Ernest Abernathy

Safari-safari: Chasing the Big Five in Botswana and Tanzania, Africa Ernest Abernathy

"Safari-Safari" is the story of Ernest Abernathy's ventures into Africa, where a realization came while dealing with a rhino that effectively led to his evolution from being a dedicated hunter into a life concentrating on the conservation of wildlife and retiring from hunting altogether at the ripe old age of forty. Before Africa, Ernest's hunting experiences were in North and South America, Central America, Alaska, and on the Arctic ice. His successes in these two African safaris include seven world record-class entries, including the forty-first largest lion ever recorded (listed in Rowland Ward's World Record Books in London) and an elephant whose size at twelve-foot and eight inches would qualify him as second behind the thirteen-foot and two-inch elephant ranked as number one at Rowland Ward. Jack O'Connor, former shooting editor of Outdoor Life magazine was very much an influence on Ernest's decision to venture on a Safari in Botswana, which led to other African experiences described in detail within this book. The ultimate story of this book, however, is not all about guns and shooting, but more about the not hunting, meaning the interesting details about the animals, environment, people, and cultures encountered. It's about how the author came from for a life of hunting, along with some interest in conservation, then he came to Africa, what happened there, and the events leading to the reversal of those interests and his retirement from hunting. For many years now the author has been active in various wildlife conservation groups and associations, including his favorite, Ducks Unlimited, where he has raised many tens of thousands of dollars. This book contains the tales of a true hunting safari in Botswana (formerly Bechuanaland) in the days before it became so well-known and popular, and a safari in Tanzania (formerly Tanganyika) where an opportunity with a rhinoceros led to a thoughtful conversion of Ernest to the conviction he should to retire from hunti