Death in the Dark Continent

by Peter Hathaway Capstick

Critically acclaimed as a master of adventure writing for Death in the Long Grass and Death in the Silent Places , former professional hunter Peter Hathaway Capstick takes us back to Africa to encounter the world’s most dangerous big-game animals. After consulting African game experts and recalling his own experiences and those of his colleagues, Capstick has written chilling, authoritative accounts of hunting the five most dangerous killers on the African continent―lion, leopard, elephant, Cape buffalo and rhinoceros. The classic big-game animals are unmatched as a test of a hunter’s skill and courage. With a command of exciting prose, Capstick brings us along on the chase. The warning snarl of a crouching lion, the swish of grass that reveals a leopard, the enraged scream of a wounded elephant, the cloud of dust that marks a herd of Cape buffalo, the earthshaking charge of a rhino are recreated in heart-stopping, nerve-racking detail. In Death in the Dark Continent , Capstick brings to life all the suspense, fear and exhilaration of stalking ferocious killers under primitive, savage conditions, with the ever present threat of death.

Genres: Africa, Nonfiction, Adventure, Animals, Nature, History, Biography

256 pages, Hardcover

First published May 15, 1983

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

[Preston Fleming · Rating 5 out of 5]

What most people don't understand about big-game hunting in Africa is that the animals have a much better chance against the hunter than one might expect. The late Peter Hathaway Capstick was born in New Jersey but realized his boyhood dream of becoming a big-game hunter and safari guide in Africa. DEATH IN THE DARK CONTINENT explains why each big-game animal is dangerous and then goes on to recount stories about contests that the animals won or lost. Once you've read any of Capstick's books, you will want to read the others. Nobody has written as colorfully or gut-wrenchingly as Capstick about stalking and being stalked by African big-game animals. (My favorite Capstickism: "The things you see when you don't have a rifle...") Recommended for open-minded adults and college and secondary school students who are willing to question the Disney view of animals in the wild.

[David Lucero · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Heart-pounding reading!

Peter Hathaway Capstick has written another thrilling adventure of his experiences in the African bush. The Big 5 (Tembo, Simba, Kifaru, Chui, Nyati) are well described in their natural habitat and the dangers they pose to hunters. I personally, do not hunt nor will I ever. I do however respect the 'hunter's code' and how their efforts help curb poaching and preserve wildlife. To understand this I recommend you read the author's books to include 'Death in the Long Grass', 'Death in the Silent Places', and this one.

The author writes with a tongue-in-cheek style that is mesmerizing. He demonstrates extreme respect to the wildlife and his stories of his experiences and that of others leaves you wondering who needs science fiction when we have books like these. His descriptions of animals in their habitat are truly amazing and I have found his books highly helpful in my own book 'Big Jim' and the sequel I am writing now. I recommend this book and others mentioned for anyone with interest about African safaris and wildlife.

[Mike Disalvo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Peter Capstick once again gives his readers what they want. This book is full of hair raising stories of hunters and the hunted.

Read how Capstick's tracker is nearly gored by a rhino, actually holding onto the horn to save himself.

See how a cape buffalo in a bad mood can turn a man into something even a big city coroner will never forget.

Discover why smoking may be good for your health, if you track wounded leopards into the long grass at night.

The BIG 5 are considered the most dangerous animals on the continent of Africa for good reason. Capstick will be more than happy to fill you in on the reasons, and leave no doubt that they are all dangerous and deadly.

[Cash Coffman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hunting in Africa is not for fun and games. Peter Hathaway Capstick's "Death in the Dark Continent" is a book that goes in comprehensive detail on hunting big game in Africa. Capstick tells of his personal experiences of hunting "The Big Five," buffalo, rhino, elephant, leopard, and lion in Africa. These five animals in his thought are the deadliest and most challenging to hunt. Each one of these animals that he talks about in the book will effortlessly mangle you within seconds with any chance they get. Overall, I was impressed reading "Death in The Dark Continent." I enjoyed how descriptive Capstick was with this book, he vividly made you feel as if you were with him out in the middle of Africa hunting big game with him. He does this by talking to you casually just like it's your good friend having a talk with you, except it's through a book. Capstick goes in such depth in hunting that even if you have never hunted or know nothing about animals, you can gain a genuine understanding of dangerous animals and hunting. Peter Capstick really knows his stuff and is the person you would want to learn it from, you get first hand views on hunting in Africa from a man who spent his entire life hunting in Africa. Capstick has his own unique way that he explains things which I appreciate, he makes interesting points and has respectable views. Another thing that I like about Capstick is that unlike some other hunters, he is respectful to other people and animals. Which is something that means a lot to me. This book can be enjoyed by anyone, but if you are a hunter then this is a must read and you will certainly appreciate this book.

[Gregory · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent book! This is Capstick's third book. I would recommend Peter Hathaway Capstick's first two books more. In Death in the Dark Continent, Capstick still tells gripping stories about the BIG FIVE. However, the stories aren't as good as Death in the Long Grass or Death in the Silent Places.

Also, he gets a little distracted at times with secondary topics such as the controversy about who shot the elephant with the biggest or heaviest tusks. He spends around 20 pages on this issue, which, I'll be honest, I ended up just skipping.

