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Cry of the Kalahari

By: Delia Owens,Mark Owens
Narrated by: Donna Postel,Sean Runnette
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Publisher's Summary

The incredible memoir by international bestselling author of Where The Crawdads Sing, Delia Owens and her then partner Mark Owens', charting their time researching wildlife in the Kalahari Desert.

Carrying little more than a change of clothes and a pair of binoculars, two young Americans, Mark and Delia Owens, caught a plane to Africa, bought a thirdhand Land Rover, and drove deep into the Kalahari Desert. There they lived for seven years, in an unexplored area with no roads, no people, and no source of water for thousands of square miles. In this vast wilderness the Owenses began their zoology research, working along animals that had never before been exposed to humans.

An international bestseller on original release, Cry of the Kalahari is the story of the Owenses's life with lions, brown hyenas, jackals, giraffes, and the many other creatures they came to know. It is also a gripping account of how they survived the dangers of living in one of the last and largest pristine areas on Earth.

©2021 Delia Owens and Mark Owens (P)2021 Hachette Audio UK

Critic Reviews

"A remarkable story beautifully told.... Among such classics as Goodall's In the Shadow of Man and Fossey's Gorillas in the Mist." (Chicago Tribune)

"One of the best testimonials to the perseverance, idealism and general spunk of passionate animal students." (Washington Post)

"For anyone interested in animals or in real life adventure, this book is a must." (Jane Goodall) 

What listeners say about Cry of the Kalahari

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Fascinating Insights on Kalahari Wildlife/Environs

For the sake of our planet and her animals (and impacts on humanity), still so well worth a listen. Love that the audio is provided by the couple who lived it. Nature is presented here in all of her glory and harshnes, alongside the extreme effects of human interference on wildlife over a few short years. A must -listen for those who care about the world we share, and not just with other humans.

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Essential reading for the Botswana Govt

Beautifully written and read, powerfully evocative, and heartbreakingly sad. I hope we evolve to a species in which most of us care about and act to protect this magnificent wildlife before many of them become extinct or are reduced to exhibits in zoos. Amazing effort by an inspiring couple.

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  • Jen
  • 06-10-2022

Loved it!

I felt like I got to know the 4 legged, friends & the feathered ones and of course Delia & Mark so well! There were times that must have been so tough for them. Beautifully written! Thank you ❤️

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Lost in the abundant desert

Narrators Sean and (superstar) Donna took me on an absorbing journey into Delia and Mark Owens' extraordinary experience of the Kalahari. Strongest in the Patches* talking about their fascination with brown hyenas, lions, hornbills, gemboks, and the dynamic Kalahari, D&M paint a vivid picture of true wilderness and unabashed curiosity. What an inspiration!

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Cry of the Kalahari books one and two

An absolutely riveting and amazing read.thoroughly enjoyed every minute even though at times very sad .
It must have been so hard for them not to interfere and just observe. Beautifully written.

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The Kalahari

This is a stunning and insightful look into the wild life and wilderness of the Kalahari... poignant and at times times so very sad everyone should read this book and take note... as humans we are destroying everything that makes out planet so special... thank to Delia and Mark Owens for sharing their knowledge and love of the desert ...

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loved your book

thank you for this marvellous insight into the heart of the Kalahari. it is inspiring

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Transportive

Delia and Mark are clearly earth warriors. They see the intricacies of their environment and the reader benefits. I was transported to the wild plains of Africa. I could feel the heat and hear the rhythmic sounds of the Kalahari nights. Such a pleasure to be taken on this journey!

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  • Dr. Graham C. Mair
  • 19-02-2023

loved it

a story of truly dedicated people and their experiences of life in the Kalahari. I once experienced meeting a pride of lions on the Kalahari in a totally isolated location far from the world I am familiar with. It was a truly special experience and for these two characters to have lived in this world for so long is amazing and I thoroughly enjoyed their stories but realised I would never had had the balls and committment to do what they did. The final chapters detailing the effects of human's encroachment into this environment and the lack action from authorities was deeply saddening.

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  • veyza
  • 29-04-2023

Foolhardy exploits in the Kalahari

Tales of foolhardy exploits and behavioral ecology with beautiful descriptions of the wilderness. The pronunciation of words is mangled in a few places. One lovers of African wildlife.

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  • Michael Ward
  • 10-06-2023

Exceptional book.Not a romanticised view of Africa .Exceptional people doing high level scientific research,but amusing .

I would recommend this to most listeners but for the squeamish or people that don't want to listen to the reality of African wildlife .it is a good read on many levels ,from detailed scientific research to a love storey .

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  • Lucy Pickford
  • 04-09-2022

an Africa long gone but so beautiful

I adored this story! The wilderness of Africa and its animals brought to life so vividly. Shame the narrators did not know how to pronounce many of the African words or names of animals (like gemsbok!). Heartbreaking to think this Africa no longer exists due to man's abuse of the land.

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  • Patsy
  • 19-08-2022

Wonderful story of wild & Botswana’s past

A gripping book giving a superb insight to the wildlife past of Botswana. Mark & Delia’s dedication to conservation is incredible and wonderful. An amazing & touching book,

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  • Di Crawford
  • 15-07-2022

Fantastic!

I cannot commend this book more highly.It gives a truly memorable and detailed account of two committed and daring ecologists time in the Kalahari desert.Their practises and following on from that ,relationship with the animals they studied was awe inspiring.When listening to the book I was transported to a wild place e and felt as if I was really there. The book gave a superb overview of the nature of the Kalhari but also the effect of man' s interference. It was very uplifting and and one or two occasions unbelievably sad but always completely engaging. Thank you Mark and Delia for your commitment and love of nature

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  • Sonia
  • 07-07-2022

Amazing story & fantastic insight into a wildlife

Well done Mark and Delia, you both have done a wonderful job. What an amazing experience.

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  • H. Swann
  • 06-07-2022

One of The Best Books I've Read

This book is both exhilarating and heartbreaking- the nature of life, I guess. A beautifully written and engaging story. I particularly loved the male narrator's voice. Thank so much to Delia and Mark for their incredible courage and steely determination for doing single handedly in gruelling circumstances what those in power should have been doing to safeguard the precious creatures who have a right to their space on this planet. You are both pure inspiration xox

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  • Linda Byrne
  • 19-05-2022

Takes you back to a moment in time

I really enjoyed listening to this book and being swept away to Africa. The story is so unique and its a nature lovers dream. I got attached to the animals they were monitoring on their quest and became invested in their well being.

I do think that an update on the project could be included at the end of the book, letting listeners know how it turned out and the current state of the Kalahari.

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  • Sophie Small
  • 30-10-2023

Wonderful book, surprising and enlightening

Everyone should read this wonderful book, especially those who could make a difference to the world of conservation of wildlife in Africa.

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  • Anonymous User
  • 13-09-2022

Uncomfortable

Lots of this book made me really uncomfortable. I loved where the crawdads sing, but they way the couple talk about local/ native people has aged really badly. Its very entitled

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