I really enjoy animal stories. And Whatever you do, don’t run is an animal story and more. It spans 12 years of Allison’s life as a safari leader, first in South Africa and then in Botswana. The safaris he leads are not those of shooting animals, but of wildlife viewing and eco-tourism trips. His stories recount his fellow leaders and other staff, the clientele, and as you can imagine some of the clientele are quite a challenge but most of all his stories are about the animals that live in the Okavanga Delta. Allison’s love for the land and the fowl and fauna shine through the book. There is also a section of beautiful photographs. And for all of you who read Alexander McCall Smith’s Number 1 ladies detective series, there is a chapter devoted to Sir Seretse Khama, the first President of Botswana. Not only do you learn about Sir Seretse, but you learn the history of Botswana and why Botswana has been one of the few success stories of Africa and why Sir Seretse and his wife are still so revered today. If I ever get to take a safari, I want to have Peter Allison as my leader and yes, I want, like almost everyone else to see the lions up close. --Maeve

From ICPL Staff Picks Blog