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White Hunters cover art

White Hunters

By: Brian Herne
Narrated by: Robert Whitfield
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Summary

A little over 100 years ago, East Africa was terra incognita to most whites: a land largely unmapped, sparsely settled by Europeans, and teeming with wildlife. It was the hunter-adventurer's paradise, and by the early 20th century, a small, lionhearted clan of explorers and big-game hunters began leading safaris there for money. They became the legendary White Hunters of Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda, men who led manifold adventurers in pursuit of the world's biggest, most dangerous, and most sought-after game.

White Hunters is a nostalgic and densely-packed history of these men and their adventures, from the turn of the century until the 1970s when politics, a growing population, civil strife, and concern about species destruction intervened. Brian Herne has written a virtual and anecdotal Who's Who of White Hunters, crammed with the details of hundreds of hunts and the dozens of men who led them.

©1999 Brian Herne (P)1999 Blackstone Audiobooks
  • Unabridged Audiobook
  • Categories: History

Critic reviews

"A rich portrait of a magnificent landscape, its animal inhabitants and some of its most reckless human interlopers." ( Publishers Weekly)
"An authoritative and colorful study of African safaris that will appeal to armchair adventurers and history buffs alike." (Wall Street Journal)

What listeners say about White Hunters

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

Excitement and Tragedy go hand-in-hand

White Hunters is a nostalgic insight into the lives of some of the most influential hunters and conservationists to shape the reputation and history of East Africa.

I am not a hunter, but a conservationist and naturalist. Hunting is an imporatnt, indeed crucial, component of conservation in Africa and this audiobook chronicles the events that led to the beginings of Wildlife Conservation, the National Parks service and today's Photo Safaris. But it is more than this, 'White Hunters' is a rolling adventure story, pockmarked with passion, intrigue, excitment and tragedy.

I must admit, I was hoping for a 'Capstick-style' series of adventures and was initially slightly disappointed with the all-too-brief descriptions of wildlife encounters, but as I got into the book, it became clear that, like my fellow reviewer here, no additional sensationalism was needed.

I have only given this a 4/5, because I ocassioanlly wished there was additional detail to go with the Safari Adventures, and although that would make the book double its already-long-length, it would be even more of a joy.

This is an audiobook for those interested in Colonial History, Hunting, Wildlife, Real Adventure and most importantly, Africa.

Ben Waddams

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Brilliant Book

This unabridged insight into the history of big game hunting takes you straight to the heart of Africa, once famous names like Carr-Hartley and Selous are bought to life by the fantastically clipped colonial tones of the narrator. Unlike authors of the genre such as Capstick it doesn't over dramatise the events, they don't need it, it simply sets the scene and tells the story. Despite being written by a "Big White Hunter" it sympathetically deals with the socio-political issues that shaped much of Africa and that where ultimately to do more damage to the pursuit of big game than any poacher ( or well meaning conservationalist) ever could. A simply superb epithet to a bye gone age.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Wonderful tales of historical wild African adventures

This is a brilliant listen: often hilarious, occasionally tragic, sometimes poignant. From the epic “champagne safaris” of the Edwardian era, via the African campaigns of the Second World War, and finally to the end of the big game hunting industry as populations were decimated by poaching, this is a loving and detailed historical epitaph to a world gone by, and the many tough, extraordinary men who lived (and died) for the search for big game. Several fabulously adventurous women are also celebrated for their bravery, skill and charisma, whether firing a rifle or flying a plane over the savannah. Glamourous and gossipy by turns, we get a veritable rollcall of presidents, Hollywood megastars, eccentric aristocrats and others who loved going on safari through the decades. Some great tales from filmsets too (hair-raising stories about the making of King Solomon’s Mines, Out of Africa etc). Plus the earliest beginnings of wildlife photography and filming, which was intertwined with the safari industry from the very start, as well as the earliest history of conservation of wild animals. If you enjoyed Taylor Sheridan’s #1923, you will love this.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

outstanding

Providing you're not an 'anti' this a most fantastic book. Loved listening to this, probably heard it 8 or 9 times now.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Sofa safari

Excellent book which I have read and now listening with eyes closed takes me back to my birth country and places. Enjoyed every minute of it. I wish it was read at a bit slower speed, narrator’s voice is well suited for the story.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Narrator mispronunciation

Great story, but why can't you get narrators on Africa to pronounce names properly? Words like Ngorongoro, koppie and duiker terribly mispronounced

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Was a different distraction

Well told and at times grisly.
I am pleased to be a little better informed.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

You won’t find a more thorough history of hunting in Africa.

Outstanding account of hunting through the last century. Beautifully read and sets the perfect tone. Thank you for hours of entertainment.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

magnificent

without a doubt one of the best audio books I have ever heard. Vance/Whitfield reads it like he wrote it and is one of the best narrators I have ever had the pleasure of listening to.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

pronounce the name of the places an name properly

Great stories but had to stop listening due to the miss pronounced names and place. Do your research please.

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