coastweek.com

'THE LOST WILDERNESS' - NEW
BOOK FROM MOHAMED ISMAIL

Coastweek - - An elephant reaches for the sky ... and some
fruit in this delightful study taken from Mohamed Ismail's
new book 'The Lost Wilderness' published by the Safari
Press in Los Angeles, California, U.S.A.

THIS IS A collaborative work with Dr. Alice Thor - former
professor at Farleigh Dickinson University in New Jersey

Coastweek - - Mombasa-born Mohamed Ismail, who is a conservationist, writer and artist recently had his second book published in Los Angeles, California.

"The Lost Wilderness" is the autobiography of his life and times both as a former Kenyan game warden and a professional hunter.

The book is lavishly illustrated. This week, in 'Silicon Valley', Mr. Ismail held a book signing session.

'San Jose Mercury News' staff reporter Shelley Angelo wrote to Coastweek:

"Mr. Ismail has had other book signing sessions in South Dakota where several of his wildlife paintings are on permanent display among collectors and at the Sioux Falls Zoo and Museum.

"Always modest in demeanour, Mr. Ismail has travelled far and wide including Antarctica, Tibet, The Gobi Desert, The South China Seas as well as having undertaken several trips to China and Turkey.

Coastweek - - Mohamed
Ismail Author of 'The
Lost Wilderness'.

"In 1980 he led a trekking expedition to Tibet with his friend, the late Tenzing Norgay. (Tenzing Norgay was the first person to conquer Everest in 1953 with Sir Edmund Hilary.)

"The Lost Wilderness is introduced to readers by no less a personage than Patrick Hemingway, Ernest Hemingway's son who has known Ismail for the past 35 years."

When interviewed, Mr. Ismail confirmed that he depended heavily on his his late wife who was a driving force behind everything he did and who was always the source of encouragement to him.

The Lost Wilderness is a collaborative work with Dr. Alice Thor, a former professor at Farleigh Dickinson University in New Jersey.

Mr. Ismail acknowledges with gratitude the encouragement he has had in the last six years from his friend, the late Fahmy Hinawy of Mombasa who was a founder member of 'The Friends of Fort Jesus' for some of the photographic material and also to Mr. Gulam Mirdat of Mombasa.

Mr. Mirdat was a distinguished professional hunter and naturalist who ran a safari company known as African Bushtrails back in the 1970's.

This book is rated as a classic by the publishers, Safari Press and can be accessed on their website at: www.safaripress.com

This book is a must for lovers of high adventure, for it chronicles tales of an Africa that is forever gone.

The limited edition, signed and numbered copy sells for U.S. $ 60.

A trade edition is coming out at the end of the year and that will sell for U.S. $ 39.

Mohamed Ismail, born in Mombasa in 1938, is of Afghan and Baluchj descent.

Coastweek - - Leopard on the
prowl - one of many superb
illustrations from the new
book 'The Lost Wilderness'
by conservationist, writer
and artist Mohamed Ismail.

He holds a Cambridge Overseas School Certificate and a Diploma, with highest honors, from the College of Wildlife Management of Mweka, Tanzania.

From 1967-1972 Ismail served as a game warden with the Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife in Kenya.

He is a respected ornithologist who worked with the late Roger Tory Peterson. In 1972 lsmail became a senior instructor for Lindblad Travel, leading safaris for organizations such as the New York Zoological Society, the National Wildlife Federation, the Royal Ontario Museum, and the Smithsonian Institution.

During the years prior to 1977, lsmail was also a professional hunter and served as the director of Bushtrails Ltd., a safari firm based in Nairobi.

In 1988 Ismail formed his own safari company, Explorers' Africa.

Ismail is an accomplished photographer whose pictures have appeared in National Geographic magazine.

lsmail has also published "The Essential Safari Companion", which he both wrote and illustrated with his own photographs.

He is currently at work with Alice Pianfetti on their second book on East Africa.