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Anyone who cares a damn about nature in natural surroundings will see that the 'animals' are sometimes on the other side of the fence. Peter has told the story well, without any blood on the package.This book should find a home with a wide audience anywhere (and if one cares to read carefully), the love of the dangerous, the hilarious, and the beauty of the natural landscape shows through. A good story, well told. Well done. Here's a 'true-blue' look at the modern hunting environment, warts, warthogs, and all.
He shares with readers the highs and the lows experienced both with the clients and behind the scenes as well. He said he sat on the bonnet after swimming back out and attaching the chains to the vehicle, it was then pulled ashore along with its occupants, yet the photo has him with only the bottom half of him wet, just like the other tourists and the vehicle still stuck in the middle of the water when they are all safe on the bank. Therefore the chapter when an African colleague passes away is very moving. Peter Allison has done what most people never do, he found a place and a career he loved and even though he no doubt would have made more money returning to Australia and getting "a proper job" he found true happiness doing something he absolutely loves. As are his delights, moments of terror and occasional sadness with his experiences with the African wildlife. Likewise the wrapping himself in chains would not prevent death by one if attacked, the photograph of himself with the British and American tourists after driving and getting stuck in the middle of the hippo lake is evidence there's a difference between reality and what he told us happened in that story. I will definitely check out Don't Look Behind You.: A Safari Guide's Encounters with Ravenous Lions, Stampeding Elephants, and Lovesick Rhinos which is more of his adventures as an African safari guide.
Although some of the book's recounting of true tales are obviously a bit embellished, they are all entertaining and the ones which are obviously exaggerations are done so to enhance the readers' experience as he would no doubt do when on safari when telling tales to his guests. Peter also lets you get to really know him through his narration, as well as his fellow guides. But it is something else as well, it is entertaining and educational too, and very much so. For example stepping on a crocodile, in the real world the croc would have killed him long before he realised he was on it. It is obvious Peter loves what he does, this book if nothing else is inspirational in making you think twice as to if you are doing the same.
Peter is a safari guide in the African country of Botswana (as well as South Africa at the start). But good tales are what make being guided by someone so enjoyable and there are very good tales in here. But still it is a fun tale. He isn't a professionally taught writer, but I think this adds to the enjoyment of the narration and the picture in your mind that he is a safari guide talking to you. Having worked with Australian ones in a wildlife park, I know they don't feel a lot different to logs, and you wouldn't even dream of walking beside water if there was any chance one could be found in it, let alone be up to your waste pushing a boat.
This book makes me want to go to Africa and live the life of the author.I think that is the greatest compliment I can give it.Well worth reading.
All of whom often do the very unexpected. It's a collection of tales told by a Botswana safari guide about animals, tourists, fellow guides, etc. Awesome book. The only book that my wife and I ever fought over because we each wanted to read it.
I don't think that is true or he would not have been employed for long. I was very disappointed in this book. The author said he felt that way, but the feeling was not conveyed in his writing. I was hoping for a book that expressed the joy and wonder of being among these wonderful animals and in this amazing country. I felt that the author carried an unpleasant attitude toward the very people who made his job possible - his customers. Maybe I am overly sensitive, being a safari customer myself, but it sounded as if all of his customers were rude, or hard to please or not properly appreciative of the experience he was guiding.
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