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In the Country of Gazelles
"... it is interesting and insightful reading for any naturalist and should be required reading for anyone planning a trip to East Africa." ―Zoo Biology "A leisurely, folksy account of Serengeti days spent communing with horned ungulates.... Wonderfully rich and detailed, filled with vignettes, a lovely blend of science and memoir." ―Kirkus Reviews "Walther’s focus is on animal behavior, and his passion for these animals lends his scientific observations a panache not always found in such strict observational studies.... his accounts of the mating, grazing, territorializing, and fleet-footed departures of Grant’s gazelles, zebras, dik-diks, and his favorite, Tommys (Thompson’s gazelles), are inspired." ―Booklist "... an engaging narrative of the lifestyle of predator and prey on the African plains. Short-tail, Old Roman, and Mzee come to life in the pages of this entertaining yet educational book. Strongly recommended for its warmth and depth of understanding from a seasoned researcher... " ―Library Journal "... a collection of first-person adventure stories that pull the reader right into the Serengeti plains." ―Science Books & Films "If you want to know why wildlife biologists devote lifetimes to their efforts, read this splendid book. It is a wonderful blend of scientific objectivity and child-like wonder with which only the best biologists are blessed. Most highly recommended." ―Wildlife Activist "Read this book. It is an excellent natural history of antelopes written by a thougthful and original man." ―New Scientist "I thoroughly enjoyed reading about the animals that Fritz calls ‘my people.’ If gazelles could choose an advocate for themselves, they surely would select Fritz Walther. He knows those elegant animals better than anyone, and in this affectionate tribute he describes their behavior with charm, spirit, and insight." ―George B. Schaller, author of The Last Panda "Fritz Walther’s In the Country of Gazelles is a wonderful book. It gives excellent insights into the society of gazelles, along with tantalizing glimpses of the African plains and the life of a field biologist. I enjoyed it and was rewarded." ―Bernd Heinrich, author of Ravens in Winter "His discussion of predator-prey interactions is fascinating, informed by rigorous observation, knowledge of the literature, and frank appreciation for prey species. The numerous photographs and drawings by the author add significantly to the high quality of this book." ―AB Bookman’s Weekly, June 23, 1997 This is the memoir of a brilliant and caring naturalist’s experiences―the challenges, problems, and romance of studying animals, especially gazelles, on the Serengeti at a time when it was still one of the great wild areas of the world.
176 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1995
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
August 25, 2023
Was planning to travel to Kenya and this was a wonderful accompaniment. Gazelles and their behavior coming from the us fascinated me.
August 17, 2025
Brilliant book. Extremely well written and very informative. I loved every minute. The illustrations in this book were amazing. I recommend reading it . 4.5 stars
October 18, 2012
Books on antelope are so rare compared to those on more popular animals like lions and elephants that when I found this one at a used book sale, my first thought was that it must be a romance novel set in Africa. I was excited to see that no, it really is a book entirely about the lives and behavior of gazelle, written for a general audience.
Walther recounts observations and stories from his life as a field biologist studying antelope alone from his vehicle in Africa. Most of the book is made of of detailed descriptions of the behavior of Thomson's and Grant's gazelles, but there is also information on oryx, wildebeest, zebra, and even a little about predators like lions and hyenas, though Walther doesn't hide the fact that the animals that prey on his beloved antelope are not his favorites. Walther has a special interest in interactions between territorial bulls, but also describes behavior in migrating herds, reactions to predators, the birth and care of fawns, and many other things. On occasion he pauses to write about especially wonderful memories and to reflect on what the experience of living in the bush meant to him personally.
Compared to the many punchy, fast-paced popular nature books out there, Walther's careful and detailed descriptions of, for example, exactly how Thomson's gazelle stand in pouring rain, might seem dull to some, but I thought it was fascinating. I admire his skill in describing even subtle behaviors in ways that I could picture clearly, and the accompanying photos and drawings (all by Walther himself) were outstanding for this as well. Most of all I loved Walther's humble admiration for animals and his willingness to admit that there is still so much he doesn't know. He clearly felt very lucky to have spent a large part of his life in their presence. That's a take on nature that I identify with and admire.
Walther recounts observations and stories from his life as a field biologist studying antelope alone from his vehicle in Africa. Most of the book is made of of detailed descriptions of the behavior of Thomson's and Grant's gazelles, but there is also information on oryx, wildebeest, zebra, and even a little about predators like lions and hyenas, though Walther doesn't hide the fact that the animals that prey on his beloved antelope are not his favorites. Walther has a special interest in interactions between territorial bulls, but also describes behavior in migrating herds, reactions to predators, the birth and care of fawns, and many other things. On occasion he pauses to write about especially wonderful memories and to reflect on what the experience of living in the bush meant to him personally.
Compared to the many punchy, fast-paced popular nature books out there, Walther's careful and detailed descriptions of, for example, exactly how Thomson's gazelle stand in pouring rain, might seem dull to some, but I thought it was fascinating. I admire his skill in describing even subtle behaviors in ways that I could picture clearly, and the accompanying photos and drawings (all by Walther himself) were outstanding for this as well. Most of all I loved Walther's humble admiration for animals and his willingness to admit that there is still so much he doesn't know. He clearly felt very lucky to have spent a large part of his life in their presence. That's a take on nature that I identify with and admire.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews