Memoirs of a Real Crocodile Hunter

I held one of the rarest professions in the world

For over a decade, I tracked the giants of Africa’s rivers—apex predators that had turned into man-eaters, bringing terror to villages and tragedy to families. But these clashes were never simple. Each hunt was part of a larger story of human–wildlife conflict, where expanding communities and shrinking habitats forced deadly encounters between people and crocodiles.

Memoirs of a Real Crocodile Hunter is a journey into that uneasy frontier. From moonlit hunts and near escapes to encounters with legends whispered along the Shire River, these pages reveal not only the raw excitement of facing Africa’s most dangerous reptiles, but also the deeper truth of what happens when human survival collides with nature’s fiercest survivors.

Both thrilling and sobering, this is the untold story of a life lived on the edge—where every ripple on the river carried the weight of fear, courage, and consequence.

MPATAMANGA

One man. Twenty years. More than half a million trees. A story the world needs to hear

What would you sacrifice to protect a place that few people even knew existed?

For more than 20 years, Ian Bartlett devoted his life to conserving Mpatamanga Wildlife Ranch on the banks of the Shire River in southern Malawi. Working with little more than determination, local knowledge, and an unwavering belief that Africa’s wilderness was worth protecting, he helped conserve more than half a million indigenous trees, protected wildlife habitat, fought illegal logging and poaching, and built a legacy that continues to inspire today.

MPATAMANGA is a powerful true story of African conservation, resilience, and hope. It takes readers deep into one of Malawi’s most spectacular yet little-known landscapes, where every day brought new challenges—from dangerous bush patrols, devastating wildfires, and encounters with wildlife to the relentless struggle to preserve a wilderness without outside funding.

But this is more than a conservation memoir.

It is the story of a man who refused to walk away when others would have given up. It is the story of local communities, dedicated scouts, lifelong friendships, and the determination to protect a remarkable corner of Africa for future generations.

As the years passed, a new challenge emerged: the proposed Mpatamanga Hydropower Project, placing the future of the land Ian had spent two decades protecting into uncertainty. The book offers an honest and deeply personal account of what it means to dedicate your life to conservation when the future is no longer in your hands.

Whether you are passionate about wildlife conservation, Africa, Malawi, environmental protection, true adventure, or inspiring memoirs, MPATAMANGA is an unforgettable journey through one man’s extraordinary mission to make a lasting difference.

If you enjoyed Memoirs of a Real Crocodile Hunter, this is the remarkable next chapter—one that proves conservation is every bit as demanding, dangerous, and rewarding as hunting man-eating crocodiles.

Discover the story behind Mpatamanga. Discover the fight to protect a forgotten wilderness.

www.mpatamangawildliferanch.com

Available on Amazon!

Available in Audible, paperback, hardcover and Kindle edition.

Available on Amazon!

Available in paperback, hardcover and Kindle edition.