Mahlangeni - Stories of a Game Ranger's Family, by Kobie Kruger

Mahlangeni, is the first of two books by Kobie Kruger, about her life in the Kruger National Park, with her game ranger, husband Kobus and three daughters, Hettie, Sandra and Karin.

Written in a delightful desciptive style, Mahlangeni, the name of an area in the northern expanses of the Kruger Park, which also means 'meeting place' in Tsonga, follows the first eleven years, from 1980 -1991, of the family's exploits and mishaps in that remote location, where two rivers meet.

Every chapter recounts the tale of encounters with wild animals and living things, large and small, of how they survived and the lessons they learnt through some hair-raising and hilarious episodes. Her obvious love of the bush and its constantly changing features with the seasons, provides a colourful backdrop for their many escapades, which are just part of existence in an untamed environment. Each story is told with vulnerability and wit, drawing the reader into the adventure also. she takes on the role of foster mother to numerous abandoned creatures and struggles to let them return to the wild, having embraced their adoption so completely.

During this time she also made a documentary film following the life of a troop of baboons, living nearby. This entailed her living alone in a caravan, carrying all her filming equipment on her shoulders and sitting for hours waiting for the perfect shot. But she was rewarded with unique footage of these captivating and mischievous primates, who eventually endeared her to themselves, believing she was one of them.

Kobie is sometimes daunted by the task of equipping her young daughters with adequate survival skills, needing to conquer her own fears in the process, but the outcome speaks for itself, as all of them overcome some amazing calamities, honing their endurance skills in the process.

Illustrations of many of the creatures, by Julie Davidson, complement and enhance the stories further. A recommended read for anyone who loves stories of natural history intertwined with family life.