True Tales Of A Botswana Safari Guide - Whatever You Do

Having just returned from a safari to Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Namibia, I thoroughly enjoyed the authors entertaining yet sobering tales of his experiences as a safari guide. All of the guides I encountered on my trip were professional, fun and extremely competent. I fell in love with Africa and highly recommend this book to anyone about to embark on a safari or anyone, like me, who has experienced one and appreciated the wonders of the abundant wildlife.

I LOVED this book! Peter Allison took me along on a fun, fabulous, thrilling adventure and I can't thank him enough! YES, I wish the book was longer and I wish he'd shared more of his life as a guide! Maybe he'll write another in the future. I'm still laughing a day after finishing it. His descriptions left me in stitches and sometimes, it was difficult to remember how young he was when he started. If I ever go on a safari, I promise, to Walk, Not Run.

This book was recommended by some folks we met on an OCT 2012 trip to Botswana. It provides an amusing commentary on camp and safari life from a guide's perspective. I would have learned a little by reading it in advance, but think I enjoyed it more as an after-trip read, comparing his insights with my own experience. Either way, a lot of fun to read.

Having been on safari in Botswana, I could really relate to these wildlife encounters. I found them fun and entertaining as told from the perspective of a guide. I appreciated the honesty and humility of the author, Peter Allison, as he related his misjudgments and errors. He always told them with an added dose of humor!

Having been on safari in Botswana, I could really relate to these wildlife encounters. I found them fun and entertaining as told from the perspective of a guide. I appreciated the honesty and humility of the author, Peter Allison, as he related his misjudgments and errors. He always told them with an added dose of humor!

I just went on my first African safari (Sabi Sabi Game Reserve, near Kruger National Park in South Africa) and read this toward the end of the trip -- it was great !! Our experiences matched up perfectly with what is described in this book. We had a ranger who was responsible for all kinds of "hosting" duties as well as being the driver of our land rover on the game drives during our stay. We definitely had an "up close and personal" experience with the animals and he was responsible for our safety as well as trying to keep everyone happy. I could relate to almost every story - including the guests with totally unrealistic expectations as well as guests who seemed to be unable to follow the most basic rules such as don't stand up in the vehicle.

If you have never been on a safari but would like to go, this will give you a very welcome glimpse into one aspect of the adventure. If you have already gone, it will allow you to relive the experience and to see it all from a ranger's perspective.

Absolutely loved the book and highly recommend it. Both informative and entertaining.

Many of the things mentioned in this book were also mentioned by my guides. It was fun reading about these extreme adventures during the breaks while participating in some much tamer ones from the vehicles during the drives

I enjoyed the writing style of this author. It was an easy read because of the very humorous language and story telling ability of this writer. The animal observations were educational, so the book wasn't just entertaining because of the hilarious scenerios. He really gives out a lot of information about the African animals habits and "communication" styles.

I really enjoyed this book. The way Peter adds humor to his stories, even when making fun of his own shortcomings, made me laugh out loud on numerous occasions.

If only I could afford a trip to a camp like the one he worked at!

Brought back so many memories of my trip to beautiful and wonderful Botswana. Would leave tomorrow for the Okavango Delta, Moremi, and the Chobe Lodge if I could. My love and respect to all the great guides I had especially, Maude at Chobe and Letts Go at Camp Okavango.

Fascinating story of a young man in Africa. While Allison is not the best author, the stories are engaging and hold the reader's interest. He is honest enough to recount the stupid things he did in his youth and this adds to the story. It comes across as a story of his growing maturity as he gains abilities and becomes comfortable with who he is. His guardian angel must have been working overtime.

Just returned from South Africa and loved every minute, so I really enjoyed his book. Can so relate to some of his experiences, it is almost as good as being there. His sense of wonder, humor and love of wildlife makes this book a true delight.

Having thoroughly enjoyed safari in Kenya on the Masai Mara, this book gave a refreshing and riveting view from the guide's side of the story. I am amazed at the fearlessness of Peter and his buddies, and must believe it,s only Providential he was not killed many times over!
I loved the book!

Fascinating, fabulous book. I would actually miss it when I put it down. It's fast paced, easy reading, and incredibly funny. Something like the book that Indiana Jones would have written if he'd become a safari guide and not an archeologist. Would highly recommend it.

Really enjoyed the stories. Just back from a safari in Botswana so could relate to many of the mishaps. Wish I would have read it before the trip but might have been a little more hesitant when our guide was trying to get to a bird through deep water! Pretty realistic portrait of life on safari from the guide perspective. Reading this book post trip allowed me to savor the memories from my recent trip while creating a desire to head back out on another safari! Well worth the read!

I'm headed to South Africa this summer and, after buying many field guides and a book on a couple who studied the Kalahari brown hyenas, this book came up on the recommended list. I'm glad I accepted the recommendation. This isn't a life-changing book, nor is it a Pulitzer Prize winner, but it entertained me and made me want to visit Botswana. Ah, to be young and have a do-over...maybe it's not too late to chuck it all and become a safari guide!

A lighthearted, funny inside look at African Safaris shown on another perspective. Touches on many subjects not just the wildlife and tourists. Brings back wonderful memories of my African Safari and makes you want to experience it all over again! Not necessarily always well written, it does skip backwards and forwards a bit but it doesn't matter as it actually helps you to know the character as he is telling you various stories from his life experience. A very enjoyable book.

AFTER THREE PERSONAL AFRICAN SAFARI TRIPS, IT WAS A REAL REVELATION TO SEE THE EXPERIENCE FROM THE VIEWPOINT OF THE GUIDE. PETER ALISON SHARES HIS LOVE OF WILD ANIMALS (AND THE SO-CALLED HUMAN ONES)IN A DELIGHTFUL AND EXCITING WAY. IT WAS EYE-OPENIN TO GET INSIGHT INTO THE LIFE OF THESE MOSTLY COLLEGE AGE GUIDES, AND TO READ ABOUT THEIR OPIONS OF THE "GUESTS" AS WELL AS THEIR KNOWLEDGE OF THE ANIMALS AND OF AFRICA. I HOPE PETER REALIZES HIS GOAL OF MAKING A GERMAN SMILE!

I found this book very enjoyable and surprisingly readable. No, he's not Bill Bryson, but except for A Walk in the Woods I found this book more entertaining than most of Brysons' other books. Stories of unpredictable animals and not so charming clients fill this book as well as tales about the author who has an endearing way of poking fun at himself.

Nothing thought provoking or "deep" about it, just pure enjoyment.