Book Review: The First Safari: Searching for François Levaillant by Ian Glenn

Levaillant's Cuckoo and Levaillant's Cisticola are familiar birds to most South African birders. Experienced birders will almost certainly have both species on their life lists and have probably enjoyed multiple sightings of each. Yet while we know these birds well, many of us know very little about the remarkable man after whom they were named.

It is this story that Ian Glenn explores in the revised second edition of The First Safari: Searching for François Levaillant.

Before I started reading the book, I expected a fairly traditional biography. I thought it would begin with François Levaillant's childhood, follow him through his travels in southern Africa, and tell the story of his life from beginning to end.

But this isn't that kind of book.

Instead, Glenn takes a very different approach. Rather than writing a chronological biography, he builds the book around four central themes. He argues that Levaillant deserves to be remembered not only as one of southern Africa's earliest and greatest ornithologists, but also as an innovator in the way nature was documented, an important observer of African societies, and one of the first writers to capture the excitement of exploring the African wilderness.

The result is a book that feels less like a conventional biography and more like a carefully researched investigation into the life and legacy of one of southern Africa's most fascinating naturalists.

What I found most interesting while reading the book was discovering just how much more there was to Levaillant than birds.

For readers looking for a book focused primarily on birds and ornithology, the opening chapters may come as a surprise. Birds certainly play an important role throughout the book, with fascinating sections on Levaillant's collecting methods, the techniques he learnt to preserve bird specimens, his remarkable illustrations, and the species he described. But these form only part of a much bigger story.

Glenn spends considerable time exploring the events, relationships and experiences that shaped Levaillant as a person. We learn about the people who influenced him, the journeys he undertook, the practical realities of travelling through eighteenth century southern Africa, and the ideas that shaped the way he viewed the world.

One aspect of the book that I found particularly interesting was the attention given to Levaillant's relationship with the Khoikhoi. Glenn argues that Levaillant's views were, in many respects, remarkably different from many of his contemporaries. Rather than treating this as a side note, he presents it as an essential part of understanding the man himself.

This is where the book differs from many historical accounts.

Ian Glenn doesn't simply present historical facts and leave the reader to draw their own conclusions. He interprets the evidence and builds an argument throughout the book. At times he makes some strong observations about how Levaillant has been understood, criticised and even dismissed over the years. Whether readers agree with every conclusion or not, there is no doubt that Glenn writes with conviction and genuine passion for his subject.

One thing readers should be aware of is that Glenn is not afraid to put forward his own interpretation of the evidence. Some readers will appreciate this approach, while others may find parts of it challenging. Either way, it encourages the reader to think critically rather than simply accept history at face value.

In many ways, The First Safari asks bigger questions than simply, "Who was François Levaillant?"

It asks how we interpret history and whether we sometimes judge historical figures through the lens of modern values rather than understanding the context in which they lived. Those are not always comfortable questions, but they make for thought provoking reading.

The book is also beautifully produced. The illustrations and historical images add real value and help bring Levaillant's world to life. It is obvious that an enormous amount of research has gone into this work, and Glenn's passion for his subject shines through on every page.

That said, this won't be a book for every birder.

Readers looking for a book that focuses primarily on birds, bird discoveries and ornithology may find themselves wishing those sections occupied more of the book. Likewise, because the chapters are organised around themes rather than chronology, there were moments where I had to pause and think about where we were in Levaillant's life before continuing. It is generally an accessible read, although some sections are denser than others and require a little more concentration.

For me, however, those are relatively minor criticisms.

This is a book for readers who enjoy history, exploration, natural history and the stories behind the people who shaped our understanding of southern Africa. It gives us a far richer picture of François Levaillant than simply introducing him as the man whose name appears in a couple of bird books.

Perhaps the greatest compliment I can pay the book is that it made me curious. Rather than answering every question, it left me wanting to know even more about François Levaillant and the remarkable world in which he lived.

By the time I reached the final page, I felt I understood not only François Levaillant the ornithologist, but François Levaillant the explorer, writer, collector and thinker.

If you've ever paused after seeing Levaillant's Cuckoo or Levaillant's Cisticola and wondered about the man behind those names, The First Safari is a rewarding read. It doesn't simply introduce François Levaillant the ornithologist. It introduces François Levaillant the explorer, writer, collector and thinker, and in doing so encourages us to see one of southern Africa's most influential naturalists in a completely new light.

Title: The First Safari: Searching for François Levaillant

Author: Ian Glenn

Publisher: Jacana Media

Edition: Revised Second Edition (2026)

Available from: Jacana Media and leading South African bookstores.