Peter Allison

Presents tales from a safari guide about his encounters with big cats, elephants, hippos, and other unpredictable animals.

True Tales of a Botswana Safari Guide

Whatever You Do, Don't Run

Colleen

Whatever You Do, Don't Run is a delightful collection of short stories by Safari Guide Peter Allison. I came across this book on a Goodreads list of best travel books and was instantly intrigued. I love travelogues. I love stories about Africa. This book promised to be full of exotic adventure and humor, and it certainly delivered! 

I was surprised how often I found myself laughing out loud. Sometimes just a few chuckles and other times full rolling laughs, but there was much laughter. The collection of stories was funny and heartfelt. Allison got himself into a lot of sticky situations and the results were very entertaining. I liked Allison's style. Whether he was laughing at his own clumsiness or bashfully admitting to being a "bird nerd," I couldn't help but route for him. He has self-depreciating sort of manner, not overly humble but totally willing to admit when things were his fault. As the author himself said, "Common sense and my hangover told me to wait a day. But if I had listened to those forces throughout my life, I'd be a lawyer in Sydney."

The stories cover a good variety of subjects from the expected animal encounters and adventures to interactions with locals and tourists. One thing I did appreciate was that despite how frustrating dealing in anything remotely relating to customer service (and I think that being a tour guide definitely counts as that category) can be and even when telling stories about the follies of hapless tourists, he never resorted to whining or maliciousness insults. Maybe that was his Aussie laid back attitude or maybe he was professional enough to avoid literary shaming of people who undoubtedly made his life difficult. But I definitely give him props for that.

This book also deals with serious issues such as AIDS, racism, and lack of conservation. Whether he was giving historical information about the incredible Seretse Khama or sharing the pain of losing someone to AIDS, his stories were poignant and engaging. Overall, it was a very good blend of humor and touching stories. I couldn't put this down. I read the whole thing in one day. In fact, other than one short break to cook dinner, I read it all in one sitting. Not that it is a long book, but I could not put this down. 

This may not be the best writing ever, but Allison makes up for that with a gift at storytelling. He is undoubtedly someone with whom I would love to be sitting around a campfire. There may not be page-long, poetic descriptions, yet Allison easily portrays the things he is writing about. I could picture every situation he described without problem. 

He was passionate but not preachy about his love for Botswana and its wildlife. His genuine affection and reverence was inspiring and touching. On the subject of conservation:

"She asked another question: 'What does it matter if the rhinos die out? Is it really important that they are saved?'

This would normally have riled me... but I had come to think of her as Dr. Spock from Star Trek - an emotionless, purely logical creature, at least with regards to her feelings for animals. Like Spock, though, I knew there were one or two things that stirred her, so I gave an honest reply.

'... to be honest, it doesn't matter. No economy will suffer, nobody will go hungry, no diseases will be spawned. Yet there will never be a way to place a value on what we have lost. Future children will see rhinos only in books and wonder how we let them go so easily. It would be like lighting a fire in the Louvre and watching the Mona Lisa burn. Most people would think 'What a pity' and leave it at that while only a few wept'" 

If you are an armchair traveler or a lover of nature, you should definitely check out this book! 

This review fulfills the "Book with Antonyms in the Title" category of the Popsugar reading challenge. http://www.popsugar.com/love/Reading-...

Sarah Ryan

'Read' this as an audiobook. Narrator was great. Good listen for a road trip. Nothing very heavy and some good comedy moments. Especially enjoyable as I have been on safari myself so could relate to a lot of what the author was talking about.

Whatever You Do, Don't Run True Tales of a Botswana Safari Guide

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