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Among the Elephants
The incredible true story of a young couple's love and adventures among the majestic giants of the wild. With 16 pages of extraordinary photographs.
320 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1975
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425 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
November 1, 2025
I read this many years ago, after visiting my parents in Kenya. Rating is from old notes. Time for a reread?
January 4, 2018
The story of a scientist undertaking one of the most blessed PhD projects in history - the budget somehow includes a house being built in Tanzania, maids, personal assistants, a cook, and a small plane. Not to mention Douglas-Hamilton had the extreme luck of being one of the first scientists to pay more than cursory attention to savannah elephants, particularly in this region, so all his findings are novel. This is simply mind-boggling today.
While much of the information and stories relayed here are interesting - particularly the response of elephants to death - there are a couple of problems with the book overall. For one, a modern thesis and book would probably spend time putting the test species in its evolutionary context - when and where did elephants evolve, why are they so big, what are their living/extinct relatives, etc. Without this, and other information (eg how many elephants are there? What’s their distribution?), much of the information here is merely anecdotal. Also Oria’s chapters, while adding much-needed warmth and personality to proceedings, could easily have been incorporated into Iain’s chapters, which overlap completely with Oria’s but often gloss over camp life. Which leads to the biggest problem - it’s just way too damn long. All the interesting information is spread thin through Iain’s first section and then squeezed into the last. Much of the rest is disjointed, meandering, but mildly interesting relations of bush and elephant life stories.
So, if you think elephants are amazing (or you’d like to), go ahead and read this, as it’s got a smattering of interesting elephant behaviour and science. It’s also an interesting snapshot into bush life in Africa, and a bygone era of science. If you just want the facts, though, Wikipedia has you covered.
While much of the information and stories relayed here are interesting - particularly the response of elephants to death - there are a couple of problems with the book overall. For one, a modern thesis and book would probably spend time putting the test species in its evolutionary context - when and where did elephants evolve, why are they so big, what are their living/extinct relatives, etc. Without this, and other information (eg how many elephants are there? What’s their distribution?), much of the information here is merely anecdotal. Also Oria’s chapters, while adding much-needed warmth and personality to proceedings, could easily have been incorporated into Iain’s chapters, which overlap completely with Oria’s but often gloss over camp life. Which leads to the biggest problem - it’s just way too damn long. All the interesting information is spread thin through Iain’s first section and then squeezed into the last. Much of the rest is disjointed, meandering, but mildly interesting relations of bush and elephant life stories.
So, if you think elephants are amazing (or you’d like to), go ahead and read this, as it’s got a smattering of interesting elephant behaviour and science. It’s also an interesting snapshot into bush life in Africa, and a bygone era of science. If you just want the facts, though, Wikipedia has you covered.
October 23, 2017
Iain Douglas-Hamilton is to elephants what Jane Goodall and Diane Fossey are to chimpanzees and mountain gorillas. Among The Elephants tells the tale of the beginnings of his career and commitment to these beautiful creatures. If reading about life among lions, giraffes, wildebeeste, hyena, and, of course, elephants is your cup of tea, then this is a book for you.
In 1963, Oxford University Zoology student, Iain Douglas-Hamilton traveled to Tanzania for a stint as research assistant to an animal research project on the Serengeti Plains. This first taste of life among the animals led to a multi-year stint studying elephants in Tanzania’s Manyara National Park and its surroundings. Douglas-Hamilton provides a highly readable, entertaining and informative picture of the life of a large-animal researcher immersed in the day to day goings on of the lives of a host of elephants, some of whom we come to know by name and photo. Mid-book, Iain is joined by his eventual wife and partner, Oria, as she adds chapters to the story of living among the elephants and the people who co-inhabit their ecology. The authors provide story after story of life in region; of the ecological interplay between elephants, humans, plant life, sun and water; of the people responsible for the management of “natural resources” and the policy decisions they face and debate in management of the increasing elephant herd in Manyara. The book presents a nice balance between vivid tales of encounters with lions, elephant attacks, and similar exotica and presentation of informative summaries of the research being conducted in order to better understand and protect the elephant herds.
