I'm not going to lie—stepping into this experience, I was nervous. A bit more than a little! I wondered, How embarrassed would I be when the rangers delivered me back to my vehicle, laughing about the clumsy guest they had to keep an eye on all morning? But my fears faded as soon as a small group of very tall, long-legged men welcomed me to join them on their patrol through the Amboseli ecosystem.

I've been a huge fan—"stan," as the kids say—of the Big Life Foundation for a while. They do incredible work, supporting peaceful coexistence between wildlife and local communities in southern Kenya, near the Tanzanian border. Now, I was getting to experience a foot patrol with their rangers, the people making this coexistence a reality.

With just GPS-enabled radios and sturdy boots, we set out, covering what my Apple Watch swore was only five miles, though it felt like twice that. The group of rangers moved effortlessly across the rugged terrain while I hustled to keep up. As we walked, they shared their stories—some had once been poachers themselves, others had dreamed of protecting wildlife since they were children, and others saw it as a solid job with a purpose. Despite different paths, each shared a commitment to making a difference. Many left their families for long periods, with visits home sometimes taking days of travel. Each had extended family they supported with their work out here.

They shared tales of working alongside communities that'd had challenging encounters with wildlife—elephants raiding crops, lions preying on livestock. They told me about the bravery required to confront potential poachers, unarmed but determined. They even spoke about times they'd saved animals, giving them another chance at life.

I worked hard to keep my breathing under control as we walked and talked. Occasionally, a few rangers would break off, scaling a hill and scanning the horizon, directing our group in Maa, the Masai language, towards points of interest. We didn't see much wildlife—likely because of my noisy presence—but I caught glimpses of a new Africa: tracks and signs of life from the night before, stories of animals told in the millions of tiny mouse footprints in the sandy dirt, crisscrossed by the broad imprints of zebra hooves and rounded elephant tracks. I breathed in the fresh morning air as the sun climbed higher. And I felt how everyday people like these rangers could make such a profound impact on the world.

Safely delivered back to my driver, I listened to their banter in Maa, punctuated with good-natured laughter. When translated, they assured me they were impressed by my endurance and how much they enjoyed having me along. As we parted ways, they waved and disappeared, fading into the haze and dust like guardians of another world. Their sense of humor and camaraderie made me feel like part of their team, even if just for a day.