courtesy
north
carolina
southern
historical
collection,
unc
–
chapel
hill
RUARK
ON
SAFARI
S P O R T I N G C L A S S I C S
1 1 9
Robert Ruark and his longtime personal
secretary share their impressions of the
African dream . . . the campfires, the
thrilling encounters with dangerous
game, the unbelievable beauty of this
untamed wilderness.
By Alan Ritchie
ven before I really knew who
Robert Ruark was, my first
conversation with him involved a lengthy
description of his intention to write a book on the
Mau Mau in Kenya. He was full of this project and he
was also full of Africa in general. At this
time he told me something of his safari
experiences, and subsequently, I realized that
in Bob a vital feeling for the vast African continent was
always present. Before long, he converted my thinking
into a longing to visit Kenya and go on safari. Bob gave
me this opportunity in 1961, by which time I presume he
felt I was qualified to accompany him after having been
involved in all his Africa writing for so many years.
As we were putting the finishing touches to the second
E
southport
art
museum
