Secrets of the Savanna: Twenty-Three Years in the African Wilderness Unraveling the Mysteries Ofelephants and People

by Delia Owens and Mark Owens

Book Overview

"Vividly written...Their story is thrilling--the kind of tale that wild-animal lovers won't easily forget."--PeopleIn this riveting real-life adventure, Mark and Delia Owens tell the dramatic story of... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0618872507
• ISBN13: 9780618872503
• Release Date: July 2007
• Publisher: Mariner Books
• Length: 230 Pages
• Weight: 0.65 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.6" x 8.2"

Customer Reviews

Unforgettable

This poignant story of a remarkable and complex struggle in one of the darkest corners of Africa brings light to our shaken world. Mark and Delia Owens have developed a revolutionary and enlightened economic system which uplifts the local population and preserves wildlife. Devoted to conservation, the Owens survived threats to their lives and overcome ruthless corruption. Working within unfamiliar cultures, they successfully helped elephants, lions, and other native animals recover and fluorish. The lion-hearted Mark and doe-eyed Delia bring hope to us all. For anyone interested in Africa or wildlife, this is a must-read. Every student of economics should read this book in order to see there is another way of running the world!

They've Done It Again!

This eloquently written book combined interesting insights into the authors' lives and work in Zambia, along with their compelling message. A special treat was learning how they were shaped by their childhood experiences. Their passion for wilderness and its inhabitants is absolutely inspirational.

Every one should read this book.

This book is the ultimate combination of a biography of two amazing wildlife conservationists, who raise the standard of living of the local African native people and a guide to endangered species preservation everywhere. The book reads like an adventure story with the added feature of the splendid work done in habitat & wildlife protection. it quickly becomes a page turner.

Transforming Africa

This is the thrilling story of how an American couple transformed a Zambian wilderness where 100,000 elephants had been slaughtered into a haven of hope. While putting their lives on the line to chase out the poachers, Mark and Delia Owens helped the villagers build alternative sources of livelihood, schools and health clinics. The book also explains how poaching had so unraveled elephant society that young aggressive males began forming gangs, and surviving females became adolescent single moms. Yes, the elephants' sisterhood and parenting adaptations supply an instructive model for us higher (if shorter) mammals in urban America. Updating their best-selling 'Cry of the Kalahari' and 'The Eye of the Elephant,' 'Secrets of the Savanna' is a compelling culmination of the Owenses' heroic 23-year mission in Africa. It's an absolute must-read for both supporters of conservation and adventure-minded travelers.

Uplifting, exciting - a must read

I have just finished Secrets of the Savanna - a most worthy sequel to The Eye of the Elephant and Cry of the Kalahari and I am starting it again. I feel I have been on safari to North Luangwa in Zambia - living with the people and the elephants. Delia and Mark Owens write beautifully and their work to save the elephants by saving the people moved me to tears and shouts of joy. I was amazed to learn how the elephants are rebuilding their society after the heavy poaching of the 70's and 80's. The parallels between human and animal behavior are thought provoking. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves nature and wants to find a way for humanity to prosper along side of wildlife.