Perhaps most striking to me is the emergent sense of the individuality of the animals with whom the Douglas-Hamilton’s interact over a 4 ½ year period. It’s so easy to say or think “elephant” and to presume that we’ve said it all. These tales force us to differentiate the individuals – the aggravated, group-protective charges of matriarch, Boadicea; the unending attacks by the “terrible Torone sisters;” the increasing trust between Virgo and her human followers, the family relations that become apparent within the groups of elephants we encounter. In this regard the book is reminiscent of another that I’ve recently enjoyed, Roger Fouts’ Next of Kin, in which he, too, provides characterizations of the individuality among the chimpanzees he has known and talked with. We humans categorize – it’s such a fundamental skill to our existence. Douglas-Hamilton’s stories present a pleasant reminder that its important to attend to the variation within the mental boxes that we create, as well.
In 1963, Oxford University Zoology student, Iain Douglas-Hamilton traveled to Tanzania for a stint as research assistant to an animal research project on the Serengeti Plains. This first taste of life among the animals led to a multi-year stint studying elephants in Tanzania’s Manyara National Park and its surroundings. Douglas-Hamilton provides a highly readable, entertaining and informative picture of the life of a large-animal researcher immersed in the day to day goings on of the lives of a host of elephants, some of whom we come to know by name and photo. Mid-book, Iain is joined by his eventual wife and partner, Oria, as she adds chapters to the story of living among the elephants and the people who co-inhabit their ecology. The authors provide story after story of life in region; of the ecological interplay between elephants, humans, plant life, sun and water; of the people responsible for the management of “natural resources” and the policy decisions they face and debate in management of the increasing elephant herd in Manyara. The book presents a nice balance between vivid tales of encounters with lions, elephant attacks, and similar exotica and presentation of informative summaries of the research being conducted in order to better understand and protect the elephant herds.
Perhaps most striking to me is the emergent sense of the individuality of the animals with whom the Douglas-Hamilton’s interact over a 4 ½ year period. It’s so easy to say or think “elephant” and to presume that we’ve said it all. These tales force us to differentiate the individuals – the aggravated, group-protective charges of matriarch, Boadicea; the unending attacks by the “terrible Torone sisters;” the increasing trust between Virgo and her human followers, the family relations that become apparent within the groups of elephants we encounter. In this regard the book is reminiscent of another that I’ve recently enjoyed, Roger Fouts’ Next of Kin, in which he, too, provides characterizations of the individuality among the chimpanzees he has known and talked with. We humans categorize – it’s such a fundamental skill to our existence. Douglas-Hamilton’s stories present a pleasant reminder that its important to attend to the variation within the mental boxes that we create, as well.
October 15, 2023
Great book with just incredible stories of luck and survival. This book is divided into 3 parts, two parts by zoologist Iain and one part by his wife Oria (though she is not credited here in Good Reads). It covers a span of several years where they basically lived among elephants while researching elephant behavior and the impact of large populations on trees and other flora within a defined area. I really loved the stories of their life and daily routine, Iain’s positivity and ability to do seemingly anything, and Oria’s deep love for the wild places where she was raised. Their ability to get so close to the ellies yet also avoid ‘domesticating’ them was inspiring, though some of the closeness did lead to harrowing near escapes. This book is older and some of the language used and social circumstances seem very ‘old fashioned’ , and this book also contains more technical language, as Iain is a scientist and includes a lot if his research and analysis. But still a great story and a well-written read.
June 2, 2018
Someone else had written a review saying this was the elephant equivalence of Jane Goodall and her chimpanzees. They couldn't be more spot on.
This book takes the point of view of a husband and wife team, Iain Douglas-Hamilton and Oria Rocco, and their lives surrounding the documentation of Manyara elephants. This book was STUNNING. You get a nice balance of learning the stories surrounding specific elephants, elephants as a whole entity, and this couples lives living in Manyara. If you want an easy read and have a passion for elephants, this is definitely the book for you.
This book takes the point of view of a husband and wife team, Iain Douglas-Hamilton and Oria Rocco, and their lives surrounding the documentation of Manyara elephants. This book was STUNNING. You get a nice balance of learning the stories surrounding specific elephants, elephants as a whole entity, and this couples lives living in Manyara. If you want an easy read and have a passion for elephants, this is definitely the book for you.
March 24, 2021
С одной стороны, не бывает плохих книг про слонов. С другой, вот конкретно эту, наверное, можно и пропустить. Не ради романтической истории авторов мы ее начинали читать, мягко сказать, а если попросить пересказать то, ради чего начинали, получится первая страница Википедии.
September 9, 2018
Love love love
August 8, 2019
I found Among the Elephants riveting. It makes one realize that there are lots of ways to live a great life and this is definitely one way to do it. Nicely done!
March 17, 2020
A beautiful touching account of family life.
April 22, 2023
Boken som avgjorde min yrkesbana. Jag var besatt av den här boken när jag var ung. Lånade dem så många gånger från biblioteket att när de till slut skulle rensa ut den kontaktade de mig och gav mig den.
September 28, 2010
Among the Elephants is a book in the grand old tradition of naturalist narratives. Douglas-Hamilton chronicles his amazing adventures with such formal, lovely, British (or Scottish?) dryness and under-statement that they are a pleasure to read. I worried a little about the Oria Douglas-Hamilton sections of the book at first--concerned they may be too purply or flowery--but her genuine voice comes through so well that any qualms are laid to rest.
Add to that the fascinating and absorbing subject matter (and the captivating photos!)and this is a book no wildlife enthusiast should miss out on. It's one of those that will drive you to your email or Facebook or the phone or the person seated next to you on the plane to share the amazing fact or amusing sentence you've just read.
Add to that the fascinating and absorbing subject matter (and the captivating photos!)and this is a book no wildlife enthusiast should miss out on. It's one of those that will drive you to your email or Facebook or the phone or the person seated next to you on the plane to share the amazing fact or amusing sentence you've just read.
November 27, 2015
I agree with a previous reviewer that this is much in the tradition of naturalist-writers from the late 20th century. Iain Douglas-Hamilton, Scots/British, goes to Manyara National Park in Tanzania to study not-well-understood-at-the-time elephants. His stories, and those of his wife, Oria, are interesting enough to keep one going, and, as someone planning to be in the neighboring Tarangire and Serengeti Parks this summer, I found understanding elephants better a meaningful benefit. Only in the last 25 pages, where Douglas-Hamilto clicked into a more professorial integration of the information, did I begin to lag a bit.
March 4, 2008
This is an amazing book. The authors discuss years of following the same herds of elephants in Africa, and report on their observations. They delve into the individuality of each animal. This was a life-changing book for me.
June 24, 2015
Among the Elephants by Iain Douglas-Hamilton (Viking 1975)(+/- 333.959) - This is a fascinating look into the families, the culture, and the chance for survival of the wild African elephant herds by the world's leading expert. My rating: 8/10, finished 1982.
Want to read
October 21, 2009Among the Elephants by Iain and Oria Douglas-Hamilton (1975)
March 10, 2010
Well written. Highly recommended if you're interested in elephants or life on the ground in northern Tanzania.
Read
June 28, 2010I read this years ago but have always kept it on my shelf as it is a captivating look at animals that I will never see in the wild.
September 2, 2011
A MUST-READ for lovers of elephants. . .
Want to read
October 13, 2013Recommended by Kathy E.
December 6, 2015
Super book..an insight to the life of a biologist and elephants
November 1, 2022
I have a passion for elephants & loved learning more about these creatures who are so emotionally complex.
April 12, 2017
An intimate, personal look into life living among the elephants.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews