Facing the Charge

Softcover, 184 pages.
By Michael J. Miller

Brace yourself for the raw intensity of the African bush, where every safari holds the promise of adrenaline and danger. In Facing the Charge, veteran sportsman Michael J. Miller recounts more than sixty African safaris—from Zambia and Botswana to Mozambique and Cameroon—facing down the legendary Big Five: Cape buffalo, lion, leopard, elephant, and rhinoceros. Alongside these apex predators, he encounters man-eating crocodiles, massive pythons, territorial baboons, and a mama hippo the size of a Chevy Tahoe—who made her displeasure abundantly clear.

Miller doesn’t spare the reader from the perils that lurk beyond wildlife: terrorism, quicksand, malaria, and witchcraft—death was never far from the trail. Yet amid adversity, there is humor, camaraderie, and respect for the African trackers who navigated danger with unmatched skill. Fiona Claire Capstick, widow of famed hunter-author Peter Hathaway Capstick, captures it best in her foreword, calling the narrative “the stuff of high drama and retrospective hilarity,” and praising the vivid portrayal of local hunting traditions.

This is a book for both experienced hunters and armchair adventurers alike. Whether you’re planning your first safari or simply drawn to tales of endurance, danger, and the beauty of wild places, Facing the Charge offers page-turning stories grounded in respect—for both the hunt and the land.

A gifted storyteller, writer Scott Longman makes Mike's African stories come alive on these pages, describing in page-turning detail a tremendous range of experiences during which Mike and his colleagues faced charges from the Big Five—Cape buffalo, lion, leopard, elephant, and rhino—as well as from man-eating crocodiles, slithering pythons, vengeful baboons, and more. Order your copy today!