Amazon.com: Whatever You Do, Don't Run: True Tales of a Botswana Safari Guide: Peter Allison: Books

From Publishers Weekly
At age 19, Australian-born Allison headed to Africa for challenge and adventure, planning to stay no more than a year; having found work as a safari guide, he's still there some 13 years later. In this fun, fearless memoir, Allison shares his experiences taking "guests" through the African wilderness, trips that often don't go quite as planned-due especially to the unpredictability of the animals around them. Allison is a skilled, funny and vibrant storyteller, dishing arcane bits of wisdom like an expatriate Alligator Hunter: "I understand a little bit of monkey language, and 'kwe' is a sound I listened for. It was an alarm... full blown monkey conniptions were reserved for leopards." A hilarious chapter recounting a troubled thousand mile trek through the Kalahari Desert finds Allison trying to wave down a passing truck in the middle of the night: "I realized that the driver would have seen what looked like a very animated sage bush with pasty white hands growing from it... he'd probably go straight to a witch doctor... and ask if there was a curse on him." Along the way, Allison examines his fellow guides, the struggle with exhaustion, getting lost and the temptation to make frequently visiting animals into pets, as well as some poignant asides on love and death.
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From the Back Cover

Whatever You Do, Don’t Run is a hilarious collection of true tales from top safari guide Peter Allison. In a place where the wrong behavior could get you eaten, Allison has survived face-to-face encounters with big cats, angry elephants, and the world’s most unpredictable animals—herds of untamed tourists and foolhardy guides whose outrageous antics sometimes make them even more dangerous than a pride of hungry lions!

Join Allison as he faces down charging lions—twice; searches for a drunk, half-naked tourist who happens to be a member of the British royal family; drives a Land Rover full of tourists into a lagoon full of hippos; and adopts the most vicious animal in Africa as his “pet.” Full of lively humor and a genuine love and respect for Botswana and its rich wildlife, Whatever You Do, Don’t Run takes you to where the wild things are and introduces you to a place where every day is a new adventure!

In 1994 Peter Allison set off for a year-long stay in Africa. More than a dozen years and hundreds of adventures later, he’s still leading safaris and collecting stories. Allison’s safaris have been featured in National Geographic, Condé Nast Traveler, and on television programs such as Jack Hanna’s Animal Adventures.

Product Details

Paperback: 264 pages
Publisher: The Lyons Press; 1st edition (October 1, 2007)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0762745657
ISBN-13: 978-0762745654
Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.3 x 1 inches
Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)

Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (52 customer reviews)

Amazon.com Sales Rank: #5,855 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)
Popular in these categories: (What's this?)
#2 in Books > Travel > Africa > Botswana
#25 in Books > Travel > Reference & Tips > Essays & Travelogues

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Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!

Inside This Book (learn more)

Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
bird nerds, mock charge, safari guides

Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Peter Allison, Land Rover, South Africa, The Drowning, The Great Mouse Plague, Bush Camp, Okavango Delta, Old Trails Hippo Pools, Guide Dies, Boro River, Northern Botswana, Bad Actors, Mona Lisa, Love Story, The Chase, Mombo Camp, Honey Badger

Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!

What Do Customers Ultimately Buy After Viewing This Item?

	85% buy the item featured on this page: Whatever You Do, Don't Run: True Tales of a Botswana Safari Guide 4.8 out of 5 stars (52) $11.53
	5% buy When a Crocodile Eats the Sun: A Memoir of Africa 4.8 out of 5 stars (61) $9.74
	4% buy The Safari Companion: A Guide to Watching African Mammals Including Hoofed Mammals, Carnivores, and Primates 4.5 out of 5 stars (26) $19.80
	3% buy National Audubon Society Field Guide to African Wildlife 4.7 out of 5 stars (24) $16.29

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Customer Reviews

52 Reviews

5 star:		(41)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

Average Customer Review

4.8 out of 5 stars (52 customer reviews)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars If you feel like laughing, October 1, 2007

By	Love to learn "Lisa" (New York) - See all my reviews

Mr. Allison's, WHATEVER YOU DO, DON'T RUN is filled with hilariously funny sometimes irreverent stories about his experiences as a safari guide in Botswana. The title is what drew me to his book, only food runs! You can't put it down, it is laugh out loud funny and you don't want it to end. Please write more! I can't wait for your next installment.

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13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good, quick read. Enjoyed it a lot., November 4, 2007

By	Chris Baldwin (Cleveland, Ohio) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

While I haven't been on safari, I'm guessing that this book should be required reading for anyone who is able to make the trip. Peter Allison's book was a nice, quick read filled with lots of great stories about his experiences. All in all, I would recommend this book highly. Several stories made me laugh out loud.

Enjoy.

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12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars nearly late for work!, October 7, 2007

By	Jim Hughes - See all my reviews

I was a bit hesitant about this book at first because of the very different style. Not in-your-face, nor condescending, not pretensious. Peter Allison is very funny and refreshingly self effacing. Humble, to use an old fashioned word.

But it was the adventure, the outrageous tourists, and the really unexpected turns of events that had me up way past midnight on a working day. So I was a bit out of it with clients. It was worth it!

Superb!

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› See all 52 customer reviews...

Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars As real as it gets
Just returned from my second and my wife's third safari to Botswana and are already planning the next one. We read the book on her Kindle and I am ordering the hard copy now. Read more

Published 2 days ago by J. Piwetz

5.0 out of 5 stars Any fan of wildlife or travel who wants a fun set of stories must have this
Hilarious true stories from the bush come from safari guide and author Peter Allison who has survived many encounters with large, angry animals in his lifetimes - from charging... Read more

Published 6 days ago by Midwest Book Review

5.0 out of 5 stars If you ever worked in the service industry you'll get it
Great book, great stories, likable guy and likable writer. A good read, worth buying.

Published 6 days ago by adp113

5.0 out of 5 stars For those who loves Africa and its wildlife
This is definitely one of the books I will treasure greatly. It was light, funny and at times emotional. Read more

Published 7 days ago by Michelle Ng Wei Li

5.0 out of 5 stars Bush Stories Galore
I bought one other book by a S. African guide and I think this one is a little better. It's funny with self-deprecating humor and a page turner. Read more

Published 1 month ago by G. Hirsch

5.0 out of 5 stars WHAT EVER YOU DO , DON'T RUN
I loved this book. I have been on safari twice and I could see this book in action. I just could not put it down. I would have loved having Peter for my safari guide!

Published 1 month ago by Joyce Nott

5.0 out of 5 stars Behind the scenes on an African Safari
Allison gives an honest and hilarious look at the non scheduled adventures that can happen in the bush. Read more

Published 1 month ago by Constance P. Kippax

5.0 out of 5 stars A GREAT READ!!!
I laughed so hard I cried!!! I didn't want this book to end. I hope Peter Allison shares more of his delightful stories in a follow up.

Published 3 months ago by Audrey F. Roberts

5.0 out of 5 stars Very Good Book, You won't be bored
This is a very interesting book and well written. I laughed out loud a couple of times. This guy's a good writer. Read more

Published 3 months ago by Dee from Brighton, MI

5.0 out of 5 stars Loved it!
I loved this book. Having been on a photo safari years ago in Kenya and Tanzania, it was fascinating to see what safari life is like on the other side of the camp where people... Read more

Published 3 months ago by J. Chambers

› See all 52 customer reviews...

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