Memoirs of a Real Crocodile Hunter
Tales from the River Banks of Africa
By Ian Bartlett - Professional Crocodile Hunter
In the shadowy rivers of southern Africa, where crocodiles strike without warning and entire villages live in fear, one man was licensed to face the threat head-on.
Memoirs of a Real Crocodile Hunter is a vivid and thrilling collection of real-life encounters from Ian Bartlett, a professional crocodile hunter who spent over a decade tracking and eliminating man-eaters across the African bush. These aren't stories for the faint-hearted-they're tales of instinct, precision, and split-second decisions where the stakes were often life or death.
What sets this book apart is not just the action, but the insight. Woven through these accounts are the early lessons that shaped Ian's character. Growing up in Africa, he learned to face fear with resolve, to think fast and move faster-qualities that would one day define him in the field. While not a personal autobiography, these glimpses into his formative years provide essential context for the courage and calm required in the face of apex predators.
Joined by his keen-eyed spotter Tilly and the unshakable crocodile gaffer Mfumu, Ian takes readers deep into the riverside world of man-eaters, myth, and survival.
What you'll find in these pages:
- Gripping, first-hand accounts of hunting dangerous crocodiles
- Insights into how courage and bushcraft are developed, not inherited
- Encounters steeped in local legend, spiritual warnings, and real danger
- Respectful reflections on African communities, culture, and wilderness
Told with professionalism, humility, and striking clarity, this memoir is both an adrenaline-fueled ride and a thoughtful tribute to the people and places that shaped a unique calling.