THE THIRTEENTH GUEST

A RIVETING AND HILLARIOUS ANTHOLOGY
OF BUSHVELD EXPERIENCES

Author - ROD BEAUMONT

The 13th Guest was published in late 2022. The book has been receiving great reviews from Amazon readers.
Below is a selection of the reviews from Amazon
See the reviews for yourself on Amazon here.

Please leave your own Amazon review of The 13th Guest here.

From the United States:-

Artemis7

A funny (yet serious) account of one family's life in the bush - worth reading!
Reviewed in the United States on November 23, 2022
Rod Beaumont's funny and engrossing book recounts a time in the South African bushveld that is long gone, sadly replaced by today's canned safari lodges and luxury camps that cannot come close the authenticity of the bush life that Rod and four generations of his family have experienced. His family's 100-year legacy in the bush - making them one of the oldest conservation families in South Africa - is told in a series of witty, poignant and sometimes cheeky short stories. This book is well researched, absorbing and fun to read. It also amply demonstrates one family's unparalleled and persistent commitment to protecting and preserving South Africa's remaining wilderness areas from not just political upheaval in South Africa and neighboring Mozambique in the 1970s, but also the relentless 21st century drive to commercialize and exploit wildlife for profit - all at the expense of nature and these once pristine wilderness areas. Rod Beaumont deserves accolades for recording a better time, when humans lived in greater harmony with wildlife, all seen through the eyes of a family that has had experiences few will ever have.

Bruce SA

A worthwhile read
Reviewed in the United States on November 21, 2022
A tale told with an unquenchable twinkle in the eye. Even those who haven't had the good fortune to experience the South African bush will be absorbed and enchanted by this well-written, humorous and balanced look at a shrinking - and in places vanishing - ecosphere.
The author weaves anecdotes, mostly humorous, into the history of twentieth century man's encounters with the untamable yet increasingly fragile wild environment. His first hand tales, so amusing to read, also vividly catalogue the huge environmental changes caused by these encounters, most recently through greedy and often thoughtless commercialisation. He highlights the increasing necessity for twenty-first century man to work in harmony with nature. The trick is a) to understand what nature is saying and b )to get humans to work together in harmony! This entertaining book describes his efforts to this end.

Keith and Gene

Guests in the Bushveld
Reviewed in the United States on November 20, 2022
For many of us who have lived in Southern Africa, as well as those who have visited from abroad, a stay in the Bushveld is always a special experience.

Apart from the exciting anticipation of seeing the Big Five and other animals in their natural habitat, there is an intangible 'something' that many people experience as soon as they arrive in the Bushveld environment.

People have remarked that, as soon as they find themselves immersed in the nuanced concoction of the Bushveld's sounds, colours, smells and textures, they not only feel more alive and alert but, somewhat surprisingly, also relaxed; with an almost uncanny sensation of 'being at home'.

And, for the Beaumont family, their farm alongside the world-famous Kruger National Park is indeed home. Moreover, the children of that family are amongst the privileged few of us who, while spending a significant part of our formative years in unspoiled parts of the Bushveld, still had the 'benefit' of big city life and a top-class education.

In 'The Thirteenth Guest' Rod Beaumont, while describing the history of his family's century-long experiences on a farm that his grandfather bought in the early 1900s, gives an insightful account of the ecological and other challenges facing this part of South Africa.

Running through the central narrative of hilarious anecdotes and hair-raising incidents that the family, staff, guests and animals experienced over the years is the powerful thread of the Beaumont family's determination to understand the ecology of their piece of paradise in order to maintain it in as pristine a state as possible.

Rod's dedication to the environment, sense of humour and an engineer's eye for detail have resulted in an extremely enjoyable and informative book that, not only evokes the unique atmosphere of the Bushveld, but leaves readers wishing that, one day, they would be The Thirteenth Guest.

MH

Reviewed in the United States on August 4, 2023
Fantastic read that I could not put down. Highly recommend.

From other countries:-

Marise Lombard

A delightful read
Reviewed in Australia on October 23, 2022
I devoured this book from cover to cover! Rod tells the story of a life-long connection with the South African bush with honesty, wit and humour. His commitment to conservation against the many odds and complexities of the game park industry is inspirational. His meticulous research of the history of his family farm that lies adjacent to South Africa's world-renowned Kruger National Park shines a sombre light on a land ownership struggle amidst increasing exploitation and commercialisation. Thank you for taking me on your sentimental journey and don't give up the fight!

Warren

A delightful read
Reviewed in Australia on July 14, 2023
In this captivating book, Rod offers an intimate view of life in the South African bush. He invites you into his family, where you get to join him around the campfire to enjoy stories covering everything from the smallest mouse to the largest cat. His humour and passion draw you into every story, whether he's talking about the fauna and flora, conservation, or the craftiness required to survive with limited resources in Africa. This book has it all!

Percy F.P.

Fantastic
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 13, 2022
A great read! I stumbled upon this ahead of a trip to South Africa and I'm so glad that I did. The stories are amazing and the chapters are perfectly sized - I kept thinking to myself "I'll just read one more quickly" and next thing I knew I found myself enraptured by the vignettes of life in the African bush. If you've ever felt the magnetic pull towards Africa, I suspect you too will love it. I would say that it's a book you probably want to order in print (rather than Kindle) as the pictures are wonderful and add meaningfully to the narrative.