Tree Tops

Tree Tops recounts Jim Corbett's experience guarding Princess Elizabeth during her visit to Kenya in 1952, when she stayed at a game-viewing lodge built in a giant fig tree. Corbett served as an armed guard at the Treetops Hotel, keeping watch for dangerous animals while the future Queen of England observed African wildlife. The narrative contains Corbett's observations of African fauna, particularly elephants and rhinos that visited the waterhole beneath the lodge. The writing captures both the excitement of close wildlife encounters and the solemn duty of protecting the royal visitor. The book details the logistics and challenges of securing an elevated lodge in the African bush, drawing on Corbett's decades of experience as a hunter and naturalist in India. This was Corbett's final book before his death in 1955. Through careful documentation of both royal protocol and wild animal behavior, Tree Tops offers a unique intersection of British colonial history and African wildlife conservation. The account stands as a time capsule of a pivotal moment - the last hours of Princess Elizabeth's freedom before ascending to the throne.

Readers describe Tree Tops as a brief but engaging account of Corbett's experience guarding Princess Elizabeth during her 1952 Kenya visit, just before she became Queen. The narrative focuses on wildlife observations at the famous Treetops Hotel. Readers appreciated: - Detailed observations of African wildlife behavior - Historical context of Princess Elizabeth's last night as princess - Corbett's naturalist expertise and writing style - Rare photos from the period Common criticisms: - Very short length (under 100 pages) - Limited scope compared to Corbett's other works - Less action/adventure than his tiger hunting books - Some found the pacing slow Ratings: Goodreads: 4.0/5 (157 ratings) Amazon: 4.2/5 (24 ratings) Reader quote: "A charming little book that captures a slice of history and African wildlife observation. Not Corbett's most thrilling work but worth reading for the historical significance." - Goodreads reviewer

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🌳 Queen Elizabeth II was staying at Treetops Hotel in Kenya when she learned of her father's death in 1952, making her Queen. Jim Corbett was her personal escort during her stay, and the hotel was featured in this book. 🐘 The Treetops Hotel, which inspired the book's title, was built in a giant fig tree overlooking a waterhole where wild animals would gather. Guests could safely observe wildlife from elevated walkways. 🐯 Corbett wrote this book at the age of 79, and it was his last work before his death in 1955. The manuscript was found among his papers after he passed away. 🌍 The original Treetops Hotel was burned down by Mau Mau rebels in 1954, but was rebuilt and remains a popular tourist destination in Kenya's Aberdare National Park today. 📝 Despite being known primarily as a hunter of man-eating tigers and leopards in India, this book showcases Corbett's lesser-known connection to Africa and his passion for wildlife observation rather than hunting.