Lesego the lionheart

WHILE most people admire lions from afar, Lesego Mthethwa tracks them through the bush, reads their movements and stares into the eyes of Africa's apex predator every day.

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Mthethwa is a field officer for the Carnivore Conservation Programme in the northern region of the Kruger National Park, where she focuses on lion monitoring. She also supports the team with collaring, which allows them to track the movement of lions, especially when they enter high-risk areas.

Her "obsession" with the big cats started at the age of five. Every school holiday, her parents would take her to the Kruger National Park, and her mom recalls how the lions would excite little Lesego every time.

"There's something about them that completely captivates me. Their strength, complexity, and presence resonate with me on a personal level."

Mthethwa says that when she chose this career, it wasn't just about passion, it was an opportunity to break barriers and challenge the idea of what women, especially Black women, are "supposed" to do.