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86th out of 311 books
—
289 voters
The Shadow of Kilimanjaro: On Foot Across East Africa
In one of the most acclaimed travel and adventure books of the past year, Rick Ridgeway chronicles his trek from the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro to the Indian Ocean, through Kenya's famed Tsavo Park. His tale is, according to The Boston Globe, "a gripping account of how it feels to be charged by an incensed elephant and kept awake at night by the roaring of stalking lions....more
Paperback, 320 pages
Published
October 15th 1999
by Holt Paperbacks
(first published October 1st 1998)
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This was an interesting read. In addition to a story of a walk on foot from Kilimanjaro to the Indian Ocean, it is also an exploration of issues surrounding conservation and hunting in East Africa. In some ways, it's a very interesting read, and we get to meet many larger-than-life personalities who have been involved in the history of conservation and the national parks in Kenya, like Richard Leakey and Bill Woodley. I also appreciated Ridgeway's attempts to make sense of the fact that many inv...more
Rick Ridgeway’s ‘The Shadow of Kilimanjaro’ isn’t just a journey through Kenya, it’s a journey through time. The book begins with Rick and his traveling companions climbing Mount Kilimanjaro. It is the beginning of a walking safari that will take them all the way to the Kenyan coast. He is accompanied by seasoned guides and trackers as well as rangers from the Kenya Wildlife Service.
Filled with the incredible adventures of meeting and observing animals while on foot, as well as descriptions of t...more
Filled with the incredible adventures of meeting and observing animals while on foot, as well as descriptions of t...more
I love a good adventure book and picked this one up thinking it would be just that. Instead, it was so much more. Ridgeway barely talks about his walking journey from the summit of Kilimanjaro to the Kenyan coast. Instead he uses the journey to tell a much larger story.
This book is really about the history of hunting and poaching, the ivory trade and conservation in Kenya. It is about the interesting people who stood up to corruption and greed to protect wild lands and wild animals in Kenya.
I s...more
This book is really about the history of hunting and poaching, the ivory trade and conservation in Kenya. It is about the interesting people who stood up to corruption and greed to protect wild lands and wild animals in Kenya.
I s...more
You can only read about acacia trees and other plants for so long. Not much of a story, just a long description of the sights they see as they hike in Tanzania- which is hard to visualize without having been there, since they name plants and animals that I had never heard of (prior to visiting).
If you are going to this area and want a good read- I'd recommend Karen Blixen's Out of Africa.
If you are going to this area and want a good read- I'd recommend Karen Blixen's Out of Africa.
In one of the most acclaimed travel and adventure books of 1999, Rick Ridgeway chronicles his trek from the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro to the Indian Ocean, through Kenya's famed Tsavo Park. His tale is, according to The Boston Globe, "a gripping account of how it feels to be charged by an incensed elephant and kept awake at night by the roaring of stalking lions."
A great story from mountaineer and adventurer Ridgeway about his walk up Kilimanjaro and out to the sea, through Tsavo National Park, with elephants, predator animals, and interesting flora. Extremely readable - you feel as if you are right there traveling with him.
An APL Recycled reads find. This is another walking book this time "up Mount Kilimanjaro, down the East side and across Kenya to the Indian Ocean. Ridgeway walks with the sons of a great Park Warden of Kenya and covers much of the history of conservation of wildlife and creating the National Game Parks. It was well written and a very interesting read.
I was excited for an account of Ridgeway's epic walk from the summit of Kilimanjaro to the shores of the Indian ocean, but this did not meet my expectations. My overall impression was that one of two things happened: 1) he didn't experience enough on the walk to build a book around so he had to add in a lot of information on Kenya's wildlife conservation community, or 2) he felt that a straight adventure book was too lowbrow, so focused instead on the wildlife conservation policy issues.
I was le...more
I was le...more
I don't know why this is listed as author unknown. It's by Rick Ridgeway. This book didn't do too much for me, although I do value it hgihly in the evolution of my vegetarian philosophy.
I didn't expect much from this book but was most pleasantly surprised. Ridgeway is an adventurer and conservationalist and this book contains his thoughts as he walks from the summit of Kilimanjaro to the Indian Ocean. Along the way we learn about African wildlife and the history of Tsavo National Parks, particularly the relationship between its elephants and the native and colonialist ivory hunters. Although there may be a balance needed between elephants and the commercial interests of nearby...more
I appreciated the tangential information provided to flesh out the travel story - although my upcoming trip to Africa likely increased my engagement with the novel.
Kinda slow after reading a book about the disaster on Everest. I think it would be good if you had been there.
Fantastic book. A bit of adventure and a lot of history...tremendously interesting.
A walkabout with a conservationist's eye. Sign me up!
Read this after our RTW and climbing Kili in October 2006 and while writing and editing a journal of our trip. Makes me wish for the gift of storytelling: the ability to weave innocuous observations and details into a cogent, interesting tale that keeps the readers entertained and brings the imagery alive. Alas.
Since we trod some of the same ground, I came away with a deeper and renewed appreciation of East Africa.
Since we trod some of the same ground, I came away with a deeper and renewed appreciation of East Africa.
This is a brilliant book, telling of the past & present of the African National Parks. Told from the point of view of a walk from Kilimanjaro to the Indian Ocean with the sons of the ranger that helped create the parks.
I found it brilliantly descriptive & moving in it's narrative. It was a book I read form cover to cover in one sitting & when I put it down I started planning my first trip to Africa.
I found it brilliantly descriptive & moving in it's narrative. It was a book I read form cover to cover in one sitting & when I put it down I started planning my first trip to Africa.
Interesting read, but I was only able to about half way through it. I couldn't really get into it...
I read this to help prepare me for our trip to Tanzania this summer. It's about a walking safari from Kilimanjaro to the coast, and made me very glad that we won't be walking! It deals with issues concerning the management of wildlife and how that has evolved over the years. It's an interesting read.
Ridgeway recounts a journey on foot to the pinnacle of Mt. Kilimanjaro and across the plains to the sea. Along the way he tells stories of the lands he walks through, the characters who shaped the wildlife conservation ethic in Kenya, and the amazing animals indigenous to the region.
Oct 17, 2007
Matt Stansberry
marked it as to-read
Haven't read it yet, but looking forward to it. I bought a used copy online a while back when I was on an Africa kick -- Peter Capstick, Death in the Long Grass and all that. Offer me suggestions on whether to bump it up on the list or drop it.
Not really about Kili--this is just where they begin their adventure. It gives a lot of great information on the game reserves and conservation efforts in the Kenyan parks. The battle against poaching and those most involved.
Interesting history of Tsavo but Rick Ridgeway is not a great writer. This one could have used some tactful editing but still a good read.
A GREAT book about trekking across Africa. I felt like I was trekking with them the entire way, learning a bit of history as we went.
May 10, 2010
Leslie
marked it as to-read
AWESOME BOOK! I loved this book, it was really entertaining, great mix of action, and history about the wilderness of Africa.
A fun trek along eastern Africa that weaves treking, history and ecology. Wish i had been along for the walk.
travel literature -- hike from Mt. Kilimanjaro, across Kenya to Mombasa
A great adventure story that gives you a good sense of the place!
Interesting, but repetitive.
Liking it so far...
May 13, 2013
Jane(Pixie)
marked it as to-read
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