Cathedral of the Wild: An African Journey Home
Londolozi Game Reserve in South Africa has been the Varty family home for four generations. Located just west of Kruger National Park, it is a world-famous private wildlife preserve that attracts international visitors and broadcast-media attention. Varty recounts how his family restored dry, overgrazed land abandoned by ranchers, establishing a healthy habitat for a wide range of wildlife, including elephants, lions, impalas, baboons, and crocodiles. This entertaining family saga is filled with distinctive characters, especially the author’s uncle John Varty, an irrepressible filmmaker who has survived numerous life-threatening accidents and clashes with business partners and government officials. Like his uncle, the author has cheated death, having been cornered by a poisonous cobra, held by gun-bearing robbers, and attacked by a crocodile. Written by a relatively young man, this quick-reading memoir may be just the first of many lively African tales. --Rick Roche