All Things Wild and Wonderful - Kobie Kruger

This sequel to Mahlengeni, by Kobie Kruger continues the true story of her family's adventures living in Kruger National Park, in South Africa. I actually read this book first and felt the story was complete in itself, not requiring Mahlengeni to be read first.

All things Wild and Wonderful, retells the events from 1991 onwards, when the family moved from their beloved Mahlengeni south to Crocodile Bridge and then to Pretorius Kop. For the author this was a traumatic episode as they left the largely deserted bush for a more populated area complete with neighbours and tourists. The shock at meeting strangers on the road, or being watched whilst out walking, took several months to absorb but she finally recognises the value that occasional visits with her neighbours can bring to their rather insular existence.

In this new home, where from her perspective, the sun is always setting in the wrong place, Kobie continues to foster many orphan animals, returning most of them successfully to the wild. However, when her ranger husband, Kobus brings home an orphan lion cub her role as foster parent takes on new meaning. Kobie and her three daughters' devotion to Leo, their 'Foundling Prince'; how he becomes part of the family, unaware that he is a royal beast, form a large part of this book. The way she explains the relationships between Leo and the dogs is fascinating.

Despite the park rules of not domesticating wild animals, the family realise that Leo will never be able to return to the wild and so start the difficult and painful process of finding a permanent home for him. Eventually, a suitable location is found in Pamuzinda, Zimbabwe and the story of transporting and settling him there, retains all the excitment of earlier chapters.

In common with Mahlengeni, All Things Wild and Wonderful is delightfully descriptive and draws the reader into the locations and circumstances being depicted. Each family member's story is told with passion: detailing their exploits along with accompanying physical pain or emotional heartache, but always with courageous spirit.

Delicate sketches of wildlife accompany the text and colour photos of Leo with various family members form the centre fold.

Well worth reading and enjoying!