Book review: Spirit of the wilderness

The book spans Paul’s numerous adventures from around South Africa and Mozambique to England, but centres on the three main areas of Zululand, Bazaruto and Gorongosa National Park. Paul is also a long-time resident of Salt Rock.

Paul’s adventure starts with him being imprisoned in the infamous Maputo jail in early 1980s in the middle of Mozambique civil war.

After this harrowing tale of solitary confinement and release, the book takes on a much lighter note and each chapter is easily read in a single sitting.

Each chapter leaves you wanting to find out more about the pioneering conservationists that Paul rubbed shoulders with, and became lifelong friends with, such as of Ian Player, Jim Feely, Hugh Dent and Nolly Zulumis.

He was also privileged to meet people like Alan Paton, Sir Lawrence van der Post and Samora Machel, with whom he had a cordial relationship despite his imprisonment in Maputo!

The main story is of the bond between Paul and his incredible flying machine, Spirit of the Wilderness, which is used, and abused, by Paul to further conservation and protection of the wildlife and wilderness that has been entrusted to him to steward.

The tales are sometimes hilarious and sometimes out and out dangerous, like not having enough fuel to finish a flight without coasting in the last couple of metres. The main theme is a serious one though, that if we do not look after what we have in the environment around us today, there will be nothing left for the next generations to enjoy.

This is evident in plastic pollution, which is becoming as big an issue as global warming is.

Ironically Paul’s first business is now the biggest plastic producer in the country!

We tend to forget the heritage of the conservationists that suffered and sacrificed to leave us with the inheritance that we have today, and this book is a poignant reminder of this as well as a record of what one man and his plane did to leave a legacy for the generations that will follow. All in all, a very exciting book, worth a read especially if you are into flying or conservation.

Ken Davidson

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One lucky reader stands a chance of winning a copy of “Spirit of the Wilderness”.

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