Big Game Hunting and Collecting in East Africa, 1903-1926

There is no fabrication or romaticizing in this book. An honest, straight forward story who I think would have been a good bloke to go hunting with.

The author seems observant and honest. He admits his mistakes and wants to describe more than just hunting. But there is plenty of hunting if that is what you are looking for, especially for dangerous game. He claims to have killed over 200 of the "big 5," and there is much useful information with regards to those species. Some of it is a little dated (old cartridges, many of the species are very rarely hunted), but I enjoyed getting the flavor of old Africa.

Early explorers of the dark continent described Africa as a land "boiling with oppurtunities." Upon this conclusion they further remarked "what a pity." Kittenberger came to Africa as a explorer in search of wild game specimens for the Hungerian Natural History Museum and to document the native people and culture. What he discovered was a uniqueness, a land radiating of genuine nature, and land that needed to be perserved for the future. In his book he describes this land, its people and game, its culture, and the very aura that stays in a individuals soul calling them back, to the upmost detail. Kittenberger was on a scientific exploration and yes his book is deemed a scientific novel. But as great as he was a scientist, he was an even greater writer. The scientific data, experimentation, and jargon are blended throughout with anecdotes from his diary and accounts of adventure. The book flows smoothly, with adeaqute explanations accompaning anything that may cause confusion. The author provides vivid detail, and the reader, upon completion, is left with a new found knowledge of Africa. Several unique observations were made by Kittenberger, along with many extraordinary scientific breakthroughs. By incorperating these into the novel interest is maintained and a vibrate zest dances through the pages. Kittenberger gives the reader a accurate account of Africa through the text. The reader sometimes finds himself in a daydreaming esctasy surrounded by Africa. You can hear the lion roar, smell the campfire, and see the sunsets. Upon conclusion a little piece of Africa occupies the reader's soul calling them there.

For any one who is really interested in Africa this is a good read. It is not the usual safari book written about the glorious hunts of a "Great White Hunter." This is a book by a man who literally made a large part of his life in the wilds of Africa hunting and collecting all forms of wildlife. The sheer humility of Kalman's writing makes you fell as if you were setting around a campfire after the hunt discussing it leisurely. There is nothing overblown or braggert about the man. I did get a little bored with some of the detail he went into on the smaller animals and birds, however it is just this attention to detail that makes him so worthwhile to read. Overall I found this book to be both entertaining and informative.