Whatever You Do, Don't Run

True Tales of a Botswana Safari Guide

By: Peter Allison

Narrated by: Antony Ferguson

Length: 6 hrs and 45 mins

Publisher's summary

Whatever You Do, Don't Run is a hilarious collection of true tales from top ­safari guide Peter Allison. In a place where the wrong behavior could get you eaten, Allison has survived face-to-face encounters with big cats, angry ­elephants, and the world's most unpredictable animals: herds of untamed tourists and foolhardy guides whose outrageous antics sometimes make them even more dangerous than a pride of hungry lions!

Join Allison as he faces down charging lions (twice); searches for a drunk, half-naked tourist who happens to be a member of the British royal family; drives a Land Rover full of tourists into a lagoon full of hippos; and adopts the most ­vicious animal in Africa as his "pet". Full of lively humor and a genuine love and respect for Botswana and its rich wildlife, Whatever You Do, Don't Run takes you to where the wild things are and introduces you to a place where every day is a new adventure!

©2007 Peter Allison (P)2012 Tantor

Critic reviews

"Allison's infectious enthusiasm for both the African bush and his job showing its wonders to tourists is readily apparent, making for a fast and very entertaining read." ( Booklist)

Great accounts of a true-life safari guide in Bots

Extremely well-done adventures of a safari guide: animated, humorous, scary, and captivating! Kept my attention throughout.

Love Africa, it's wildlife and many cultures .

Totally enjoyed "WHATEVER YOU DO -- DON'T RUN!" I spent the past five years faithfully watching a live YouTube program called "Safari Live" daily and have developed a deep and growing respect and fascination for all the wildlife and cultures on the continent . Their guides started and fostered my growing interest but at 67 yrs and certainty not wealthy I'm sure I will never be fortunate enough to travel there to see first hand even a small part of this vast continent . So turning to books such as this is a nice substitute . Many of the writer's experiences are similar to those the guides on my program have experienced and some were live & on screen while others were recited from their vast experiences. If you have similar interests I am sure you will enjoy this book/audiobook just as I have. I can't wait to start the second one!!

Felt like I was transported to the African bush

Fun stories of you've not been on a safari yet and especially if you have!

Fantastic, fun listen

I agree with another reviewer that I wasn’t a fan of the narrator’s style. It reminded me of an Obama parody but in an Australian accent.

Having said that, the book was so much fun. A great commute listen. This one especially works as an audible because the stories are short essays really and the imagery that the author writes works great even when listening, as opposed to reading. His dry humor was right up my alley and I laughed out loud more than a few times.

I found myself looking up the Okavango Delta to get real pictures of the place and it matched the feel of the book perfectly. I especially appreciated his short but relevant addition of the creation of the post-colonial Botswana. I’m adding the Okavango to my bucket list because of this book.

Great Stories

Love the stories, very interesting. and the narrator was great too. Made for a fun listen.

Finished this book in one session

I simply couldn’t put this down! I started it early morning and by nightfall it was done and I wanted more! Having been to Botswana, it brought back so many wonderful memories and I found myself laughing out loud quite a few times.

Drivers May Laugh Too Hard to Drive!

Where does Whatever You Do, Don't Run rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

I've listened to hundreds! This ranks as about an 8.5.

What other book might you compare Whatever You Do, Don't Run to and why?

I don't read non-fiction, but I'd rename this: Adventures of Han Solo on Safari

Which character – as performed by Antony Ferguson – was your favorite?

Peter Alison...I'd love to have him as a guide. He's funny!

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The birth of the baby elephant actually brought tears to my eyes. He did such a good job describing the incredible beauty of that moment

Any additional comments?

I'm not a non-fiction reader, but this book kept me hooked. I played it in my car wherever I went, and I'd find myself sitting in parking lots just so I could hear what happened when Peter got charged by a lioness! This is a great listen for driving around doing errands. It's a series of short, self-contained tales, the verbal equivalent of a safari through Peter Alison's life as a guide. Very well done!

Worth the credit

What a great job to have. I liked how the guides respected the animals. I would love to know more about Mr. Allison's adventures or have him as my guide on an African safari.

For anyone who wants to go on Safari

I loved this book often humorous and definitely interesting. A dream for me is to go to Africa and experience a safari. Great stories.

So good, feels like coming back from a Safari

A wonderful book narrated equally well. hilarious even at his own expense at times, Peter has captured just the right detail that builds the moment and still keeps the pace going. Can someone please make a movie out of it!