African Dawn

By: Tony Park

Narrated by: Richard Aspel

Length: 19 hrs and 50 mins

Publisher's Summary

In the broken country that is Zimbabwe, only the strongest can survive. Three families - the Bryants, the Quilter-Phipps, and the Ngwenyas - share a history as complex and bloody as the country itself. Dedicated conservationists Paul and Philippa Bryant face an enormous struggle: to save their farm and small herd of endangered black rhinos from corrupt government minister Emmerson Ngwenya. Twin brothers, ex-soldier Braedan and environmentalist Tate Quilter-Phipps join the fight.

But the brothers’ own history is fraught, and when they fall in love with the same woman, Natalie Bryant, their rivalry threatens to not only derail the attempt to save the rhinos, but also puts the lives of all involved at risk. And with Emmerson vowing to stop at nothing until he has control of the farm, a bloody showdown seems inevitable.

With blood feuds still to settle, every one of these players will be drawn into the fray, and not one will remain unscathed.

©2011 Tony Park (P)2011 Bolinda Publishing Pty Ltd

Critic Reviews

“Thriller writer Tony Park can be best described as an Aussie cross between Wilbur Smith and Tom Clancy.” ( The Independent Weekly)

Just OK

This is the forth Tony Park that I have listened to. I did enjoy the book but not as much as the others. This story was a bit to gruesome for me I almost stopped after the first part of the book. The narrator did a great job which helped me keep listening. Some people will love this book my friend read the book and she loved it.

A great story let down by the narrator

This is one of those ripping yarns which has been well researched by the author and which tells a gripping story.

The whole thing was totally ruined for me by the narrator's complete lack of research into pronunciation of common words used in the region. There are far too many mangled words to list them all but a few outstanding ones include Specky Avenue for Speke (speak) Avenue, Showna for the people of Mashonaland (short O as in got, gonna), and worst of all Sealer Scouts for Selous (Seloo) Scouts.

With modern access to information via internet search engines and blogs these days there is simply no excuse for a professional actor to get so many words so wrong. There are thousands of us expat Zimbabweans in forums and mailing lists around on the net who would have loved to assist him to get them right.

The accents are a different matter and he managed to convey the different characters adequately if not correctly, but that is forgiveable - the various accents are not easy.

Edge of your seat story !

As usual very well researched and a well written history of Rhodesia, some of which I didn't actually know... plus naturally all the added action, excitement and intrigue thrown in.

Still though my only complaint is the pronunciation of local words, one ends up shouting corrections at the narrator. they really, really should have a South African to help out... lol

Black Rhino

All Tony Park’s books was introduced to me by my lovely friend from Australia 🇦🇺.
This African Dawn story was romantic, full of action, drama and tragedy.
I enjoyed it immensely and I got few more books by the same author to go through.

Brought back memories

Where does African Dawn rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

It is one of the best books I have listened to, although fiction it could well of happened, Events and situations are easy to relate to if you lived there during the period covered.

What did you like best about this story?

The first half, so much was the same as my growing up in Rhodesia, High school army etc.
The second half in many ways made me feel I made the right decision to leave Zimbabwe in 93 with my young family.

Which scene did you most enjoy?

The scene in Club Tomorrow (clubbies). Was the fish tank after it changed to Arckies though. Doesn't matter, bought back my youth and the taste of clubbies Steak rolls

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

If I didn't need to eat sleep or work then yes

Any additional comments?

Bought back memories, sayings and comments, and why we stayed and left the country.

Only complaint was the occasional pronunciation Selous, ter, Lomagundi and couple of others, but the message was still put across.