The ant-lion - Anthony Irvin

When Mum’s cousin, Craig, invites the family to stay on the wildlife conservation ranch he manages in Tanzania, it is a dream come true for Lucy, Kal and Ellie.Lucy, who is passionate about animals, and hopes to be a wildlife vet, assists Craig in treating an injured serval cat and befriends Fupi, his Parson Russell terrier. Kal, mad on sport and machines, is taught to operate the dual controls on Craig’s plane and drive his Land Rover. Ellie, the clever one, is fascinated by other cultures and in learning to speak Swahili, helps rescue an orphan Maasai boy, Matata, who is living alone in the forest. But the ranch faces financial problems and may have to close down unless the children, assisted by Matata and Fupi, can help Dad, a geologist, find the valuable minerals thought to occur there. Their quest soon turns into a dangerous race against the evil Toad Face, who has heard about the minerals and plans to get to them first. The children will only be able to outwit him if they can apply their newfound skills and survive desperate encounters with lions, snakes, buffaloes and bandits. Will they find the mysterious Place of the Skull before Toad Face? And will they survive a terrifying confrontation with a rogue elephant?The Ant-Lion provides a rich diversity of action, excitement and humour, set against a backdrop of wild Africa and Maasai culture. Readers, while sharing in the thrill of safari and the exploits of Lucy, Kal, Ellie, Matata and Fupi, will, with the help of beautiful line drawings, also learn something of African animals, wildlife conservation, and the very different lifestyle of the Maasai people.This is the first of five books in the African Safari Adventure series.