Shadows of the herd: A Battle for Africa’s Last Giants

By Chris Arnold

Meet Christopher Arnold - Safari Veteran, Storyteller, and Sentinel of the Wild
A Scotsman by birth and an African at heart, Chris is a master safari guide with 35 years under his belt, having led over 25,000 clients-including National Geographic teams-through the wild heart of Africa. He's not just a guide; he's a guardian of the continent's most majestic creatures and a fierce advocate for its survival.
Now turning the grit and grandeur of real bushveld encounters into gripping fiction, Chris is crafting a novel series as vivid and grounded as the savannah itself. His protagonist, Jacques Cilliers-a battle-scarred Recce turned conservationist pilot-is a mirror of the values Chris lives by: courage, integrity, and unshakable loyalty to Africa's land, people, and animals.
With a deep reverence for history (both French Huguenot and African), a collector's eye for Cape Winelands reds, and a nose for truth in storytelling, Chris is blending fact and fiction to spotlight the fight against poaching-one novel at a time.

Overview: A gripping, fact-rooted adventure novel set in the heart of southern Africa, Shadows of the Herd follows ex-SANDF Recce Jaque Cilliers as he guides seven American tourists on a private air safari - only to uncover a deadly ivory smuggling operation with international roots. When one of the tourists, Emma, reveals she's a former CIA operative working off-grid to expose the trade, the stakes rise sharply. What begins as a luxury wildlife experience becomes a fight for justice, survival, and redemption in the unforgiving bush.
Unique Selling Points: Authored by a real-life veteran safari guide with 35 years of experience (including for National Geographic)Deeply authentic portrayal of bushveld life, animal behaviour, and conservation politicsIntroduces a strong, intelligent female lead and a morally complex male protagonistTimely themes: wildlife trafficking, corruption, foreign exploitation of Africa's resourcesSeries Potential: Shadows of the Herd is the first in a planned series. Book Two will follow Jacques and Emma as their relationship deepens and they confront new threats in the central African forests, including rhino horn syndicates and eco-tourism corruption.
Comparable Titles: The Elephant Whisperer by Lawrence Anthony (non-fiction tone)The Constant Gardener by John le Carr (tone and global stakes)The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver (setting and atmosphere)Target Audience: Readers who enjoy eco-thrillers, real-world stakes, and complex characters - including fans of Wilbur Smith, Michael Crichton, and Paula McLain.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: B0FLVT22G4
• ISBN13: 9798296949837
• Release Date: August 2025
• Publisher: Independently published
• Length: 246 Pages
• Weight: 0.65 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.5" x 0.6" x 5.5"