“An amazing real-life perspective on an African safari that has been delightfully shared. Funny and witty. Footsteps well worth following.” –Philip Coetzee, South Africa, Advanced Nature Guide, author of Birds for Beginners.

Four friends, all big-city dwellers, embark on their first African safari. An internationally published travel writer and her husband, an award-winning travel photographer, are joined by their life-long friends on a journey to South Africa and Zimbabwe. Previously, their exploration of over 60 countries took them to big cities, architectural masterpieces, and world-class museums around the globe. But this trip is different.

Following laborious preparation, they find themselves face to face with the wild animals of the African savannah on their first of several African safari adventures. Traveling in a safari vehicle and on foot around Kruger National Park and Victoria Falls opens a new and exciting world of the animal kingdom to this group of friends. They crisscross the bush and meet African wildlife in its natural habitat. Which predators, grass eaters, branch nibblers, and birds of prey did they find? What did the African safari animals do in the presence of people? How did each traveler behave in unexpected and dangerous situations? How does it feel to be only a few feet away from a pride of lions devouring their kill, a herd of suspicious elephants, an intimidating Cape buffalo, or an unpredictable rhinoceros?

In an easy-to-read, conversational style, the author, Alex Shaland, delivers a fair mix of wildlife photography, animal and bird factual data, and practical information. Shaland shares his experiences as a first-time safari explorer and sprinkles the narrative with a good dose of humor and personal stories. Starting out with the preparation for the trip, he talks about the options of safari game reserves, lodges, and vehicles that he and his wife considered and adds a touch of historical information related to the places they chose to visit. Chapters discussing individual animals and birds combine insightful information illustrated by an ample number of author’s photographs with his personal observations. If a trip to Africa is in your plans, this entertaining and informative book, jam-packed with photos of animals and birds, will help you make the first step on the way to your dream. If you like African stories and are interested in wildlife, nature, and animal protection, this story will enrich your knowledge of the animal kingdom. If you already read some of the other African safari books, this one will be a nice addition to your collection. At the very least, it is just fun to read.