The Story of an African Safari

by Robert Ruark

Ruark's most sought-after book is back in print. In the early 1950s famous newspaper columnist Robert Ruark and his wife, Virginia, went to British East Africa (now Kenya and Tanzania) for a nine-week safari with their professional hunter Harry Selby. The three of them, along with a group of native runners, a Jeep, and an old lorry, ventured into the bush for an adventure none of them soon forgot—and neither will you! In this book Ruark shares with you the ferocity of the wounded buffalo and the acid sweat of fear—no other book will give you the "feel" of Africa like this one can. This is what one of our readers had to say: “If you’ve ever dreamed of going on a safari in Africa, but don’t have the money or the gumption, this is about as close as you’ll come to the real thing. I’ve read a few books about safaris, hunting in Africa, etc. (like Peter Capstick), but this is what I always imagined it would really be like. If you’ve stumbled upon this book by accident and don’t know who Robert Ruark was, you’re in for a treat. Ruark was a journalist, author, and big-game hunter who wrote from the late 40s until his death in the mid 60s. He was hugely popular during his lifetime, but now has been almost totally forgotten. . . . This book contains Ruark’s own tale of his first safari in Africa in the early 1950s and is an incredibly entertaining and detailed account of safaris. . . . Ruark discusses the regular comings and goings of the safari, but he talks about a wide range of other topics including his experiences in WWII in the merchant marine, Hollywood safari movies, the habits of various game animals in Africa, a bit about the diverse natives, and a host of other topics. It really is as if you are sitting with Ruark at the end of a hard day hunting enjoying a cocktail around the campfire. For anyone interested in safari hunting or safari literature, this is a must own/must read.”