This book is fiction, but is based on real issues and places.

Poaching of endangered wildlife is an ever more critical issue in wildlife conservation. All over Africa, wildlife is being slaughtered for various reasons: some just to feed hungry people, elephants for their ivory, rhinos for their horns. Various solutions have been proposed, from harsher punishments for poachers to simply farming with the animals. I do not pretend to have a solution, and this book is an adventure story, not a political pamphlet, so I leave it to the reader to make up his or her own mind.

The game farm and private game reserve mentioned in the story are fictitious, but such private wilderness areas are common in South Africa, and are popular with tourists and hunters from all over the world.

The animals described are real animals found in the area where the book is set, and the tracking techniques described in Episode 4 are based on techniques used by real expert trackers.

This book is written in South African English, and readers from other countries may notice some words are spelled somewhat differently from what they are used to (e.g. 'behaviour' instead of 'behavior.') There are also some words that may be completely unfamiliar, and these are explained in the word list below for those readers who are interested. However, this story is supposed to be a fun adventure, so don't take it too seriously!

Word List

biltong - dried, salted and spiced meat, similar to American beef jerky.

bushbuck - a type of medium sized antelope.

duiker - a type of small antelope.

highveld - the higher lying, inland areas of South Africa; these have warm, wet summers and cool, dry winters with frosty nights. Also see lowveld.

kudu - a type of large antelope; the males have majestic, spiraled horns.

lapa - an outside structure similar to a gazebo, often with thatched roof, used for social gatherings and barbecues.

lowveld - the eastern, lower lying areas of South Africa; these have a subtropical climate with hot, wet summers and somewhat cooler, dry winters. Also see highveld.

marula tree - a type of large tree producing fruit popular with both humans and animals.

mopane bees - a type of small, stingless bee that is attracted to the moisture in people's eyes and mouth, as well as sweat. For this reason they are also known as sweat bees, and they can be very irritating.

paraffin - same thing as kerosene; a fuel for oil lamps.

rondavel - a Westernised version of an African-style hut, usually with a round or oval floor and thatched roof.