[.ca] African Game Trails (ISBN 0312021518)

Like a long conversation with Teddy:
This is no literary masterpiece, it has no great theme or thesis; rather it is like what you might have heard if you had the opportunity to converse at length with Roosevelt, but that makes this a very good book. You hear his African stories, his opinions, his knowledge of animals and hunting. The book proceeds chronologically and contains many excellent descriptions of tracking and hunting African game (these might become redundant for some readers). Readers might also be disturbed by his description of what he perceived as the inferiority of certain African peoples, and the need for Africans to be "civilized" through European rule. He also believed in the rightness of making parts of Africa (the best parts of course) a "white man's country" for European settlers, though he insists that "the African native should be treated fairly"--how this would be accomplished is not discussed. Still... "African Game Trails" is a wonderful book for anyone interested in East Africa in the early 1900's, or for anyone interested in Theodore Roosevelt. It was his love of the outdoors, of nature, and of hunting (not contridictions in his time) that led Roosevelt to spend a significant amount of his life in the world's wide open spaces away from "civilization". It is clear that he, like many great thinkers (Beethoven comes to mind), found solace and renewal in the fresh air and quiet of plains, forests, and mountains. He spent almost a year on his African safari. His book was the first by an American to popularize the idea of recreational travel in Africa (still considered a daunting prospect by many Americans today). The prose is easy to read and makes one want to keep reading. Also of interest is the appendix containing the list of books (the "pigskin library") that he took with him on his safari. Roosevelt also promoted the outdoor life and its benefits in "A Book-Lover's Holidays in the Open" (New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1916)

Classic African Safari Travel Narrative:
In 1909, just after the end of his term as President, Theodore Roosevelt traveled to Africa for a year long safari.The trip was a major undertaking ; hundreds of porters were needed to carry his baggage. Roosevelt's son, Kermit came along, taking photographs which are reproduced in the book. Roosevelt and company bag hundred of animals. It appears that all hunting rules were suspended for the ex-president. Roosevelt and son are soon blasting away at anything and everything that comes into view. British East Africa is described in terms that make today's politically correct readers wince. Attitudes have changed dramatically in less than one hundred years. It is odd to hear Roosevelt describe parts of Africa as a "white man's country," suitable for large scale settlement by Europeans. The book bogs down and I was unable to read it without skimming through some parts. The descriptions of marching through wilderness and chasing after game on foot and on horseback seem to go on forever. There is a lot of great infomation here even if it is necessary to become your own editor by skipping though tedious parts.

Better than being there:
Not being very good with a gun, having little outdoorsman skills, and not being in the best shape of my life, reading this book was better than being there. If I was there, I would miss the animals, I would be too tired to enjoy it, and besides all of that, Africa is not as it was 100 years ago. I have just begun to reread this book, and I don't know how many times this is. I enjoy it each and every time I pick it up.

An Accurate Portrail of Life on Safari:
Theodore Roosevelt has captured life on the safari brilliantly in this wonderfully written book. Having been to Kenya three times myself, I was able to relive my own experiences on the Dark Continent through T.R.'s words. He "shot" Africa with the use of his Springfield and Winchester, and I through my Minolta. But the excitement and adrenaline rush of viewing the magnificent beasts of the wild may be captured in similar ways. T.R.'s vivid descriptions of his adventures makes this depiction of Africa come to life. Through his use of graphic details of kills, life on safari, and portrayals of the people themselves makes this book worth reading. At times, I found it nearly impossible to put down. T.R. outdid himself with this one, and those who have never been to Africa, may be tempted upon the completion of this novel. I applaud this effort and recommend "African Game Trails" to anyone...

A must read if you are going on safari:
This book gives you the genuine flavor of safari 80 years ago.