Hunting With the Moon: The Lions of Savuti

by Dereck Joubert, Beverly Joubert

Dereck and Beverly Joubert have lived among lions for most of their adult lives. Few people anywhere are on such intimate terms with these awe-inspiring creatures, and fewer still are the naturalists who can claim to have seen, let alone shared, their nocturnal forays. For unlike their East African cousins, the great cats of Savuti, a remarkable natural enclave just north of Botswana's Okavango Delta, do almost all of their stalking and killing at night when the moon is just a sliver in the sky. Over a hundred breathtaking full-color images captured by Beverly Joubert's ever-watchful camera represent not just superb wildlife photography but a priceless record of a little-known natural phenomenon. They create a portrait of the Savuti lions at rest, at play, and on the shadowy hunts that end in a sudden, explosive kill, offering a rare glimpse of the lithe power and ruthless beauty that have mesmerized humans for millennia. Dereck Joubert's detailed and engaging text documents years of observation, providing invaluable insight into the biology, behavior, and social structure of an elusive species; at the same time he brings to life the individual animals the Jouberts came to know so Maome, the matriarch whose clan played together every evening; Ntchwaidumela, the bold and unflappable male who defied a charging elephant; Sequela, the old exile who returned to spend his last days with his pride, and many more. Last but by no means least, Hunting With the Moon is a chronicle of human dedication, a deeply personal account of a couple who have devoted their lives to understanding and protecting the magnificent beasts who prowl these pages in all their majestic grace. It's an extraordinary book, filled with stunning images, fascinating facts, and vivid anecdotes -- a once-in-a-lifetime chance to enter the enthralling, unforgettable world of lions in the wild.

Genres: Africa, Animals, Nonfiction, Photography, Botswana

168 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1997

Reviews

[Lone Wolf · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fascinating look at the lions of Savuti, Botswana. The authors are well-known film-makers Dereck and Beverly Joubert, whose documentaries include such classics as ‘Eternal Enemies: Lions and Hyenas’ and ‘Lions of Darkness.’ This book goes behind the scenes of such programmes, telling you both about the lives of the animals and the Jouberts’ own encounters with them, and is illustrated with many beautiful photographs. There is the odd error – the authors don’t seem to know what a viverrid is, for example – but on the whole this is a thoroughly entertaining and informative read.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you want to know what happens to the lion in Lions of Darkness or Eternal Enemies this is your book.