Hunting the Lions

In Short

This is a Victorian-era travelogue and adventure story that chronicles an expedition into the interior of South Africa. The narrative follows Tom Brown and a group of fellow sportsmen as they trek through diverse landscapes, encountering buffalo, elephants, and the titular lions. While the plot is structured around the thrill of the hunt and the harsh realities of wilderness survival, it is equally concerned with the endurance of the human spirit. The book remains a quintessential example of colonial-era adventure literature, blending natural history with the grit of nineteenth-century exploration.

The Story

The narrative begins in a small London parlor where Tom Brown, a man whose "soul was set upon hunting the lions," prepares to depart for Africa. Upon arriving, he joins a party of four other hunters—Pearson, Ogilvie, Anson, and Brand—to traverse the Zulu country. The group faces immediate challenges, from treacherous, mud-laden terrain and relentless insect swarms to the debilitating fevers that frequently strike the travelers. Tom, who acts as the group's medical resource, proves vital in nursing his companions back to health, though the group eventually suffers the loss of two members to the rigors of the expedition.

As the party moves deeper into the interior, the hunt becomes the central organizing principle of their lives. They engage in high-stakes encounters with buffaloes and elephants, often narrowly escaping death. One particularly harrowing incident sees Tom chased by an elephant, only for the animal to lose its footing and tumble down a steep slope, narrowly sparing his life. The group’s success is measured by the “bag”—a tally of ivory, meat, and hides—and their evenings are spent around campfires, sharing tales, debating hunting strategies, and consuming game.

A pivotal moment occurs when Tom finds himself separated from his primary companions, left in the company of his native guide, Mafuta. While the major and Wilkins eventually recover and move on, Tom experiences a period of intense illness and profound isolation. During this time, he grapples with his own mortality and turns to his Bible, contemplating a more disciplined life. His recovery is slow and difficult, but his determination remains unshaken. He eventually reunites with his companions at the settlements, having survived the journey and the dangers of the wilderness.

The final act sees Tom returning to the Cape to join his father in business. However, the call of the wild proves too strong to ignore. The narrative concludes with the revelation that Tom has not abandoned his pursuits; he continues to return to the African wilderness to hunt, accompanied by his loyal guide, Mafuta. Despite the responsibilities of his business life, the romantic, adventurous nature of the “Brown” family ensures that he remains a wanderer at heart, perpetually drawn back to the life he once feared he would never survive.

How It Unfolds

The call to adventure Tom Brown receives a letter of credit from his father, signaling the realization of his long-held dream to hunt lions in Africa. He promptly closes his affairs in London, leaving behind his landlady and his chemical experiments to embark on a journey that will take him into the heart of the wild.

The rigors of the trail The party moves through the Zulu country, battling inclement weather and the constant threat of disease. The hunters rely on twenty-ox teams to navigate steep hills, all while enduring the physical toll of living under wagons in wet, mosquito-ridden conditions.

Trials by fire Tom faces near-death experiences, including a desperate retreat from an enraged buffalo and a narrow escape from a charging elephant. These moments test his nerve and mark his transition from a novice to a seasoned hunter of big game.

The lonely struggle After the departure of his main companions, Tom is left to battle a severe fever while in the remote wilderness. His survival depends on the care provided by his guide, Mafuta, and his own internal reflections on faith and purpose.

A permanent transformation Upon his return to civilization and business, Tom finds he cannot permanently settle into the life expected of him. The book closes with the understanding that he has become a lifelong traveler, destined to return to the African bush.

The People

Tom Brown is the protagonist, defined by the "multitudinosity" of his family name and his relentless, romantic drive to prove himself in the African bush. He starts as a curious, slightly naive man with a scientific bent and ends as a weathered, reflective survivalist who balances his worldly responsibilities with a persistent need for the wild.

The Major serves as a steady, experienced foil to Tom. He is a pragmatic man who provides a sense of order to the expedition, often changing the subject when faced with existential or uncomfortable topics, yet he serves as a reliable comrade through the group's most dangerous encounters.

Wilkins provides comic relief and a sense of humility. Known for being the “worst shot” of the party, he remains good-natured despite the group’s mockery and his own frequent struggles with the environment and his lack of hunting prowess.

Mafuta is Tom’s loyal native guide. He represents the local knowledge essential to the group's survival. While he is at times the target of the Europeans' condescending humor, he is depicted as an indispensable partner, and his bond with Tom becomes the most enduring relationship in the narrative.

In Its Own Voice

"Tom Brown uttered a wild cheer of delight on reading this brief and business-like epistle, and his curious landlady immediately answered to the shout by entering and wishing to know 'if he had called and if he wanted hanythink?'"

Tom's reaction to the letter of credit that finally clears the way for his African expedition.

"It is questionable if a single lion ever attacks a full-grown buffalo; when he assails a calf, the cow will rush upon him, and one toss from her horns is sufficient to kill him."

The narrator provides a sober, analytical correction to common romanticized myths regarding the lion's dominance in the wild.

"Well, my dream has been realised at last, and, upon my word, I have not been disappointed."

Tom reflects on the fulfillment of his goal after finally engaging with the "king of the forest."

What It's Really About

At its core, this book examines the tension between the domestic, orderly expectations of Victorian society and the raw, untamable nature of the wilderness. Tom’s journey is an argument for the necessity of "romance" in the human experience—a term the author uses to describe the drive for self-discovery, physical challenge, and the testing of one’s limits. The text poses questions about whether a man can truly be satisfied with a comfortable, settled life once he has tasted the extreme freedom and danger of the untamed world. It also serves as a meditation on the fragility of human life, where health, success, and even survival are shown to be precarious, often depending as much on luck and resilience as on skill or strength.

Why Read It Today

Readers who enjoy classic, high-stakes exploration narratives will find this a compelling, if occasionally challenging, read. It captures the atmosphere of nineteenth-century adventure—the long, creaking wagon journeys, the sensory details of the bush, and the camaraderie of the campfire—with remarkable clarity. However, modern readers should be prepared for the period-typical language and the casual, often dehumanizing attitudes toward the native populations, which are reflected in the dialogue and the way the guides are discussed. There is also a stark, matter-of-fact approach to animal slaughter that is characteristic of the hunting literature of the time.

Despite these hurdles, the book is written with a warmth and precision that makes Tom’s internal journey feel surprisingly contemporary. It is not a fast-paced thriller, but rather an immersive experience; it feels like sitting down with an old traveler who is recounting his life’s defining adventure. You will likely walk away struck by the book's honesty regarding the exhaustion and failure that accompany such grand ambitions. It is a story for anyone who has ever felt the urge to leave everything behind, only to realize that the spirit of adventure is not something you leave once you return home.