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

I thought this was an excellent book. Well written and filled with entertaining stories. But the thing I loved the most about this book is that it just let me enjoy the author’s adventures with wildlife without getting upset. What I mean by that is, I read A LOT of books about people, nature, and their experience with wildlife. In almost every book, a huge portion of the story goes into staggering levels of habitat decline, the cruelties of poaching, and how no matter what we do from this point on, there’s almost no saving the remaining wildlife left on the planet. Of course I know all this is true. But you know what, I love animals, and some times I just want to read a book that just talks about animals....and not their impending and probable doom. I have almost gotten to the point where I can no longer read any stories to do with animals, as it seems like almost every story is threaded with tragedy throughout. Not this book though. It was just interesting and fun and focused on how lucky the author feels to have spent a portion of his life observing so many of the amazing animals that the African continent has to offer. Bottom line, I wasn’t depressed after reading this book like I am after reading so many other books that center around animals.

This is a book you are likely to read loudly--gasping, laughing and groaning at the antics of a safari guide whose love of the Okavango Delta and its wildlife consistently gets him into trouble of the "I-can't-believe-I-wasn't eaten" variety. I recommend reading this book with a laptop open to Google images so that you can search for pictures of the camps, parks and lesser known animals Allison mentions. The images will enhance your appreciation for this beautiful land and its wildlife. Though Allison does not write with the elegance of a Theroux or a Bryson, his twenty-something style is part of what makes this book so much fun. It's a pleasure from start to finish, and a great way to learn more about Botswana's parks and wildlife, the safari experience, and all the things you shouldn't do while tracking big game in the Okavango Delta.

Peter, Allison is quite a character and, it turns out, an even better storyteller! His chapters describe the highs and lows of a safari guide’s life in Botswana. It’s an unexpected patchwork of grand, magnificent animals in the wild; in part the consequences of ignorance and foolishness of visitors in their space; in part unknown adventure, in part the poignant rules of the jungle, and how they play out for various animals species, lion, prides, elephant families. Always deeply respectful for the animals that we desire to observe and photograph.

Peter Allison worked as a safari guide in sub Saharan Africa for a number of years. During that time he accumulated a bunch of tales involving animals, tourists and, perhaps zaniest of them all, the tour guides who are foolish enough to deal with both at once. Now let's be up front about this book - it's not going to make any dents in the reputation of Tolstoy. But that's not why you buy a book like this. You buy it for its' breezy style, the short sharp action sequences and the laugh out loud moments of bipedal and quadruped stupidity. From charging lions to painful bird watchers this book has a number of snippets of life on the dirt roads of Africa. The authors obvious love of his job and the animals shines through and it's his enthusiasm for quite happily including stupid things he himself has done that avoids any pretension on his part to be above the general weirdness. And in between the furiously paced stories one also gets a glimpse that the safari guides life is neither well paid nor quite as glamorous as one would dream of. And sometimes the loneliness and the mental instability that can lead to is alluded to. None of which takes away from the books rollicking style and for me personally it added to it. And while you are smiling while you read it the actual danger in some of the situations is also nicely conveyed. It all makes for the kind of book you'll read in a weekend. So if you are a lover of travel literature you really have to get this. If you are a real life or armchair fan of Africa you need to pick this up. In fact even the most po-faced academic should get something out of this book, a light hearted break from meatier fare. Two thumbs up.

This is light reading and, if you like to people watch, it is as much about how people from different cultures react to unusual situations as it is about how wild animals react to encounters with strange human beings. Each short chapter is about a different encounter so it is an easy book to pick up and put down. Nice book for traveling especially if you might be headed to Africa to go on Safari. But the "Don't run!" advice can equally well apply in Alaska or wherever predatory mammals may be found. I got a lot of chuckles out of this book. My wife is always coming up with something to worry about regarding animal encounters on our hikes ( grizzly bears, black bears, alligators, mountain lions, moose, have all been in striking range at one time or another). After reading this book, I have to defer to all of her concerns and err on the side of caution from now on. The book is also fun when the author describes his encounters with the assortment of homo sapiens from various countries and social strata and how they act on safari. Ho! Ho! Ho!

This book is a delightful description of the authors experiences as a safari guide in Botswana. His tales are an amazing collection of his time in Africa. Highly recommend!!

This was a quick enjoyable read. I have been to Botswana several times before and I bought this book for my children who I was taking to Botswana. The book was fairly accurate about the experience. I didn't particularly care for the author's general characterization of his guests/tourists. Reading this you would think that most of the guests were bores or nincompoops. My experience is most of the people I have met on safari were sincerely interested in conservation and for the most part enjoyable. That's not to say I didn't meet a few idiots! All in all, a humorous (mostly) and insightful look at going on safari. I'd recommend it for first time safari goers.

I picked this out to support my own Botswana safari adventure. I started it on the 15 hour plane ride there and finished 2 weeks after being home. It was a great prep, wonderful relaxer after long days of driving, but most of all a great reminder of the beautiful harmony I witnessed with my group in the Okavango Delta. All of the guides at our camp were local. Peter’s accounts align with what I saw and stories I was told. I would like to read another book like this from a local guide’s perspective.

Definitely. A must read . Adventure and lots of humor . I recommend the book to all those who like to travel through reading adventurous safaris .

An endless supply of campfire outrageous-but-true tales from the most exciting African safaris.

It's 3:30 in the morning, so review will be small...but hey - I was fascinated by the story...by the adventures and couldn't sleep til I finished the book. Thank you for taking the time to write it...will think of your adventures for ages. Am living in Alice Springs...the animals are so different... fascinating but missing a little of the romance of Africa.

Peter is a great story teller. Some of them will be in my memory for a long time. The tale from the Honey Badger was amazing. Peter really caught my attention and the final was so surprising. Felt bad about the babies squirrels but it was a good story. That one from Richard being attacked by the lioness let me breathless. The story about his friend Nick and cheetahs with her cubs was absolutely astonishing, I want so bad to see the pictures Peter took that day. These stories are making me feel nostalgic about my trip to South Africa. Peter made me want to go back to the bush as soon as possible. Great book if you like animals, african bush or just if you want to laugh sometimes.

I liked the way is write. Plenty of humoured twists and very well narrated. You can learn a lot about the back office of the African tented camps and things yo can't never imagine about animals, guides, staff and clients relationship. Delicious for the ones in love with the Black Continent.