The Wilderness Family, by Kobie Kruger (Bantam Books)
The Kruger National Park is renowned worldwide for the splendour of its wildlife and the diversity of the terrain.
In 1980, Kobie and her husband Kobus, South African born and bred whose dream dream was to become game wardens there, were on their way to Mahlangeni, having sold their house in Johannesburg.
Their three daughters would have to be weekly boarders at school, and doctors would be miles away.
It was the price to pay for living with hippos in the river at the bottom of your garden and leopards patrolling your perimeter fence at night.
It wasn't all peace and harmony. There were hyenas, which stole almost anything, pythons that slithered in when the fancy took them and a terrible time when a lion attacked Kobus and almost killed him.
It took a move to Crocodile Bridge to find Leo, a lion cub which had been abandoned by his mother.
Kobie and her family become the cub's family. Their life and the upbringing of a lion cub make for a fascinating story.
Full of imagery and, set in a vibrant and magical countryside this is a great read.
Annie Dendy
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