The Full Circle - Dave Varty
I recently purchased the book, The Full Circle by Dave Varty and now after having completed it in a couple of evenings I’m in a position to pass comment on it. In truth I found the book interesting enough to have completed it in a single sitting being only 336 pages of fairly easy reading, however a busy day and mandatory sleep intervened. The second nights reading however demanded it be completed, that’s how interesting I found it.
I know very little of the Varty story and had only heard rumours and hearsay via the media regarding John Varty, Gillian van Houten, Londolozi and the Tiger project (JVBigCats). I know that the Varty’s have been controversial in the past with rumour regarding their breeding for hunting programme (untrue) and their perhaps inappropiate use of funds given to them. However it was with an empty frame of mind that I approached this book hoping to hear some adventure stories about growing up in the bush and other fascinating wildlife experiences. What I got by and large was a very interesting exposé on the formation of CCAfrica (now andBeyond) by Dave Varty, their numerous lodges besides Londolozi and Dave’s business involvement therein. This didn’t disappoint me but in truth it wasn’t what I had expected from the book.
What is clear to me from Dave’s writings is that he has a great love for his family, the bush and especially Londolozi – the origin of his passion and the foundation for what he was to become. The Londolozi model when first introduced wasn’t well received apparently and yet it has proven to be succesful countless times over still today in many other high-end safari lodges. Dave’s honesty comes through however when he highlights the many glaring errors of judgement and decision making that he made as part of CCAfrica in securing funding and managing the unparalled growth of CCAfrica to his ultimate demise when he was asked to leave the company.
Their are certain aspects of the book which I can dearly relate to in particular his frame of reference towards some business decisions that were being made around him wherein his gut tells him to do one thing and yet he is persuaded to do another. This was to his deteriment in terms of personal values as well as to his life goals. Having experienced some similar events, perhaps not in such a grand scale, the message came clear to me that one should indeed trust your instincts especially when it comes to something you know and love and wish to nuture.
I am under no illusion that Dave Varty was in business to make money and quite frankly I don’t blame him. Money is a necessary evil that can certainly contribute towards a fruitful life and lifestyle. Yet underlying that I don’t doubt his commitment to conservation or his passion for wildlife and the desire to share that with other people. I am quite sure that writing this book was cathartic for Dave and put to bed a few ills in his mind over how he had conducted his life. Overall I am sure that he is still convinced that his successes have outweighed his failures. The clear joy he has taken in meeting all sorts of really interesting people (such as Nelson Mandela and the Getty’s amongst others) and introducing them to the wonder that is African Wildlife in the raw; surely outweighs the doubts and disappointments he has experienced.
I definitely benefited from reading this book and although it didn’t quite live up to my expectations it certainly gave me food for thought in my own life and how I conduct myself as a business person. There are some lovely anecdotes regarding their original trials and tribulations setting up Londolozi as a going concern and some of the old photographs are quiet poignant. The book is not expensive and provides some light reading and so gets a thumbs up from me, not withstanding any pre-conceived notions you may have regarding the Varty family and any prior media coverage (positive or negative) that they may have received. It is of course a very one sided story and underneath this the truth may in fact be quite different although I’m not sure, the honesty does seem quite genuine. There is very little discussion about John Varty’s (Dave’s brother) activities during this time although some information is given about John’s filming expeditions (with Londolozi productions) and his establishment of the Tiger breeding programme amongst others. I think it is a given that John is the more flamboyant and controversial character so perhaps these omissions were deliberate and in truth possbily not that relevant to Dave’s personal story.
Now we just need to save enough money to afford to get to Londolozi, Phinda, Ngorongoro Crater (Tanzania) or any of their other famous resorts. Hope you enjoy the read in the meantime. Oh yes and if you’ve got a spare US$6 million (about R60 million) lying around perhaps you want to invest in your own private lodge at Phinda (African Homesteads) courtesy of the Getty’s?
The Full Circle
Publisher: Penguin
EAN: 9780143025764
Format: Hardback
Release Date: 1st September 2008
Retail Price: R230,00
Great book review of this Varty work. Thanks!
Ian, excellent book review, it made me want to pick it up and read it immediately. Well written.
Ian,
Thanks for drawing attention to this book. I have just spend 10 relaxing days in Kruger with my family and this book. It was a good read especially because i related in a way. We had a farm in Timbavati erea an i off course visit Londoz neighbouring farm a few times a year. Lots and lots that i can agree with Dave, however i do not know him personally and i dont know how much was written self servingly but i would want to agree with a lot of viewpoints aired by Dave.
They did have a influence on eco tourism in SA i am sure. Right time right place too.
The reading of this book did keep me thinking every night, so its a sign of impressing me. What i can also say,hats of for the guys to take a R3 per day safari to a world standard operarion but what i ca read between the lines is that they did have some influecial friends in higher places, well good for them!
Thanks Ian for pointing me to the book, next time when i drive on the border of londoz, i will ponder over the things i read.
( this remarks was typed on iPhone while on vacation, exuse spelling errors)
Howdy Hedrus
I can see of course therefore why the book would have a different meaning for you but I really appreciate you sending me your thoughts and feedback. I thoroughlly enjoyed the book myself as I said and it’s great that it make you think. Hopefully you got some sleep? 
Thanks so much for the feedback and of course making me insanely jealous that you had those opportunties yourself when you were growing up!
Hope you had a GREAT holiday and thanks again.
Ian
I’m going to break away from the norm here and say that I found this book really disappointing. Although Dave Varty is honest in admitting inter-personal and business mistakes made, the book reads as a tribute to himself. Being a conservationist and having spent much of my life and worked in the Sabi Sands, as well as being familiar with the projects Dave writes about, I find it shameful that he rarely (and mostly does not) mentions others who had a far greater role to play in these various conservation successes than he did. He quickly discredits the ‘old school’ conservationists and the work they did, however without them South African conservation would be far less advanced than what it is now. Dave repeatedly sings the praises of Ken Tinley and describes how his advice restored the Londolozi ecosystem. I have driven through Londolozi (from a much better managed neighbour!) on many occasions and can say without doubt that the open areas that were bulldozed open on Ken Tinley’s advice are the most sterile pieces of KNP land I have seen; one see’s the odd small Impala herd and a rhino if you’re lucky. It is strange that Dave regards a leopard sighting after this work was completed as an indication of its success – the Sabi Sands is full of leopards but none in these open areas (other Sabi Sand properties created these open areas too – which they now mostly regret). South Africa undoubtedly has some of the world’s greatest conservationists (Ian Player, Keith Cooper, Michael Rattray, etc) whose unwavering dedication to the cause have insured that our natural heritage remains intact for future generations. Many of these people have had far larger roles to play in projects that Dave takes much credit for (e.g. transfronteir parks, protecting water catchments, removing the Sabi Sands fence, influencing ANC environmental policy) – it is really disheartening that he does not mention them. Anyone who believes Dave Varty sits as an equal to South Africa’s great conservationists has been misled by this disappointing book.