KAMCHACHA – Rhodesian Game Ranger by Bryan Orford.

This is an intimate exposé of the life and valuable
conservation work of  Kamchacha – Thomas Patrick Orford.

Thomas Orford was one of those gallant members of the former Game Department in southern Rhodesia that merged with the previously separate National Parks entity.  Tommy’s service extended into the post Federation days when it became known as the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Management.  This merger, besides creating huge international interest, set in motion a management entity that for the first time incorporated scientists and ecologists. 

Bryan will have had some difficulty in stringing together is strict chronological order the work of his late father, writing as he did after Tom’s passing, and whose deploym ents were not always for public knowledge during the tense and dangerous bush war years. 

Bryan describes Tom’s wonderful compassion for wild animals, a compassion often felt by many people in trouble to whom Tom reached out an often overly generous helping hand along the way.  

Tom’s early learning curves were spent amongst the Shangaan people in the South Eastern Lowveld in Rhodesia.  That reverence was to haunt Tom Orford in his latter days when circumstances dictated that he made his living from sport hunting with which his heart was not always at ease!

Tom’s role in Operation Noah at Kariba, his role in Operation Rhino and subsequent translocations that re-introduced White Rhino back into Rhodesia are covered in this book.  

With over a hundred photos that in themselves are of immense historical importance, covering humorous as well as sad events in Tom’s life, this fascinating book is not only a gem in any collection, but also a wonderful read of the times and of a respected and knowledgeable conservationist.  

Published by Bryan Orford, ISBN 0-7974-3122-5