Tweet | Message or Call: 250.744.4357

The Book:-  Africa to Arizona - Memories of a South African Scatterling!

A memoir of loss, love, resilience, and the landscapes that shape us.

 

Click on the image below to see the trailer!

 

About the Book

Africa to Arizona: Memories of a South African Scatterling is a sweeping, emotionally rich memoir that spans continents and lifetimes. Louis van Tonder shares a story woven with heartache, humor, wisdom, and the unforgettable beauty of Africa and the American West.

This is a book for anyone who has ever:

• longed for a lost homeland

• carried the wounds of war or divorce

• yearned for their children

• rebuilt a life from ashes

• found healing in love, land, and belonging

• searched for meaning across cultures and continents

Louis’s voice is raw, poetic, and profoundly human. His journey lingers long after the final page.

The Story

Born on the farm Wintershoek in South Africa’s Eastern Free State, Tihêhô (Louis van Tonder) grew up surrounded by wildlife, rural adventure, and the rugged beauty of the African landscape. His childhood — racing pigeons, close encounters with wildlife, deep family bonds — shaped his identity and spirit.

Military service left both physical and emotional scars. Later, as a professional hunting guide in South Africa and Zambia, he witnessed the darker, unethical side of the industry. Though disillusioned, he continued out of necessity while preparing for a new life abroad.

Immigrating to America brought cultural shock, emotional strain, and the heartbreak of divorce and separation from his children. Yet through these trials, Louis discovered resilience and inner strength.

A turning point arrived when he met Terri — the woman who became his partner in love, laughter, and life. Together, they built a fulfilling life on a ranch in Arizona, surrounded by friends and enriched by their business, African Safaris and Travel.

Through surgeries, pain, uncertainty, and reinvention, Louis found purpose and healing. His memoir is steeped in hiraeth — a spiritual longing for a home that perhaps never was — and the enduring hope of new beginnings.

About the Author

Louis van Tonder was born and raised on the farm Wintershoek in the Eastern Free State of South Africa. After boarding school in the town called Brits, he studied law at the University of Pretoria, completed his Articles of Clerkship, and later managed his own ranch for a decade.

He worked as a professional hunter and safari guide in South Africa and Zambia, guiding international hunters until he became disillusioned with the industry’s unethical practices. At 40, he returned to law school to earn a second law degree.

As political instability worsened in South Africa, Louis and his family made the difficult decision to relocate to America. The transition brought cultural shock, emotional strain, and the heartbreak of divorce and separation from his children.

Through adversity, Louis found resilience — and eventually, love. After meeting Terri, the two built a meaningful life together on a ranch in Arizona. Their business, African Safaris and Travel, reflects their shared passion for wildlife, conservation, and ethical travel.

Their story is one of courage, reinvention, and the enduring strength of the human spirit.

Order the Book

https://www.amazon.com/Africa-Arizona-Memories-African-Scatterling/dp/B0DS9S27PM