Safari: A Chronicle of Adventure

by Bartle Bull

In this magnificent book, Bartle Bull charts the history of the African safari from the first great expedition of 1836, when Cornwallis Harris crossed the Transvaal with an ox-wagon, to the guides of today, carrying on the tradition in the swamps of Tanzania and the forests of Ethiopia. Capturing the timeless beauty of the African bush, Bull tells of the men and women who made this land their home from Frederick Courtenay to Beryl Markham, the legendary expeditioners who brought fame to the safari; from Teddy Roosevelt to the Prince of Whales, and the native Africans who made the adventures possible.

An active environmentalist, Bull examines the ethics of hunting and the apparent dilemma of the hunter-conservationist. Against a rich background of tribal and colonial history, he documents developments in weapons and transport, in literature and film, in game control and conservation, and conveys the attraction that has never changed—the magical freedom of the African bush.

Genres: Africa, History, Nonfiction

384 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 1988

About the author

Bartle Bull was born in London and educated at Harvard and at Magdalen College, Oxford. A student of the China coast since he first worked in Hong Kong over thirty years ago, he is a member of the Royal Geographical Society and the Explorers Club. He is the author of Safari: A chronicle of Adventure and the novels The White Rhino Hotel, A Cafe on the Nile, and The Devil's Oasis.

Reviews

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting book -- lots of fascinating lore about the history of the safari.

The twist here is that safari were originally hunting expeditions in Africa, and the author is a strong supporter of hunting. So depending on your own feeling about this topic, he can either come off as a modern day Hemingway or a bit of a blowhard.

[Jonathan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Surprisingly extensive and well documented, with great illustrations, starting in 19C. Not primarily about "adventure," but about the politics of safari involving many luminaries from Teddy Roosevelt through Ernest Hemingway and Karen Blixen.