26 Years In The Making...

When you set off on safari, you expect to encounter the usual stars of the show: lions lounging in the shade, elephants marching through the grasslands and leopards dragging their food up a tree. But every so often you are granted a glimpse of something truly rare and magical—something that turns an already unforgettable trip into a memory of a lifetime.

For me, that moment came with a pangolin...

After visiting, living and working in Africa, I of course knew of and had always hoped to one day see this rare and elusive creature. It’s peculiar and armour-plated form seemed to belong more to the pages of a fantasy novel than that of the real world. Often described as "scaly anteaters," pangolins are famous for their shy nature and nocturnal habits, making them one of the most difficult animals to spot in the wild. In fact, many seasoned photographers and field guides go decades without ever seeing one – with some never seeing them at all. As such, I’ve always kept my expectations in check. I’d go out on safari hoping for the usual, but pangolin always felt too out of reach to even consider – I simply went with the mindset that if I was to ever see one, it will happen in its own time and I’ll simply await that moment with expectation.

So, during a photo safari with guests in the Sabi Sand game reserve in South Africa, it was our second evening and things weren’t going as planned. Not long before sunset our vehicle decided to break down with zero warning. Stuck in our place, we had no choice but to await help and watch the light begin to fade and fade… Luckily, a quick fix had us back up and roaming again, but we had lost the light and decided to skip the ceremonious sundowners drink-stop in favour of trying to reclaim some lost time. Whilst we settled back into the rhythm of the bush, and despite the positive and cheery attitude of our guests, it was hard to escape the nagging feeling that we had lost time and some possible photo opportunities due to the breakdown… but there’s always hope for a leopard in this region, so the spotlight was on and eyes were keenly scanning as we drove through the darkness. Little did we know what was coming up…

Outside of the spotlight’s illumination, I saw in the muddled darkness an oddly shaped rock. It had the exact same posture as that of the mythical pangolin – but obviously, it wasn’t one – it couldn’t be. But hang on, the rock is moving. Suddenly, my heart skipped a beat and I near-shouted for the vehicle to stop – grabbing the guide’s arm next to me in a moment of shock, panic and… embarrassment, as I was expecting it to be revealed to be nothing. The vehicle slammed to halt and we reversed back – the spotlight grabbed it and our guide exclaimed the confirmation I never thought would come true. A pangolin, walking alongside the road and heading toward some tall grass. Seeing it for the first time with clear distinction, it was a strange, almost shimmering figure, methodically ambling along, its scales reflecting the light like a walking pinecone. It was incredible and, very much unlike me, had me lost for words. It began to dissolve into the cover of grass when I suddenly remembered about photographs - there was no time to grab the camera – my phone was nearest, and this thing was nearly gone. A few quick snaps of the tail moving off and I thought the sighting was over.

But alas, our guide had more in stock for us. She hopped off the vehicle and quickly combed the area – the pangolin may have moved into the grass, but it was slow and relaxed. We were able to carefully and slowly walk over alongside it, giving it plenty of space and clearance so as not to interrupt or interfere, and then we got the better look of it.  It’s small, muzzle-like face pushing the grass aside as it slowly waddled forward. I was in disbelief and in order to take a few more phone pictures had to clasp tightly to counteract the involuntary shaking.

After a short few moments we gently stepped aside and let the creature amble on into the night. It was over as quickly as it had started, but was immediately one of the most impactful and emotional sightings I’ve ever had.

Spotting a pangolin was a powerful reminder of why we seek out these wild places: not just for the Big Five or the postcard-perfect views, but for those fleeting, unexpected encounters that connect us deeply to the mystery of nature. It reinforced the power of nature, the unpredictability of wildlife and the importance of protecting these incredible creatures, whose survival now unfortunately depends so much on global awareness and conservation efforts.

As we drove back to the lodge under a clear sky and a canopy of stars, it was already hard to believe what just happened was real. After 26 years of waiting and knowing their endangered status – the fact that this is the most trafficked mammal in the world, to finally seeing one in the flesh and not in some conservation report or poaching documentary – the journey leading to my first pangolin sighting was finally over. As I type this blog now, days after the sighting took place, I still find myself looking back at the photographs on my phone just to remind myself it was real and not imagined. Whether I see another in my lifetime is a mystery I’ve not yet even considered – but this sighting alone is a true reminder to the wonders that await when we venture into the wild with open eyes and open hearts.