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The Good Karma Refuge for Elephants
When Rob Forbes returns to his childhood home of Zimbabwe, Africa after decades away, he doesn't plan to stay long. A big job back in London awaits.
But he finds himself questioning his priorities amid the open-hearted exuberance of people who have so little compared to his wealthy a powerful reconnection to the animals and wild places he loved as a child, and his growing friendship with Tibetan guru and neighbor, Rinpoche.
What if it is possible to live with the same ineffable lightness as the intriguing lama? Why is the joy of ubuntu – community – felt in the most improbable places? And could an orphaned elephant calf change his life?
Buddhism, nature, spirituality, and transcendent wisdom are woven into this compelling personal drama from the author of the globally bestselling Dalai Lama's Cat series.
Michie brings the Buddha's teachings to life through an engaging and enjoyable story showing the power that loving kindness and community have in creating the ideal conditions for awakening.
Sharon Salzberg, author of Lovingkindness and Real Change
This book, like the jewels Rinpoche speaks of, is to be treasured. a story that perfectly explains the infinite connections between humans, animals and nature so central to my own life here in Zimbabwe.
Sarah Carter, Co-Founder, The Twala Trust Animal Sanctuary
A powerful story around the rescue of Kadiki, a baby elephant. Wonderfully crafted around very real issues within Zimbabwe, the descriptions of people and places are impossible not to recognise. Magical!
Roxy Danckwerts, Founder, Wild is Life/Zimbabwe Elephant Nursery
A charming story of belonging and purpose, illuminated by the transformative practice of guru yoga.
Kimberly Brown, author of Happy Relationships and Steady, Calm, and Brave
From the first page to the last, readers will be immersed in this peaceful vista of stunning beauty, long-held customs … Africa “is a state of being as much as a place.”
Publishers Weekly (Booklife Review)
But he finds himself questioning his priorities amid the open-hearted exuberance of people who have so little compared to his wealthy a powerful reconnection to the animals and wild places he loved as a child, and his growing friendship with Tibetan guru and neighbor, Rinpoche.
What if it is possible to live with the same ineffable lightness as the intriguing lama? Why is the joy of ubuntu – community – felt in the most improbable places? And could an orphaned elephant calf change his life?
Buddhism, nature, spirituality, and transcendent wisdom are woven into this compelling personal drama from the author of the globally bestselling Dalai Lama's Cat series.
Michie brings the Buddha's teachings to life through an engaging and enjoyable story showing the power that loving kindness and community have in creating the ideal conditions for awakening.
Sharon Salzberg, author of Lovingkindness and Real Change
This book, like the jewels Rinpoche speaks of, is to be treasured. a story that perfectly explains the infinite connections between humans, animals and nature so central to my own life here in Zimbabwe.
Sarah Carter, Co-Founder, The Twala Trust Animal Sanctuary
A powerful story around the rescue of Kadiki, a baby elephant. Wonderfully crafted around very real issues within Zimbabwe, the descriptions of people and places are impossible not to recognise. Magical!
Roxy Danckwerts, Founder, Wild is Life/Zimbabwe Elephant Nursery
A charming story of belonging and purpose, illuminated by the transformative practice of guru yoga.
Kimberly Brown, author of Happy Relationships and Steady, Calm, and Brave
From the first page to the last, readers will be immersed in this peaceful vista of stunning beauty, long-held customs … Africa “is a state of being as much as a place.”
Publishers Weekly (Booklife Review)
- GenresFiction
263 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 14, 2025
41 people are currently reading
43 people want to read
About the author
David Michie
98 books683 followersDavid Michie is the internationally best-selling author of The Magician of Lhasa series, The Dalai Lama's Cat series, and several non-fiction titles on meditation and Buddhism. His books are published in over 30 languages and 50 countries.
In 2015 he established Mindful Safaris to Africa.
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/David-Michie/e...
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Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/dnmichie
Twitter: https://twitter.com/davidmichieom
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In 2015 he established Mindful Safaris to Africa.
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/David-Michie/e...
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/davidmichiea...
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/dnmichie
Twitter: https://twitter.com/davidmichieom
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/davidmichie...
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
November 13, 2025
I was very fortunate to receive an advance copy of this book.
David Michie‘s latest novel leads us away from his well-known Dalai Lama’s Cat series to a new location and an array of wonderful characters and animals. As always, his beautifully crafted words brings alive the colours, the smells, and the voices of Africa. His description of the Full Moon Club watching the sunset and the moon rise from the top of Ruwa Rock is so vivid, I can almost feel as though I am sitting there with them.
“Moonlight began streaming across the veldt, washing the arid landscape with luminosity, transforming barren soil and desiccated scrub into a still ocean. Grey boulders were burnished to gleaming silver. Stark trees and their leafless branches rose as mysterious silhouettes
in the surreal moonscape”.
