Tembo Makaburi

By: John Isaac Jones

Narrated by: JD Kelly

Length: 1 hr and 2 mins

Publisher's summary

Tembo Makaburi, the Swahili term for “elephant cemetery,” is the stuff of which dreams are made for ivory hunters. This is the story of a greedy man's quest for riches and glory as he relentlessly pursues a bull elephant and his valuable ivory tusks across the vast expanse of the Serengeti plains. A chilling tale of greed and revenge!

©2017 John I. Jones (P)2017 John I. Jones

Tembo

This short story follows an elephant hunter and tracker.The old elephant leads them on a trip to a place of legend.JD Kelly was a fine narrator.The story was good.“I was voluntarily provided this free review copy audiobook by the author, narrator, or publisher.”

The Cost of Arrogance

It's 1968 and big game hunter Walter Cravens is pursuing a dying bull elephant across the Serengeti plains. Accompanied by his Masai native guide, Cravens stops at nothing in his pursuit of the elephant's ivory tusks. Even a dire warning from an old woman won't stop him from seeking the elephant's destination, Tembo Makaburi, the elephant graveyard.

Jones captured me again with this story about a man's greed and arrogance. In just a few paragraphs he sketched out the setting and placed me there, baking under the African sun. It's very well written, and as always, has the perfect twist of an ending. If you're hesitating about picking up the book because you're an animal lover or don't like to read about hunting, you'll be ok with this read. It had me googling elephants and their habits, and I love stories that make me want to read more about the subject.

The narration was perfect, the narrator has an English accent for the main story but also performs accents for the African porters and guide. He manages to ooze Craven's arrogance through every word, it was really well done. I requested a copy of the audiobook, and I'm voluntarily leaving a review.

Very short but good

I was given this free review copy audio book at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

Enjoyable hunter becomes the hunted story. Very short, but well written and narrated.

Short, but mostly sweet

A tale of arrogance and revenge. Though he's a bit cliche, the author does a good job bringing his arrogant protagonist to life and even fleshes out the sidekick in the process.

Going into this book, you can only expect one ending, but the author still managed to make it worthwhile (and even a bit "surprising" in that I expected it, but forgot!).

The narrator did an excellent job with the tone and accents.

My only gripe would be on the style of writing. Lots of repeated phrases and sentences that began with "Suddenly", "After a while", "Then, suddenly a sudden..." etc. I couldn't unhear it after a while and it got to be a bit distracting.

I received this audiobook for free in exchange for posting my honest review.

Turned tables in Man vs Beast

Set in the past, when ivory hunting was not illegal and big game hunting was something done commonly by adventurers, Tembo Makaburi follows a British ivory hunter and his local guide as they track a old bull elephant through the Savannah. While tracking the elephant they come along the mother load - an elephant cemetery, filled with ivory for the taking. But it may be they are not there by accident, and the bull elephant has led them to a trap.

John Isaac Jones has written another good short story. Well told and engaging the short story builds up the characters and the landscape well, with all being distinct and interesting. From the outset it is clear that the main ivory hunter is not the hero of the story and not someone to cheer for - there is the now despised ivory trade he engages in, but also his name Cravens invokes a sense of an unlikable and unheroic character. It's clear that it won't end in wealth and glory for him, but what his end will be, and just how that end is reached is the unknown that keeps your attention.

Narration by JD Kelly adds to the story. He provides a variety of voices for the characters that help carry the story. The main one being Cravens, which he gives a snotty, snobbish British accent - the exact sort of thing you would expect for a turn of the century adventurer in the ivory trade. It adds to the dislike and wishing for comeuppance that is built into the story.

JD Kelly is well paced and easy to follow. He does good work with this and I wouldn't hesitate to listen to his work again.

I was voluntarily provided this free review copy audiobook by the author, narrator, or publisher.

Greedy

This story is about greed but in an unexpected way. It starts out with an old woman warning Walter Cravens he would die if he enters the elephant graveyard but he and Abasi, his Masai native guide continue on as they track an old dying bull elephant. They ending was as expected but not the way I thought. This is a quick enjoyable listen. I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review. Thank You!

Tambi Makaburi

excellent audible. I enjoyed every word. the writing is fantastic.

the narrator brings the story to life.

I was provided a copy of this audible and am thrilled to give my honest unbiased review

Great Short Story

Hunting an elephant in the fabled elephant graveyard. Is there something supernatural about the graveyard or is the hunter becoming the hunted? Very nice short story that I would recommend to anyone who likes a good game of cat and mouse.

JD Kelly did a fantastic job. I was in the passenger seat the whole time and this was a great ride. Can't wait to hear more from him.

I was voluntarily provided this free review copy audiobook by the author, narrator, or publisher.

Want to know why greed doesn't pay?

If you're looking for a story that delivers the message that greed doesn't pay then you are in the right place, this book manages it without coming across as 'preachy'.

It was both fascinating and disturbing. Fascinating because it gives a glimpse for what life was like in another time and also shows a mindset that is so different from mine. Disturbing because the idea of eating elephant is just so very wrong by today's standards and because I'm against killing animals as a trophy sport.

The narration did a great job of conveying the tension in the story and the character voices were convincing.

I received a free copy of this book from the author and/or narrator and/or publisher in exchange for an honest review.

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Jungle Justice!

Another great short story by John Isaac Jones. In this one, we join a big game hunter as he stocks a giant bull elephant and contends between making good decisions and his lust for the prized elephant's tusks.

I was given this audio book freely in exchange for my unbiased review.