Customer Reviews

Riding In Africa

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Riding in Africa provides the reader with multi-layered journeys. On the foremost level are the horseback riding safaris throughout Africa, during which the author entertains as he recounts the many adventures and misadventures with his "punter" companions and guides. Within these treks, Ian Williams, always the scientist, leads us along an educational trail, pausing to inform and enlighten us on the varied plants, animals, and places he encounters. Williams, moreover, reveals a more intense journey as he probes the very birth of the earth and its ultimate demise. Within this cosmic framework , the "travels" cover the beginning of human life and its development into societies on the African continent--and beyond. By doing so, the author undergoes a "rite of passage", affirming for him what constitutes the true values of life. In effectively conveying these various themes, Williams proves to be not only a scientist but also a poet. This fact is evidenced by the deft range of writing styles he utilizes to enhance the different emotions and moods throughout the book: from somber to fanciful; ironic to lyrical; didactic to delightfully amusing. Since I am as likely to saddle up a black rhino as ride a horse, all my safaris have to be taken vicariously. Thanks, then, to adventurers like Ian Williams who share their experiences.

At first I thought "Oh no, not another book about Africa". But I was lured in by the fact that this was about horse riding. I was delighted I took the risk. The author is funny in a very self-deprecating way and he fills the pages with amusing annecdotes, insightful philosophical asides and above all a very poignant and complelling story. You will enjoy this book whether or not you are a rider. But if you are a horse rider then like me you will love it.

Riding in Africa is a wonderful combination of wit, high adventure, literature, history, zoology, geography, lions, camels, hyenas, black rhinos, bad holes, the personal transformation that can come from near death experiences, the importance of following your heart and oh yes, riding horses in Africa. You will do well to keep a dictionary near by as you read it as you will encounter words such as: apoplectic, haruscipation, mescaline, eisbein, and lighour just to name a few. You will also learn about THE place to eat in the Mfuwe airport, haute cuisine d'Afrique, where Flamingo's get their wonderful color, the importance of life saving drugs developed by the now often villainized pharmaceutical industry, the model/inspiration for Bram Stoker's Dracula, the relationship between the average number of individuals with whom an animal can maintain social relationships and the ratio of cortical volume to the volume of the rest of the brain and most importantly, the relationship between the social structure of primates and the size of male testicals relative to their body weight. Its prose is a delight to read and is descriptive to the point of making you really believe, right down to the dust, sweat, sore buttockses, bugs, elephant dung, tall grass that rustles, African nighttime sky and sunsets, that you are actually riding with Dr. Williams in Africa. However, all of the above and the book's first 136 pages are nothing compared to the last two pages and a half pages of the book which I found to be incredibly riveting, informative and the best of any book that I have read in sometime.

Whether you have an interest in riding, horses and Africa or not, this book is a must read for anyone who as ever pondered the meaning of life or thirsted for adventures and challenges which can allow for greater self awareness and understanding.

Happy reading and riding!

Ted T. Ashburn
Boston, MA
May, 2006

Ian Williams work about riding in Africa shows deep insights into human nature, the beauty of Africa and horses as well as making you laugh at nearly every page. He has an eye for detail and a knack for writing. His love of language can clearly be seen on every page and the average reader (like me) will get educated beyond his wildest dreams by getting introduced to the myriad of expressions for a group of animals. After reading this book one even begins to understand why one spends a lot of money to be hot, dirty and sore for a long period of time every year.

Although I have only been on horseback twice in my life (and am unlikely to do so again) I thoroughly enjoyed this riding adventure in Africa. The author provides an intriguing look at Africa and portrays a harsh but exciting country. The people encountered sound more like characters from a novel and certainly add a colorfull picture to the journeys. I also enjoyed the personal insights that added a sense of humor as well as drama. Good entertainment for anyone who enjoys personal challenges.

I have often thought of going to Africa to ride (badly) but did not know if I could survive it. Now, I am certain I must go and that I have about a 50/50 chance of coming back. Ian Williams has given would-be adventurers a kick in the pants and a journey for the soul. Riding in Africa is a delight on many levels, particularly as an instruction manual for life. There are at least two recipes for martinis, one involving arranging a ray of sunlight through a bottle of vermouth such that the martini is only barely violated ("Immaculate Conception" we are told). In addition to this fundamental instruction, there are many learn-it-the-hard-way lessons for the serious rider, especially for steering around dangerous animals. Knowing nothing about black rhinos before reading this book, I am indelibly imprinted with images of retreat when considering a trip to the Lapalala Wilderness in South Africa. Yet if you read this book, you will likely conclude (as I have) that you must go. And in case you find yourself on foot more than planned, there are some important pointers on how not to lead a horse (and a whore for that matter). We meet so many wonderful characters: Dutch and German immigrants with risk running through their veins, rugged guides, and kind African nurses. Williams has us teetering back and forth between laughing and crying for fear of his death and imagining our own. Reading through his experience, we are called to realize our own, whether it is riding in Africa, surviving a near-death experience, or teetering on the edge of our next adventure.