Although I have many other hunting books in my library, this is the last one I am going to review before getting back to more usual subjects. This book is from 1988 and is basically a history of African hunting from the first organised hunting safari in 1837 until the authors last hunt ( with a camera ) in 1987.
The book details how the early hunters rampaged through southern Africa shooting literally everything that moved on to the elephant hunters who, prior to the First World War, provided the world with vast quantities of ivory on through the "golden age " of the hunting safari from the 1920's to the 1960's and the move towards the photographic safari that started in the 1980's.
This is a fascinating and well researched book describing a world and way of life now long gone. That said it also regularly refers to the "magic" of Africa that captured the hearts of those fortunate enough to visit that continent. It is clear that the huge open spaces, vast quantities of game and a vigorous outdoor life attracted a certain type of person who often then used hunting more as a means of remaining in Africa rather than trying to make their fortune.
Overall an excellent reference book on the history of the big game hunting African safari.
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