101 Kruger Tales: Extraordinary Stories from Ordinary Visitors to the Kruger National Park

Enjoyed the fact it was lots of short stories

This book was first published in 2014, has 429 pages, 3 Parts, 101 chapters, 45 sets of photos and 3 maps. The foreword is by Mark Boucher, former South African cricketer, now involved in rhino conservation. The author is also asking visitors to Kruger NP to send their stories and photos for the next volume. This book contains variety of real life stories of visitors, of heartbreak, tragedy, luck, disappointments, stories from camps, dirt roads, waterholes, picnic spots, walking trails, some funny and some creepy and unbelievable stories. It took JEFF GORDON 4 years to compile this book. This book orientates the reader about the Kruger NP, its Gates, 24 rest camps with electric fences, 17 private lodges, 9 Gates, picnic spots, tar and dirt roads, rules of the Park, Game drives, night drives by Park employees in official game viewing vehicles only, guide lead walks, use of animal and bird hides, use of own vehicle or safari open top/ guide run vehicle.59 stories come from well visited southern Kruger. The central Kruger with 33 stories, is less busy but still beautiful and the game is rich. The quieter northern region of the Kruger (9 stories) has large baobab trees, beautiful birds and the largest tusker elephants in Africa. The book ends with digested version of short stories. Some of these stories were also shown on "Caught in the Act" on Nat Geo Wild TV.We have tried to go to Kruger NP and Namibia, but our safaris were cancelled for one reason or another. But our close encounters include from our safaris to Kenya and Tanzania for 15 years. In Maasai Mara we saw one large male lion keeping two lionesses busy, while his brother, another large male lion killing the lionesses's 1 year old male cub, as an act of infanticide. In Taita Hills, 50 to 70 elephants came to drink at the lounge of the lodge and we were filming only 6 feet away. We watched this for hours. And at Ngorongoro Caldera in Tanzania, a massive bull elephant with large tusks eye-balled us next to our 4x4 testing to check whether we were of any threat to him. We were standing and watching him, absolutely silent and still, for 10 minutes.If you like safaris, then this is a book for you, as you may read about encounters that are rear and exciting.

I have been to Kruger park, back in the 80's. The extraordinary stories reminded me of that wonderful time in my life. Africa is indeed a wonderful continent with the animals playing their part in an atmosphere rich with sights and sounds and wonders. If anyone has woken in a tent to the sound of a lion roaring close by, the thrill and the fear, will know what I mean. A good read.

I've not been there but really felt inside that I was actually there. Scary in some parts, sad in others, but the narrative is mostly positive! Very well compiled and I wouldn't want the job of picking which tale to choose and what to leave out! I have been on safari on two visits to see my daughter living in SA at the time. She is a Safari Guide, and it was great being driven around and seeing things that would otherwise have been missed. I could relate to the scenery and imagine the situations. What a wonderful read and I can't wait for my first visit to Kruger!

Interesting rather than particularly exciting. Couldn't really recommend it although maybe if you've been to Kruger you would enjoy it more?

Simply awesome, living in a family where there are more than enough bush tales to go around and lovers of the Kruger, this book just wet the appetite for more trips!I loved reading this book and couldn't put it down, always just one more short story then I'll put it down! I enjoyed watching it get passed around the family and then friends! Nobody had the book for more than a day or two! To see the smiles and gasps whenever a story was read showed how good the tales are! Thanks, I highly recommend!

Just finished reading this book last night - it's brilliant! Anyone who has visited the Park will immediately relate to this book - and the tales really make you realise just how close to nature you are (or were!). Had I known about some of the experiences before I went to the Kruger Park, I might have viewed it a little differently and with much more respect for the animal species who live there.I could not put this book down - just wanted it to go on forever!

Good ole Kruger park. Brings back fond memories although never had any of the close encounters.

If you love Kruger national park and all the animals in it this is an amazing read.

I read it after I went there I wish if I read it before it makes my journey more wonderful and excited although it guides me for next year

Estuve en Kruger y este libro me transportó nuevamente allí. A diferencia de otros autores las historias son muy reales, algunas divertidas otras pocas angustiosas. Al leer las historias te das cuenta que los visitantes somos eso, visitantes, los verdaderos dueños son los animales y puedo asegurar que un elefante de cuatro o cinco toneladas es más convincente como guardia de tráfico que cualquier ser humano.Eso sí, cuidado al leerlo, puede causar ansia irreprimible de viajar...

In preparing to go to a South Africa I selected this book as Kruger was our main destination. The stories were so interesting and often times hilarious - especially being from everyday visitors to the park. One can learn the typical animal sighting and what's unusual in the park. I was so excited on our first day in the park to see the remains of a zebra that a leopard had pulled into the tree to eat something I knew nothing about until reading these tales. Learning the mistakes that led to mishaps I felt "better prepared" to not make the same mistakes. On my actual trip when driving into our remote lodge we encountered our first elephant and when he began shaking his head and starting to charge I knew we were in a dangerous situation and told my husband to get out of the way as quick as possible. I was hoping to not see any of the spitting Cobras and can say I saw a juvenile black mamba from the safety of our vehicle. The tales of encounters with the deadliest snake in South Africa were much more colorful so I was delighted to see one safely! If you are staying in a rest camp there are many tales to prepare you - we didn't have time to stay at a rest camp but would have loved to. Warning - do not read if you are a "worrier" as my husband. I chose not to share some of the more frightening tales as he might change his mind about going on this adventure. Use it as an introduction to the geography and animals of Kruger and to better prepare you for what you might see or encounter in the park!! I felt this read made my trip so much more enjoyable!

Ein Buch, das man nicht mehr aus der Hand legt, mehr davon !!!! Ich liebe den KNP und es gibt nichts spannenderes, als diese Abenteuer teilen zu dürfen. Man weiß nie, was einem im KNP als nächstes passiert oder begegnet.... Ich freue mich schon jetzt auf die Fortsetzungen !