I’ve followed this reserve for years and have read each of Malby-Anthony’s books when they were published. This overlapped others, sharing many of the same or similar stories that I was already familiar with, but I didn’t mind because I’ve loved getting to know these gentle giants through her writing. The descriptiveness pits you right in the center of the park, surrounded by these animals, and your heart can’t help but fall in love with each of them, and break with each sad story. *Advance copy provided by the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

The Elephants of Thula Thula is a beautiful book, and easily one of my favorite reads of 2023. Somehow I missed Malby-Anthony's first book, An Elephant in My Kitchen, which I will definitely be picking up next.

In this book, Malby-Anthony has a story for many of their wildlife, from the majestic elephants to the naughty rhinoceros. By sharing different tales of her and her team's adventures at Thula Thula, she showcases their highs and lows, accomplishments and defeats; all that they have experienced over the years and how they were affected by the pandemic. Through it all, an overlying message of their immense dedication and bravery to keep these beloved endangered animals safe from humans. Poaching is still a serious and terrible tragedy in Africa, and I really appreciated the insight into what conservationists go through as they continue to fight it. The Elephants of Thula Thula also brings awareness to the difficulty in getting permits and the awful, backwards policies of those in charge.

I highly recommend this book to anyone with a love for animals and I sincerely hope it helps spread conservation awareness about these endangered species. I can only dream to one day visit a beautiful place like Thula Thula and see them for myself. Thank you to NetGalley and St.Martin's Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

If you haven’t read the author’s first book you need to read it post haste and then read this one.
I laughed heartily and mourned with the new stories Anthony has to share. I feel as if I know all the animals personally.
I’m glad the reserve survived 2020 and continues to expand.
I loved all the stories about the antics of the animals: Thabo’s misbehavior, the elephants stealing the bath water, and the mischievous monkey who pilfered a brand new iPhone.
My only regret is the digital copy didn’t include the pictures.

I had no idea when I requested to review this book that there were two prior books about the Thula Thula Game Reserve. I loved this book so much! I am definitely going to read the other two books!

The book isn't just about elephants. There are rhinos, monkeys, giraffes, a cheetah, even meerkats! But this book isn't just about the joys of witnessing these animals in the wild and running a game reserve that protects them. The game reserve has to deal with poachers, the pandemic, threats to their land, and a host of other concerns. This story relates the joy and the sorrows. I loved every word.

Readers who enjoy stories about wildlife, conservation and Africa will love this book. There were times I was elated or laughed, and times I wanted to cry while reading. It's a very real story about how the last 2 years made the preserve struggle and how they persevered through extreme circumstances.

Loved it!

**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from St Martin's Press. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**

Did you know that elephants are right or left tusked (loc. 265), the same way that humans are right or left handed? Mind. Blown.

This is Malby Anthony's second book about the Thula Thula game reserve and the animals on it, and I realized midway through that I actually have two of her late husband's books on my to-read list as well. (I very nearly paused to go read those first, but...there were holds at the library, and I'm not that patient.) I suspect that "An Elephant in My Kitchen" has somewhat more linear storytelling; "The Elephants of Thula Thula" feels a bit like catching up on the lives of distant relatives—the highlights of who's gotten engaged and who divorced, whose son is out of rehab and doing well, and who was caught in flagrante delicto with the neighbor's wife. Except, of course, in this case it's all animals.

When I think about conservation work, I usually think of preserving landscape to limit human encroachment on wild lands, and it's sad and at times shocking to read about the lengths that have to be taken to not only do that but also to deter poachers. Malby-Anthony describes, for example, dehorning the rhinos every 14 or so months—because otherwise the risk that poachers will kill the rhinos for their horns is too high. (I didn't know that rhino horns grow, or grow back—I guess I tend to think of them as something like elephant tusks, when in fact they're more akin to fingernails.) So while the stories sometimes feel a bit scattered, the close focus on animal rather than human drama makes for engrossing material, and there's a lot to learn. It makes me want to read more about elephants in particular (conveniently, "The Elephant Whisperer" is one of the books on my list).

Late in the book, Malby-Anthony mentions a letter that she received from a reader of her first book—someone who had dreamed of opening her own wildlife reserve but had, since reading the book, refined her vision to *visiting* a game reserve. That's close to where I land, too—I'm never going to run a wildlife reserve(!) and might well never visit one, but it's always a pleasure to step through the pages of a memoir into someone else's life for a while.

Thanks to the author and publisher for providing a review copy through NetGalley.

I loved the Francoise previous memoir, but the writing style was less compelling this time around. It felt more…clerical? And like the story was written in a rush. There were a few antidotes here and there (I genuinely enjoyed learning about Thabo and Ntombi), but mostly the book explained daily administrative work, repetitive shout outs to staff and supporters , with ultimately less on the ground wildlife experiences.

Regardless, I fully support the author and the strides she has made in expanding Thula Thula. This has been no easy task, and she was never meant to have the burden rest in her shoulders as it does. She is determined and has persevered through so many insurmountable obstacles the past few years.

She is an incredible person, as was the late Lawerence Anthony. People like them give me faith in humanity and faith in the continuation of these magnificent, endangered species.

The Elephants of Thula Thula by Françoise Malby-Anthony is hard-to-put-down. That is really saying something since this is a non-fiction book. I haven’t been back to Africa in seventeen years until reading this book. Then I was magically there again. Of course, the subject matter is captivating, but the writing is too. I simply loved this book.

I felt as if Françoise Malby-Anthony came into my home, sitting down then shared her life at Thula Thula with me. I could see the animals, the life of survival that goes on day after day and the community of people who also strive to survive. Frankie in the garden, baboons at the door, and the insurrection that destroy so much. However, like the animals the community stood together. I laughed, shook my head a time or two, and shed a tear along the way reading this book.

For an amazing look at South African game reserve life with animals and people I highly recommend The Elephants of Thula Thul. Take an armchair visit on the wild side. You won’t return the same.

An ARC of the book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley which I voluntarily chose to read and reviewed. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

A fascinating look at the ups and downs of operating a game reserve, especially during COVID. There is frank talk about the hardships of the red tape, trying to get the okay to add more animals & of the dangers of poaching. Then add on top of that, trying to operate and maintain during COVID shut down with no money coming in. There are laughs and smiles though as Françoise describes the animals and some of the situations. Everything is so well described, that it's easy to visualize what's going on.
I received an ACR copy through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.