A Book Review of Zulu Wilderness Shadow and Soul
Book Review
Zulu Wilderness: Shadow and Soul by Dr. Ian Player
Question 1 Dr. Ian Player’s memoir, Zulu Wilderness: Shadow and Soul, is a magnificent account of one man’s development from the unsatisfied job-hopping of his young adulthood to the emerging importance of an international conservationist. Among other titles, Player receives the distinction of an activist and educator through many unique attempts to gain support for protected game reserves in South Africa throughout the mid to late 20th century. Player received his education at St. John’s College in Johannesburg, which distinctly separated him from eventual lifelong friend Magqubu Ntombela in terms of their understanding of the Zulu wilderness. The recollection begins as Player arrives back home after serving for the 6th South African Armoured Division at the end of WWII, in the beginning of Apartheid. Shortly after, he began a canoe journey through rivers of “The Valley of a Thousand Hills” in Zululand where he would later create the Dusi Canoe Marathon and Natal Canoe Club. These events were vital in Player’s attempt to inspire compassion for the wilderness in detached civilians of the area. Finding inspiration from his journey, he got a job on the Game and Fish Preservation Board under the leadership of Colonel Jack Vincent and the Natal Parks Board. It wasn’t soon after when Player was promoted to Senior Ranger and then Senior Warden of the Mfolozi Game Reserve where he would lead two astounding steps towards ecological conservation in the country. He was further promoted to Chief Conservator of Zululand before attaining his final position as Chief Nature Conservator for Natal and Zululand under the Natal Parks Board. After his tenure with the board, Player’s role as activist went international, marked prestigiously with his founding of the Wilderness Leadership School and many other organizations ensuring ecological conservation for areas across the world. The memoir takes its setting throughout
Zulu Wilderness: Shadow and Soul by Dr. Ian Player
Question 1 Dr. Ian Player’s memoir, Zulu Wilderness: Shadow and Soul, is a magnificent account of one man’s development from the unsatisfied job-hopping of his young adulthood to the emerging importance of an international conservationist. Among other titles, Player receives the distinction of an activist and educator through many unique attempts to gain support for protected game reserves in South Africa throughout the mid to late 20th century. Player received his education at St. John’s College in Johannesburg, which distinctly separated him from eventual lifelong friend Magqubu Ntombela in terms of their understanding of the Zulu wilderness. The recollection begins as Player arrives back home after serving for the 6th South African Armoured Division at the end of WWII, in the beginning of Apartheid. Shortly after, he began a canoe journey through rivers of “The Valley of a Thousand Hills” in Zululand where he would later create the Dusi Canoe Marathon and Natal Canoe Club. These events were vital in Player’s attempt to inspire compassion for the wilderness in detached civilians of the area. Finding inspiration from his journey, he got a job on the Game and Fish Preservation Board under the leadership of Colonel Jack Vincent and the Natal Parks Board. It wasn’t soon after when Player was promoted to Senior Ranger and then Senior Warden of the Mfolozi Game Reserve where he would lead two astounding steps towards ecological conservation in the country. He was further promoted to Chief Conservator of Zululand before attaining his final position as Chief Nature Conservator for Natal and Zululand under the Natal Parks Board. After his tenure with the board, Player’s role as activist went international, marked prestigiously with his founding of the Wilderness Leadership School and many other organizations ensuring ecological conservation for areas across the world. The memoir takes its setting throughout