An intrepid, humorous Hungarian hunter-collector, Kalman Kittenberger offers one of the most heartstopping, charming, and funny accounts of adventure in the Kenya Colony ever penned--a diamond of reality in a field full of sensationalist writing. Illustrated.

THIS small volume contains some of the letters I have received during the last thirty years or more from well-known big-game hunters and field-naturalists, many of whom have now passed away. They were so interesting to me that I thought they might interest others who have shot in wilder Africa. Moreover, they describe conditions which are no longer possible considering the way many parts of that continent have been opened up since the Great War. Whether the spread of a so-called civilization is a good thing I do not wish to discuss, but I know there are many men, including myself, who would prefer the older times when things were less complicated and conventional. Many people are now going in for photography more than shooting, and in a way this is a good thing as it will naturally help to conserve the game. It is, however, a much less risky amusement to take animals’ pictures—I mean dangerous animals—than to try to kill them, for game such as lion, elephant, buffalo, leopard and rhinoceros are seldom dangerous until they are wounded and followed up in thick cover. Some people may doubt this statement, but it is nevertheless true, as all experienced hunters can vouch.

In this first-hand account from explorer Frederick Selous, first published in 1893, readers follow the true story of a trailblazing adventurer in an unknown land. Selous explored the area around the Limpopo River in what is now northern South Africa and Zimbabwe. From fending off lions and hyenas to hunting the most dangerous game Africa, Selous' safari was mythic-the very foundation of the Western world's romance with the Dark Continent. Anyone who has ever dreamed of visiting Africa will be enchanted by the real-life adventures of the man who inspired the fictional Allan Quatermain. British hunter and explorer FREDERICK COURTENEY SELOUS (1851-1917) was a renowned traveler and conservationist, spending much of his time charting the continent of Africa. He sent many animal trophies back to England to be displayed in museums and helped American president Teddy Roosevelt on a similar mission to supply the Smithsonian. Selous wrote a number of books about his adventures, including A Hunter's Wanderings in Africa (1881) and Sunshine & Storm in Rhodesia (1896). A hunting reserve in Tanzania now bears his name.

The most authoritative book on the subject. John Taylor was the last professional ivory hunter in East Africa, a legend in his own time. He probably knew more about ammunition and rifles for African game than any other hunter, and he cites his own experiences in the wilds to defend his arguments about which rifle is the best to use on big game. He covers rifles and calibers for elephant, rhino, hippo, buffalo, and lion. Also covered: safeties; single vs. double trigger; double rifles; ballistics tables; sights; the .375 H&H; the "all-round" rifle; small-, medium-, and large-bore rifles; and much more. He tells great stories and gives the best advice available. By popular demand, this sought-after classic is now reprinted by Safari Press.

This early guide is both expensive and hard to find in its first edition. A detailed description of big game shooting that will prove of great interest to the hunting enthusiast or historian of the sport. Many of the earliest books, particularly those dating back to the 1900s and before, are now extremely scarce and increasingly expensive. We are republishing these classic works in affordable, high quality, modern editions, using the original text and artwork.