Seeking out the rare and enigmatic creatures of this wild continent has always been a primary motivator for BHS and speaks right to our Explorer archetype. So, when there was barely a chance (but a chance nonetheless) to see a black leopard in Africa back in 2017, Brett and a couple of die-hard friends set off to meet the researchers and guides who had been tracking these elusive cats in a dramatically vast landscape, and that's when we first crossed paths with the legendary Ambrose Letoluai.

A leopard researcher, National Geographic Explorer, NEWF Fellow, award-winning conservationist, and co-founder of community support initiatives, Chui Mamas and Wildlife Kids Resource Centre, Ambrose is a busy man, but he is a friend of BHS and we love that this guy gave us 30 minutes to chat. Tuning in from his home in Kenya, Ambrose joined Brett and fellow black leopard enthusiast, Charlotte Arthun, who is also a professional photographic guide and at the time of recording was a few days away from her next trip to Laikipia to photograph the famous cats!

Ambrose was part of the team of researchers who named Giza - the now well known black female leopard. His ancestors talked about seeing these black cats living among them, and he was one of the first researchers to report the initial sightings on their camera traps. Now, his career is a dedication to mitigating conflict between rural communities and wildlife, working to keep leopard populations healthily independent so that they don't venture into human farmlands.

His Wildlife Kids initiative is something to be proud of and it speaks right to our belief that environmental education for young members the communities living among wildlife is the key to creating a future of wildlife protectors. Ambrose is the guy who does it all with whatever he's got to give and aside from his "dream job" as a leopard researcher, he is truly making a difference through his community work.

Find out more about his initiatives via the links about and follow Ambrose on Instagram to keep up with his crazy life with black leopards and as a conservationist in Kenya. And check out our privately guided BHS Expedition: The Original Search for the Black Leopard to see what it takes to join us in Laikipia.

Thanks to Karabo Ramahuhashi @karaborej who edited this season of the podcast for us, and to Trent Ashton @trent_ashton_nightingale who gave us his hand-drum beat to use in our intro.

Find us on Instagram, our website, or at hello@bhs-safari.co.