Frederick C. Selous was one of the giants of Vitorian Africa and in this work, written at the urging of President Theodore Roosevelt, he compiles many of his most keen observations about life and wildlife in Africa. Fascinating not only as a period piece, Selous's thoughts are remarkably prescient about the state of game in Africa even today. Though it was written before the rise of the commercial poaching that has ravaged so much of the continent, the book gives an excellent insight into the need to carefully observe, record, and interpret the ecological signs found in the wild. Clear and lively in style, the tales told within encompass everything from dietary habits of hyaena to the effects of sleeping sickness on agriculture. Especially interesting are the authors remarkably forward-thinking ideas on race relations, ideas that would not become the rule in southern Africa for over 75 years. An altogether satisfying read.

I have read plenty of elephant hunting volumes in the likes of Bell, Stigand and several others but this Selous book is different. It's not entirely an account of Selous' adventures with his rifle but rather as the first portion of the book's title suggests, an informative wrap-up of the ways and characteristics of various African game. Selous is a unsurpassable raconteur when it comes to telling of big game, as this book proves. There's a chapter on Selous' search for the elusive inyala antelope, and it is of great interest. A book well worth parting with your cash for. Simply a true must-buy !

This book is truly a necessary part of a hunter's library. I believe that this book, along with Roosevelt's African Game Trails and Bror Blixen's African Hunter, is one of the best books on hunting in Africa available. Even though things have changed alot in the past 100 years, the book is both entertaining and informative.

This is a superb book for anyone who has ever wanted to feel like they were a part of a safari without actually being there.Selous was one of the best white hunters to step foot on the continent,so this book is worth looking into.

THIS IS ABOUT THE THEN AND THERE NOT THE HERE AND NOW. DR CASADA HAS GIVEN US THE ACTUAL NON-PC EDITION OF THE FACTS IE. SELOUS' ACTUAL WRITINGS.THIS IS NOT ABOUT PHOTO "SAFARIS" IN THE BELLY OF A VOLKSWAGEN TOUR BUS NOR THE CUSHIONED SEAT OF A TOYOTA SAFARI 4WD...BUT WORN BOOTS, HOLEY SOCKS AND BONEY HORSES DYING IN THE FLY BELTS OF A FRONTIER. YOU SEE THIS WAS AT THE SAME TIME WE WERE FINISHING OUR WESTWARD EXPANSION IN THE U.S. , THAT FREDERICK COURTENEY SELOUS [FCS] WAS TRAVERSING THE BLACK CONTINENT BEFORE THE PC "B" WORD MEANT ANYTHING SO HOMOGENOUS AS OUR THIRTY-SOMETHING POPULACE WOULD UNDERSTAND "BLACKS" AND "INDIANS" TO BE. IF YOU LIKE A CONDENSED MICHENER WITH LOTS OF GEOGRAPHY,GEOLOGY,ANTHROPOLOGY AND ANIMALS THAT WILL PUT YOU IN THEIR BELLY...WELL DR.CASADA HAS DONE THOUSANDS OF HOURS OF RESEARCH TO COMPILE WHAT YOU WANTED TO SEE...THE REAL FCS THROUGH HIS OWN WORDS. THANK YOU JIM CASADA YOU TRULY HAVE DONE A PHD [PILED HIGHER & DEEPER] WORTH OF WORK BRINGING THIS ADVENTEROUS HISTORY BACK TO LIFE.