24. The Lion Tracker's Guide To Life | Boyd Varty
This is my third re-read of this phenomenal little book, you can buy her right here.
Friends,
I grew up in South Africa and the name ‘Londolozi’ was a magical word for us. A game reserve that none of us locals could afford to stay at and was mentioned in conversations as “when I am rich, I’ll go stay at Londolozi for a month” 😆
I still don’t have enough money to stay at there, but this book makes up for that. Boyd grew up at Londolozi, his family started the reserve and so by default he’s had the childhood I longed for! Growing up in the wild, learning how to track the big five as a young kid and listening to native stories around campfires.
It was interesting to me to read about Boyd’s struggle with depression and how he channelled that into becoming a healer who gives inspirational talks around the world. This book is full of incredible stories and advice - it’s in my top 10 books of all time.
PS: If you’re not into books then this hilarious podcast interview will cover off the main parts of the book for you instead.
My highlights:
“We have forgotten that life holds a unique story for us all. A thread made up of faint signs that lead to the manifestation of something unique. What the native people call “your medicine way.” Something that only you can give to the world.”
“Coming from the South African bushveld, I felt pretty certain life did not need a coach. The unbroken stream of life that animates all things is supremely intelligent, and nothing in the wild needs a coach to help it discover what it truly is. If we had lost our way in the modern world—our sense of value, direction, and belonging—it was because we had lost contact with something more instinctual, more innate. All of this shuddered on its mooring in my own subconscious as the roar cut the night.”
“Before that day, I had always thought that I needed to be somebody in the world. That rhino and the path he walked told me something different: don’t try to be someone, rather find the thing that is so engaging that it makes you forget yourself.”
