Mahlangeni: Stories of a Game Ranger's Family

by Kobie Krüger

Mahlangeni, the Tsonga word for "meeting place", is one of the most remote ranger stations in the Kruger National Park. Far from everywhere, this isolated corner of the wilderness was home for eleven years to Kobie Kruger, wife of the ranger in charge of the station, and their their three daughters. Running a household and raising a family in a place where leopards, elephants, snakes and the like are your only neighbours, where you have no telephone, and where a trip to town means first crossing a river full of hippos and crocodiles, is hardly a straightforward business. But Kobie Kruger tackled each problem with undaunted pragmatism and an energy that gives new meaning to word resourceful.

Genres: Africa, Nature, Wildlife, Nonfiction, South Africa, Animals

Paperback

First published January 1, 1991

Reviews

[Lienkie Vogel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really do not enjoy rereading a book but this book is such a joy to read that even rereading it was so much fun. This book will forever stay one of my ultimate favorites.

[Giselle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely adore this book. Whenever I pick it up, I struggle to put it down again; and never do until the book is done. I become completely absorbed in her charming and wonderful accounts of her life in the wilderness, a place where a piece of my heart rests, too.

[Heather Tosh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brilliant read, not as enticing as 'All Things Wild and Wonderful' but really sets the African bosveld tone!

[Jolandie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent read, Kobies way of telling the stories is riveting. I could not put down the book and I had such a good laugh. I kept wanting more of her tales. Worth a read if you love adventure and the African Bush.

[Franki Gili · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an incredible story of a family in one of the most beautiful places in South Africa. The details, the writing and the story was wonderful. Thoroughly enjoyed it and have recommended it to a number or people.

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the stories & they are so interesting & well written. Want to read more of her books.

[Mafalda · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's a very nice read, full of heart-warming stories and with a very familiar energy. Especially meaningful if you have been to the Kruger park and can connect in a deeper way to the book's stories.

[Kimberly Fleming · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful account of a game ranger's wife and her experiences living in a remote corner of Kruger National Park in South Africa. This is a beautiful story and incredibly well written. This book was rewritten as the first part of "Wilderness Family" which I also read. In the "Wilderness Family" they edited a lot of the story and it lost some of its charm as a result. If you read "Wilderness Family", read this book first and then skip the first part of Wilderness Family (its worth reading the second part though).

[Christiane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kobie Krueger is a born story-teller and her years on Mahlangeni in the Kruger National Park provided her with ample material. She lived on that remote station with her game ranger husband and her three young bush-wise daughters surrounded by hippos, elephants, baboons and all the rest of the wonderful African wildlife that she describes in loving detail making her stories a delight for animal lovers.

[Shirley Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a wonderful story of a family moving into the Bush in South Africa in Kruger National Park. It was like sitting down with the author and having a nice visit. Funny, exciting and heart-warming for the soul. I loved her writing style which made me feel right at home carrying on a conversation with her. An easy read. Thanks to our friends the Harpers from South Africa who lent us their book.

[Damaris · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book by Kobie Kruger that we read. We really liked it a lot, not only for the stories of the game warden's family adventures living in the bush of Kruger National Park, but also for the mental recollections we had from our experiences there. Again, if anyone wants to borrow the book, let us know!

[Cat Chiappa · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautifully written account of a fascinating life that many of us will never have the chance to lead. Having visited Kruger National Park it was fun to read about the places I had seen. Africa gets into your soul in a way that nothing else does and this book spoke to that. If you enjoy animals and you long to travel in faraway places, then this is the book for you.

[Tammy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I borrowed this book from my brother-in-law who had spent time in South Africa. He loved it and was sure I would too, and he was right! It was a great book filled with amazing stories of life in Africa, told by a park ranger's wife. The best part was her writing style, it's as though she is sitting across a kitchen table from you telling you all these tales.

[Desray Harbour · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting book on the life and challenges of a Game Rangers wife. Made me realize that going to a game park as a visitor and living in a game park are two vastly different situations for the whole family. Kobie wrote this book as if she was talking to a friend over a cup of coffee. A pleasant, easy light read.

[Tessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very enjoyable read about a game ranger's family in Kruger National Park in South Africa. I enjoyed some of the stories more than others. But overall, this was an enjoyable read and insight into a particular lifestyle. I believe there is a sequel and I plan to read that as well.

[Lakota Schultz]

This is a really lovely book with heartfelt stories, poignant, funny and at points nerve wrackingly real.
One of the great things is because it's essentially a journal full of memories, you can pick up and put down whenever you want to get your mind back into the bush, and away from the city.

[Molly · Rating 3 out of 5]

anyone going to south africa to watch wildlife should read this to live out thier 'maybe I'll pick up and move out into the africa wilderness' fantasies.

[Simon Vegter]

An interesting read full of adventures of life in Kruger. Always entertaining and quick to get through.

[Carl]

Lovely book, would love to see her speak about their adventures in a TV series...........

[kimberly]

Reading while in Africa...

[Alice · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book!

[Tracey · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun, fascinating read about a Game Ranger and his family living in Kruger.

[Mandi Hart · Rating 4 out of 5]

Delightful read