Media
Reviews:
|
Nick Tredger has produced an excellent 'straight-shooting" graphic book, worthy of a place in the Archives of the top wildlife conservation chronicles, documenting for posterity the constant challenge and fight for the survival of Africa's wildlife and protected areas, against the onslaught of wars, environmental tyrants, eco-terrorists, ever-dangerous poachers and corrupt politicians, who increasingly ravage the continent's heritage, including South Africa and Zululand.
The author has issued a wake up call to the "politically-correct" International community, as to the pitfalls and failures of the modern African government's ability to either appreciate, acknowledge and manage the priceless wildlife heritage, over which they are now the custodians, whilst being beholden to ensure their survival as a species. It is a sad testament that so few of the dedicated wildlife managers of the past has left for posterity, the added legacy of a published work of their vital
endeavours.
The book highlights the challenges of managing Africa's threatened wildlife species, now threatened by an unsustainable population explosion of land hungry, subsistence farming peoples, resulting in being confined to "non-natural" partially protected areas, against the realities of severe changing weather patterns, as drought cycles grip much of the continent. The dire need to control over-population of the animals and subsequent habitat destruction is paramount, despite the protestations of the Animal Rights activists and the contrary opinions of the scientific community, even at IUCN level.
The books well documented eighteen chapters embracing over 300 pages, with twenty four pages of valuable coloured photographs, includes many topics, all highly relevant to the future management of Africa's wildlife parks (including Zululand), embracing such topics as "The war within the war", "Hot pursuits and cold retreats", "To cull or not to cull - that is the question", "Halcyon days", "Paradise lost", and "Crossing the Rubicon"
Nick Tredger is to be congratulated and I have no hesitation of recommending his frank, at times, outspoken, work. We wish him and his wife Jan every success in their endeavours in sharing this expertise and knowledge of hard won experience, with the Zululand wildlife conservation community -
TC.
Tim Condon - Zululand Wildlife eForum
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
This book is a treatise of the last days of colonial game ranging in Zimbabwe, by a group of young dedicated men and covers the glories and the heartache of carrying out tough wildlife management decisions - and just the true sense of being ‘in the bush' for the shear love of the job.
It, furthermore, identifies the changes immediately post Zimbabwe independence and the threats and traumatic times that this brought on people who were dedicated to the care of wild animals and wild lands, people who had no political axe to grind, but who were caught up in the changes of what was to become an oppressive regime, which caused the complete eradication of a species in the country, namely the Black Rhino that were wiped out on the alter of political expediency.
FROM RHODESIA TO MUGABE'S ZIMBABWE is written from the heart, with many and varied anecdotal incidences that will never be seen again and which will keep the reader enthralled throughout the book -
He pointed down towards one of the of the escarpment hills where a distant, lone elephant slowly browsed on the trees that dotted the slopes.
‘I think that he is secure and alive because of what I am doing here, where I am dedicating my energies. Maybe that is stroking my own ego in a way, but somehow it seems more worthwhile'.
‘Is there anything else you would rather be doing?' I asked
‘No. You?'
‘No, I am happy with my choice of career so far; just hope I can learn to be more like a ranger'.
This last conversation, which epitomises the tone of events, was in the early days with Nick's good friend John Ralston, who was tragically murdered by Mugabe's notorious 5th Brigade while carrying out his game ranging duties in a remote area of the Zambezi valley.
The poem of Nicks at the end of the book portrays all the final heartache for the exceptional work done by those dedicated rangers of the time, ending in:
I also stood in the rain for a time,
raging against the storm,
but now I only have my tears
to join yours gently falling,
in the pain of what is lost,
and never will be again.
Lesley Thomson - Talking Travel Africa
|
|
|
Readers'
Comments:
|
You won't know me but I just thought I should send you a short message you to compliment you on an extraordinary book. I finnished reading "From Rhodesia to Mugabe's Zimbabwe" yesterday, what an absolutely brilliant story! I frequently found myself staying up 'till three in the morning, unable to put it down. The book was very relative to my family and we all thoroughly enjoyed it.
We are from Zim too... we lost our gamefarm in 2002, very sad but we often go back to visit the remainder of our relatives that battle on over there. It is still such a gorgeous place.
Thanks again for a great read.
Liam - Facebook
|
Well I must say that your book is very, very good - congratulations! To such an extent that I was forced to 'sneak' off every so often during working hours, just to read another few pages! You have captured the times and experiences 100%. I am glad that there are people such as yourselves who have been able to put these down in writing for posterity. Otherwise such things would go un-recorded, and my children and theirs to follow, would not have known about this period of our history. Very well done indeed! I look forward to your next book!
Mark Brightman
|
I couldn't put this book down.
The amazing thing is that I know many of the names mention in the book, while I never met the author.
Been to Chizarira in 1978, we hired a plane and went with 4 girls (Smithy) and Brian Ade, an artist in a wheelchair.
I met John Ralston, Trevor Thompson, Torre Balance. We had to fly out before sunset because of the war.
Later I met John Stevens and John White and Dolf Sasseen as I went as much as possible to the wilderness in my spare time. (Matusadona, Mana Pools, Zambezi canoeing, Hwange, Charara)
But it is also a sad book and Nick Tredger writes about something that I knew but always denied, that the wildlife is dying out. Greed of many people and of too many people. I can call myself lucky that I have seen wild Africa but the generations after me will only read books and see movies about this as it is gone for ever.
This book gives a excellent insight of how game-rangers live in real life and not Hollywood style. The sense of humour and the
ridiculous situations will get you is stitches of laughter. Only I wish I joined the national parks in those days if it was possible as a girl, instead of nursing.
Alice Stotter
|
|
Couldn't put it down.
Timepilot
|
This is a beautifully written/ moving and thought provoking book.
In the end it left me with a profound sadness and a feeling of quiet unrest. An excellent read.
Anonymous
|
Having been to Zimbabwe just a year ago, my experience of this country has been really amazingly wonderful. If I tell people about it, they stare at me in disbelief. The author, Nick Tredger, starts the book about three years before Zimbabwe became independent. He takes us through a
journey of wildlife conservation as well as his view on the political scene as President Mugabe took power and how, in his view, President Mugabe has taken Zimbabwe from a jewel to what it is today.
There are some shocking tales of corruption and greed. The author takes you with him, you laugh with him, cry with him.
Recato Cristiano
|
I have just finished your book "From Rhodesia to Mugabe's Zimbabwa" and really want you to know that I thoroughly enjoyed it.
I finished school in 1977, and did 18 months in the BSAP, mainly in Lupane between Bulawayo and Wankie. It was not a special time for me as I really didn't enjoy my stint too much as I always had the feeling that it was such a waste of time and I could have been doing something else. But we didn't have much choice in the matter anyway, and at the end of it all, I'm sure most of us will agree, it did teach us to be independent and more responsible.
Perhaps given a different perspective, one would have seen the bigger picture and enjoyed the whole experience much more.
I was completely absorbed by your story and lived each moment as there were so many things I could relate to. Not that I was a game ranger.
The stories about Buffalo, Elephant and Lion were fascinating and brought back memories of Harry Wolhuters' book which my father loved and cherished.
What set your book apart from other stories I have read about Zimbabwe was you showed a human side to many things such as your compassion for animals and people, not to mention your love of the land.
Thank you, and hope to see more of your work in bookstores in the future.
John Harrison - Cape Town
|
.
..
