Sands of Silence: On Safari In Namibia

by Peter Hathaway Capstick

From renowned hunting writer Peter Hathaway Capstick comes the most lavishly illustrated, historically important safari ever captured in print.Capstick journeyed on safari through Namibia in the African spring of 1989. This was a nation on the eve on independence, a land scorched by sun, by years of bitter war. In these perilous circumstances, he commences what is surely the most thrilling safari of his storied career. He takes the reader to the stark landscape that makes up the Bushmen’s tribal territories. There, facing all kinds of risks, members of the chase pursue their quarry in a land of legend and myth. In this first person adventure, Capstick spins riveting tales from his travels and reports on the Bushmen’s culture, their political persecution, and the Stone Age life of Africa’s original hunter-gatherers. In addition, the author explains the economic benefits of the sportsman’s presence, and how ethical hunting is a tool for game protection and management on the continent.Featuring one hundred striking color images from leading African wildlife photographer Dr. M. Philip Kahl, Sands of On Safari in Namibia superbly illustrates Capstick’s return to the veld and perfectly captures life and death in the “land of thirst.”

Genres: Africa

264 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 15, 1991

About the author

Peter Hathaway Capstick was an American hunter and author. Born in New Jersey and educated at (although did not graduate from) the University of Virginia, he walked away from a successful Wall Street career shortly before his thirtieth birthday to become a professional hunter, first in Central and South America and later (and most famously) in Africa. Capstick spent much of his life in Africa, a land he called his "source of inspiration." A chain smoker and heavy drinker, he died at age 56 from complications following heart surgery.

Reviews

[Michael Dorris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Awesome read. The descriptions of the setting are crazy and his writing style really depicts the haunting wild cycle of nature in the Namibian bush. Long before the current commercialization of safari life in this part of Africa, he gets in depth spending time with bushmen learning bushcraft and hunting tactics from them and giving a good back story on how colonial rule changed everything there. Worth the read if you're interested in wild Africa.

[Craig Schlossin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dated but still worth a read.

[bruce smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not Capsticks best

That said, even 80% PHC is better than almost any other author in this genre. He has a way of "taking you with him" of putting you at his shoulder before he fires the .470 cannon at the charging elephant, buffalo, or the like. If you have hunted, or wish you had, he is your friend and compatriot on safari.

[Anne Haack · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am not a hunter and yet appreciated his colorful narrative of hunts and photography too.

[Ahmed Wajeeh · Rating 3 out of 5]

An essay on bushmanland , diction is not great but shows some nice photos

[Doreen Petersen · Rating 1 out of 5]

What a huge mistake reading this book! Don't even bother with it.

[Thomas Edward micka · Rating 1 out of 5]

Bushmen from the beginning of time

This book is definitely not vintage Capstick. Apart from the first few pages it was a waste of time, unless one is Interested in the habits of bushmen, and their activity.
Kind of like watching paint dry.