As I was reading, I found myself writing down many of David’s Buddhist teachings which he always imparts in a beautiful non-judgmental manner - they are just there as part of the narrative. You do not have to be a Buddhist to appreciate these tenets - as you reflect on them they just seem to make sense.
David Michie says “Africa draws us in” and so you will find that this book also draws you in.
David Michie‘s latest novel leads us away from his well-known Dalai Lama’s Cat series to a new location and an array of wonderful characters and animals. As always, his beautifully crafted words brings alive the colours, the smells, and the voices of Africa. His description of the Full Moon Club watching the sunset and the moon rise from the top of Ruwa Rock is so vivid, I can almost feel as though I am sitting there with them.
“Moonlight began streaming across the veldt, washing the arid landscape with luminosity, transforming barren soil and desiccated scrub into a still ocean. Grey boulders were burnished to gleaming silver. Stark trees and their leafless branches rose as mysterious silhouettes
in the surreal moonscape”.
As I was reading, I found myself writing down many of David’s Buddhist teachings which he always imparts in a beautiful non-judgmental manner - they are just there as part of the narrative. You do not have to be a Buddhist to appreciate these tenets - as you reflect on them they just seem to make sense.
David Michie says “Africa draws us in” and so you will find that this book also draws you in.
December 13, 2025
It is always so hard to wait for David Michie’s next book to become available! But it is always, always, always worth the wait! I devour each new story without hardly a care about what else I could/should be doing instead of reading. The love, beauty and wisdom that is inspired by Michie’s books cannot adequately be captured in a few words in a review. Regardless of your interest or immersion in Buddhism, Michie’s stories will bring you into the wisdom of the heart-first life.
November 15, 2025
Peacocks, giraffes, dogs, cats domestic and not, and … an elephant!
Once again David Michie delivers an engrossing and heartfelt read – this time not in the Dalai Lama’s (and his cat’s) Dharamsala of cool mountain breezes, but in Zimbabwe’s summer. And yes, a cat, though one most of us wouldn’t have as a pet: cheetahs aren’t housecats.
Rob, the narrator, is taking a short leave before starting a fabulous new job in London that he’s dreamed about for years. He thinks he’s only going to be in Zim for 2 weeks, but Yogi Tarchin and an elephant calf called Kadiki have other plans. In the course of a few weeks Rob’s understanding of who he is, and his place in the world, is scrambled into fostering a young elephant and overseeing the creation of a Buddhist temple near Harare.
As always with David Michie, the story can be read as an interesting and absorbing exploration of the intersection of African and Tibetan culture, and on another level as an enlightening introduction to Buddhism. My current favorite is the chapter on politics, with timely yet ancient wisdom for coping with unwanted situations while transcending anger and negativity.
And a feature not in previous books: A map! A charming hand drawn map that orients us in Rob’s world so we can walk along with everyone as they go about their daily lives.
Once again David Michie delivers an engrossing and heartfelt read – this time not in the Dalai Lama’s (and his cat’s) Dharamsala of cool mountain breezes, but in Zimbabwe’s summer. And yes, a cat, though one most of us wouldn’t have as a pet: cheetahs aren’t housecats.
Rob, the narrator, is taking a short leave before starting a fabulous new job in London that he’s dreamed about for years. He thinks he’s only going to be in Zim for 2 weeks, but Yogi Tarchin and an elephant calf called Kadiki have other plans. In the course of a few weeks Rob’s understanding of who he is, and his place in the world, is scrambled into fostering a young elephant and overseeing the creation of a Buddhist temple near Harare.
As always with David Michie, the story can be read as an interesting and absorbing exploration of the intersection of African and Tibetan culture, and on another level as an enlightening introduction to Buddhism. My current favorite is the chapter on politics, with timely yet ancient wisdom for coping with unwanted situations while transcending anger and negativity.
And a feature not in previous books: A map! A charming hand drawn map that orients us in Rob’s world so we can walk along with everyone as they go about their daily lives.
December 13, 2025
AUDIO BOOK BORROW BOX
I enjoyed, I loved hearing about the elephant.
The Buddha culture makes interesting sense to me. It is not a book I would have read, still interesting to listen to.
(I used it getting to sleep on poor nights, so will have missed some parts)
However, there is repetition of similar messages, so that worked ok
I enjoyed, I loved hearing about the elephant.
The Buddha culture makes interesting sense to me. It is not a book I would have read, still interesting to listen to.
(I used it getting to sleep on poor nights, so will have missed some parts)
However, there is repetition of similar messages, so that worked ok
December 7, 2025
This is a brilliant and inspiring book. Love this author and everything he writes.
March 21, 2026
Never wanted it to end
November 25, 2025
What a great story. Now I want a baby elephant!
January 19, 2026
This is a multi-faceted story. I enjoyed it at multiple levels: the animals, the cultural information, the Buddhism, meditation and inspiration, as well as the characters.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews