Leslie Dixon didn’t just study wildlife—she lived it. In South Africa, she worked with rhinos, cheetahs, and even chaotic hornbills (known for slashing tires!). But alongside the breathtaking encounters came ethical dilemmas and cultural revelations.

In this episode, Leslie talks about the beauty and complexity of conservation work, the lessons she learned about privilege and perspective, and how these experiences shaped her future. Her story is a raw, eye-opening look at the lessons study abroad can teach you beyond the classroom, that will stick with you for a lifetime.

Want to know about more about what Leslie’s been up to since returning from South Africa? Check out…

Leslie’s personal Instagram

Leslie’s Photography Instagram

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The Young Travelers Podcast is Hosted by Gabby Beckford and Produced by Gabby Beckford and Taylor Inglut.

Sound Design and Editing by Ryan Hammond

Mixing and Mastering by Julian Kwasneski

Executive Produced by Stacey Book, Dominique Ferrari, and Avi Glijansky

Find more of Gabby and her solo adventures, travel tips, and delusionally confident lifestyle…

On the Web - packslight.com

On Instagram - @packlight

On TikTok - @packslight

Plus, you can watch video versions of this podcast on Gabby’s YouTube Channel.

To connect with other young travelers who opt out of the status quo and live life for the plot, join Gabby’s Young Travelers Network Facebook Group (the original inspo behind this podcast!): https://facebook.com/youngtravelersnetwork.

Want to learn more about what Paid Travel Opportunities (PTO) are and the different types of PTO that exist? Head to SeekPTO.com for all things related to traveling for school, for work, and for fun… for FREE!

And, are you looking for more of the absolute best in travel podcasts? Visit cercatravel.com to discover all our Cerca Originals, or head on over to youtube.com/@CercaTravel for more podcasts and shorts to stoke your wanderlust and give you the local perspective on some of the greatest places on earth.

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Gabby Beckford is the award-winning travel influencer and Opportunity Expert at @packslight. Starting her pursuits at just 17, she is a solo female traveler who's visited 50+ countries and is on a mission to make the incredible accessible to the younger generation. She’s also grown her community to more than 600K+ across platforms–including 10K+ young travelers in her Young Travelers Network! Beckford has been featured in The New York Times, Good Morning America, CNNTravel, National Geographic, and more for her work.

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At Cerca, our goal is to help you explore the world like never before. Visit www.cercatravel.com for Immersive audio travel guides to some of the most amazing places in the world - written and voiced by locals - articles on everything from the best places to eat in Havana to a guide to all of Helsinki's underground bunkers, and the best travel podcasts you can find... like this one!

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What Leslie Dixon Learned From Studying Abroad in South Africa with Cheetahs

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