However, it still deserves four stars and I recommend reading it eventually.

[Timo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Friends of "Death in the long grass" will feel right at home. The book is split into five chapters by Capstick's big five: cape buff, elephant, rhino, leopard and lion. Might have given this one a five if it wasn't for the other Capstick's I've already read. Hunter or no hunter, this one gets an easy recommendation.

The most memorable story was the one of late Mr Fantastic who, after shooting a cape in the gut with a piece of corrugated iron rod, was impaled all the way through his chest by horns and thrown 15 feet high and left hanging dead in a tree. The subsequent tracking of the wounded buff is pure horror, beating anything that King has ever written.

[Troy Stirman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quintessential Capstick- and quintessential African Safari hunting specific to the Big Five. No one brings the reader along a hair raising stalk in 8 foot grass for a wounded, dangerous game animal like Capstick. Nerves of STEEL combined with a quill dripping with India ink from a well laced with poetic prose and pluck!

[bruce smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sad that he passed too early, brilliant outdoor writer

Lucky enough to have met Chapstick on a trout stream in his native New Jersey. For the price of a simple trout lure I got to share a day and a beer with this remarkable man. As a promise I made certain to read all of his writings and one is simply better than the next, funny, honest, and scary all his stories are gems.

[Brycep · Rating 5 out of 5]

This author is one heck of a writer. This covers the experiences of one of the greatest professional African hunting guides with dark humor and colorful
detail in his description of hunting some of the most dangerous animals in Africa, including crocodile, water buffalo, lion, elephant and leopard. So many ways that the hunters become the hunted!

[Clifford Barker · Rating 5 out of 5]

More of the same, classic wit and nerves of steel. This time against animals you would never consider to be a serious threat. Capstick leaves you in no doubt that almost all animals in the bush are more than a match for a normal person.

[Ron · Rating 4 out of 5]

His stories are utterly amazing fascinating and exciting.

He left behind a white collar job, to become a big game hunter, game warden and a world-renown gun and hunting expert.

Some of his stories will make your hair stand on end

[Randy Mosele · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this years ago when I was stationed in Germany and it was just as compelling now as then.

[Jessica Doty · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved it. Totally reminded me of my dad❤️.

[Craig Schlossin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good.

[Caleb M · Rating 4 out of 5]

Classic Capstick with great stories and insight on Africa's top 5 most dangerous. The Jaguar chapter is epic!

[Nick Duncan · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was ok. Really just a bunch of stories about hunting, and being hunted by, the Big 5 in Africa.

[Jenna Gehman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Listened to the audiobook on a road trip. Interesting stories but the reader was terrible. Will probably try physically reading to see if I like it better.

[Jack · Rating 4 out of 5]

Death In The Dark Continent
Peter Hathaway Capstick
Nonfiction

Author Analysis: There is no main character so I will do an author analysis. The author in the book is a static person in the way he writes. He has strong beliefs on the way animals should be hunted and he rarely strays from those beliefs. As the story progresses he does not change his viewpoint on certain subjects. Capstick is also very articulate in his word choices. He uses many complex words. Capstick also uses many words from languages that people speak from where he hunted.
Plot Critique: I liked the overall plot in the book. The setup was clever. Capstick wrote it to describe the deadliest five animals in Africa. Each animal took up a fifth of the book. The animals did not overlap much in the next chapters.
Overview: Capstick wrote the book in a way that I had never seen before. He wrote about encounters with the Big Five or most deadly African animals. The big five are buffalo, rhinoceros, lion, elephant, and leopard. The encounters are not only personal experiences, but other professionals experiences, and stories that he has heard of from other colleagues. Most of the stories are very gruesome and not for the feint of heart.
I rated the book a 4 because although I liked it, the format seemed too repetitive. He did not give very much information on the animals. Capstick generally just wrote of deadly encounters with the animals.
I would recommend this book to people that like nature and hunting. It is a classic hunting book that has a lot of close encounters with animals in it.

[Tim Painter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Peter Capstick is a great writer and better yet he is writing from his own experience of hunting on the african continent.

In this book he details the dangers of hunting the five big game: elephants, lions, rhinos, leopards, and cape buffalo. There are some absolutely fascinating tales in this book, very engrossing.

[Keith · Rating 5 out of 5]

All of Capstick's books are a thrill, and even if you aren't a hunter, you'll gain lots of insight into deadly animals, the lands they are from and the people in-and-around their habitats. The hunting is the way he chooses to convey the story...very thrilling stuff!

[Denver Dreyer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this guys books. His writing style and detailed description of the experience that only a hunter will now is great. Fills me with an even greater respect for the animals that roam our great continent .

[Charles · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great book by Capstick, although not as good as "Death in the Long Grass" and "Death in Silent Places." Capstick not only tells a great story, but his prose ain't bad either.

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

A first-hand account of dealing with the most dangerous land animals of Africa, from a man who spent most of his life hunting them.

[Beka · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some interesting stories, but I just didn't enjoy the writing style that much.

[Larry Rutledge · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another enjoyable read by Capstick.