Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #11179 in Books
• Published on: 2007-10-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 264 pages

From Publishers Weekly
At age 19, Australian-born Allison headed to Africa for challenge and adventure, planning to stay no more than a year; having found work as a safari guide, he's still there some 13 years later. In this fun, fearless memoir, Allison shares his experiences taking "guests" through the African wilderness, trips that often don't go quite as planned-due especially to the unpredictability of the animals around them. Allison is a skilled, funny and vibrant storyteller, dishing arcane bits of wisdom like an expatriate Alligator Hunter: "I understand a little bit of monkey language, and 'kwe' is a sound I listened for. It was an alarm... full blown monkey conniptions were reserved for leopards." A hilarious chapter recounting a troubled thousand mile trek through the Kalahari Desert finds Allison trying to wave down a passing truck in the middle of the night: "I realized that the driver would have seen what looked like a very animated sage bush with pasty white hands growing from it... he'd probably go straight to a witch doctor... and ask if there was a curse on him." Along the way, Allison examines his fellow guides, the struggle with exhaustion, getting lost and the temptation to make frequently visiting animals into pets, as well as some poignant asides on love and death.
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From the Back Cover
Whatever You Do, Don’t Run is a hilarious collection of true tales from top ­safari guide Peter Allison. In a place where the wrong behavior could get you eaten, Allison has survived face-to-face encounters with big cats, angry ­elephants, and the world’s most unpredictable animals—herds of untamed tourists and foolhardy guides whose outrageous antics sometimes make them even more dangerous than a pride of hungry lions!
Join Allison as he faces down charging lions—twice; searches for a drunk, half-naked tourist who happens to be a member of the British royal family; drives a Land Rover full of tourists into a lagoon full of hippos; and adopts the most ­vicious animal in Africa as his “pet.” Full of lively humor and a genuine love and respect for Botswana and its rich wildlife, Whatever You Do, Don’t Run takes you to where the wild things are and introduces you to a place where every day is a new adventure!  In 1994 Peter Allison set off for a year-long stay in Africa. More than a dozen years and hundreds of adventures later, he’s still leading safaris and collecting stories. Allison’s safaris have been ­featured in National Geographic, Condé Nast Traveler, and on television programs such as Jack Hanna’s Animal Adventures.

Customer Reviews

Enthralling
If you want a window into the life of a Safari Guide, mixed with humour, good story telling and a wonderful insight into African wildlife - read this book. I have just read it in one sitting. Loved it!

LOL
Yes, I did laugh out loud.
I should have read it before my trip to the Okavango. I read botanical, animal books, but none captures the experience like this one!. However, since you tend to find amusing what you relate to, I would have missed much. Afterwards, it just reminded me of a wonderful experience. Nevertheless, you don't have to have the experience to enjoy it. The author is funny, funny, funny and manages to give an intriguing and realistic glimpse into the life of a guide. I'm mailing it to all my South African companions.

Whatever you do, Dont run!
This book is fun and exciting its defiently a page turner. You just cant stop reading about all his adventures that he is having. And all his experiences and the amazing stuff that he sees while he is on his journey. He did a great job on writing this book! I cant wait to read his next adventures!!