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| Product Description |
| For many big game hunters, curiosity itself is a reason to travel to unknown, remote locations. To survive and later tell about it is an even greater reward. All big game hunters share one thing in common: they will endure fear, discomfort, weariness, homesickness and even a remote chance of danger for that one, rare ecstatic moment when it all becomes worthwhile.
TANZANIA SAFARI records the story of one amazing individual who, after surviving Russian concentration camps, came to Africa. His hunting journeys are chronicled in such a manner that they are sure to be remembered and readers will learn, enjoy and benefi t from his adventures. And...they are exciting stories.
Robert De Pole is the pen name for the well known, respected Tanzania Professional Hunter, Robert Kotowicz. “To those who hunt” is how Bob began his fi rst big game hunting brochure back in the 1950s. So we shall similarly begin our promotional brochure for this book by saying: TANZANIA SAFARI is a book written “for those who hunt.”
Tanzania, formerly Tanganyika, one of today’s most popular hunting destinations, is a country where hunting clients have almost always been welcomed. The country is blessed with an abundance of trophy-sized game. For years, numerous professional hunters set up shop within her many game blocks. Books have been written on the variety of sport to be had throughout Tanzania’s shooting districts.
Bob DePole, after an almost incredibly depressing childhood spent in Russian concentration camps, found himself in Africa. In an earlier time he would have been a great explorer, for he seemed driven throughout his life to visit remote, almost inaccessible places, in search of big game, adventures and top quality trophies. He was also a natural-born leader and organizer, qualities valued by both professional hunters and clients.
Some men come to Africa to make a living; other men come to Africa to live it to the fullest. Bob came to Africa and started farming but, because of the seasonality of farm work, he made time to pursue his main interest, big game hunting—for big trophies in remote, formerly undiscovered regions. As his reputation as a hunter spread, it was only natural that he soon expanded into professional hunting. During the course of well over one hundred professional safaris conducted in Tanganyika/Tanzania during twenty-fi ve years he took a number of top quality trophies and had tremendous experiences. Bob was not only a man who managed to break free of the mold and Tanzania Safari to carve out a life given to few, he was also an individual capable of great observation and with an ability to write and record his experiences.
There are some hunting stories that one cannot believe for lack of evidence. Not so with Tanzania Safari. The style, like the man himself, is forthright and truthful and his stories come across as “the real thing.” More important, anyone with imagination, determination and a burning desire to constantly hunt for big game in new territories will wish to follow in the author’s footsteps. Sadly, the time has passed for many to be able to live the kind of life described in this book. It is reassuring to know that there are still men like Bob De Pole who, fortunately, were able do this sort of big game hunting, and second, who can write about it in such an engaging manner.
Every book takes on its own personality or has some feature that makes it stand out. In the case of Tanzania Safari several features make it rank head and shoulders above the rest. First are the excellent descriptions of various big game hunting regions, described more like a naturalist than a big game hunter. Bob presents each area in such detail that experienced hunters will recall where they have been and potential hunters are destined to use this as a guide to where they are going. In fact, there is so much relevant hunting information on the various areas that the publishers have put in an 12-page index of both people AND places.
Second, Bob has described in detail not only the hunting country but why he selected certain areas for certain clients or certain times of year for certain safaris. This is something noted briefl y in hunting company brochures, but the detail which Bob has given really makes this informative as well as interesting. He treats not only the diffi culty of terrain, availability and size of game, but size of the hunting party and how a PH tries to assess in advance the ability (physical and mental) of his client. The reader will “see” the animals on the pages long enough to remember them forever.
If you are not lucky enough to have an explorer-professional hunter for a father, uncle, or friend, then consider yourself lucky to have TANZANIA SAFARI by Bob De Pole to read and put on your bookshelf. |
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