In the breathtaking wilderness of South Africa, a running expedition becomes a deadly chase. What starts out as the adventure of a lifetime—traveling through South Africa’s stunning coastlines and exploring the pristine wilderness of Kariega Game Reserve—turns into a fight for survival when the leader of Global Runners accidentally witnesses the brutal actions of Victor Malanga, one of South Africa’s most dangerous crime bosses. From Cape Town’s iconic Table Mountain to the ancient forests of the Garden Route, each spectacular destination reveals another piece of Malanga’s empire: diamond smuggling, wildlife trafficking, and the systematic slaughter of endangered animals. When the tourists stumble too close to his secrets, Malanga decides that they’ve seen too much. Now they’re the ones being hunted. Convinced these “running tourists” are undercover operatives, Malanga escalates from intimidation to elimination. Luxury lodges become battlegrounds, scenic trails turn treacherous, and what should have been peaceful game drives become desperate escapes through predator-filled territory. Tour leader, Sheryl Diego, a former park ranger turned adventure guide, must keep her clients alive while navigating the deadliest terrain of all: a criminal who owns half the officials and controls the other half through fear. But some of her clients aren’t who they claim to be, and in the African wilderness, the line between hunter and hunted can shift as quickly as the wind. From the mist-shrouded waterways of Knysna to the heart-stopping cliffs of Bloukrans Bridge, from the seal colonies of Robberg Peninsula to the untamed savanna where lions roam—this bout of adventure tourism has turned lethal. Where every breathtaking vista might hide a poacher, every game drive could be their last, and survival depends on outrunning both the humans and animals that rule this ancient land. In Africa, everything has teeth. And some of the most dangerous wildlife walks on two legs. The third explosive installment in the Global Runners adventure series—where paradise and peril intertwine, and ordinary people discover what they’re truly capable of when everything is on the line. R.D.D. Smith writes science-fiction, medical thriller novels featuring advanced surgical devices, AI, telesurgery, simulation, and speculative diseases; and global travel adventures that follow running tourists through exotic countries. The medical series is inspired by his career in healthcare and experience with robotic surgery devices. The travel novels are inspired by his actual vacations in the countries featured in the books.He holds a doctorate and MBA from the University of Maryland, a master's from Texas Tech University, and a bachelor's from Colorado State University.He lives with his wife, dogs, and cats in sunny Florida, frequently escaping to cooler climes during the beastly Florida summers.