Book review:

Lost a leopard? Hunting down a hyena? It’s time for an adventure with two intrepid wildlife trackers…

Changing a Leopard’s Spots by Alex van den Heever (with Renias Mhlongo).

‘Tracking introduced me to the notion of being present and living in constant creative response to the tracks of life.’

– Alex van den Heever

WE ARE all born trackers – tracking our families, the weather, our physical condition, our emotions, the stock market, or a subtle new behaviour trait of a friend or colleague, says Alex van den Heever in his book, Changing a Leopard’s Spots, written with fellow tracker

Renias Mhlongo.

The two men, who have spent more than two decades working together, have encountered their fair share of dangerous animal escapades. They’ve also been to Brazil, Peru, North America, the UK, Australia and other African countries, following the paths of leopard, jaguar, rhino, grizzly bears and more. It’s all kinds of exciting, and when you read the stories in this book, you’ll want to pack your bags and immediately head off to the game reserve.

So how exactly do they do it? Is tracking something you simply learn, or do you need an advanced understanding of an animal’s habitat? And why are some animals harder to track than others? (Yes, Miss leopard, we’re looking at you.) While tracking could be seen as an outdated practice in today’s fast-paced, technology-filled world, Changing a Leopard’s Spots shows how it’s actually an integral part of conservation – animals need to be tracked for research and, most importantly, for protection in anti-poaching efforts.

Changing a Leopard’s Spots is Van den Heever’s story, from being a young, inexperienced

(and somewhat unsure) guide, to learning side by side with Mhlongo, discovering the art of tracking, and eventually forming Tracker Academy – the first and only specialist, accredited tracker-training school in the world. And then there’s his friendship with Mhlongo, which is more like a brotherhood – inspiring, refreshingly honest, often hilarious, and incredibly meaningful. If you love the bush, adore wild animals stories or are simply curious about the life of a guide, this book is for you.