long distances. This allows them to tire out their prey, which can often be larger and faster in short bursts but lack the wild dogs’ endurance.

Focusing hard, I zoomed in with binoculars from a distance and witnessed the unique markings on their coats and their playful interactions within the pack—views that my naked eye could never see. And with luck & patience, I was able to track them as they came toward the road with the binoculars, helping me capture some hard-earned shots. This was truly a victory.

Without question, the hardest day of the expedition underscores the importance of conservation work. While out in Kruger National Park looking for wild dogs on dusty back roads, I put the binos up to scan as we slowly drove. My hopes turned into heartbreak when the binoculars revealed a recently shot rhino along a riverbed. The young strong male went from lying on the ground to trying to move with incredible struggle. The emergency medical team came by helicopter to address the rhino’s wounds and we watched on.

Kruger National Park is home to a significant population of the world's remaining rhinos. However, this natural treasure has been under siege by poachers, targeting rhinos for their horns — valuable commodities in the illegal wildlife trade. Despite “dehorning”, when horns are shaved down to a nub every few years, rhino poaching remains a persistent threat to this majestic species because even just a little bit of the horn remains valuable.

At its peak, rhino poaching in Kruger claimed nearly 1,200 rhinos in a single year. However, things are slowly improving due to anti-poaching initiatives: bolstering ranger patrols, implementing the controversial practice of dehorning more rhinos has made them less attractive than years prior, and moving animals to neighboring reserves with increased security. This story is important because it illuminates how poaching is still an ever-present threat. It’s also critical to address socioeconomic factors that contribute to hunting from those who see it as the only means to survive.

One of the best days was seeing a rhino on foot. While with a team and guides, we quietly walked through the bush. The worst day gave way to one of the memorable days because it underscored the importance of our efforts. Without efforts to protect them, rhinos would be extinct in the wild. And hopefully, this piece helps to increase advocacy & spread awareness.

These three weeks in South Africa working on wildlife & conservation photography were life-changing. The one low made the highs feel so much more important. Beyond Kruger, I also spent time bordering reserves, nearby canyons, and the renowned rehabilitation center, Moholoholo, learning and documenting. As a person that’s less seen in the conservation spaces, sharing the story and illuminating the triumph is so important. I am sincerely thankful to NOCS for the trust and support. Because the human eye is limited, being able to see into the distance clearly was a critical tool that helped me take beautiful photographs.