What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedCry of the Kalahari
Mark Owens, Delia Owens · Book · 1984
If you loved Cry of the Kalahari, start with Search & Rescue NZ — a podcast on the same thread. Below: 4 films, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to Cry of the Kalahari across media.
What hooked you in Cry of the Kalahari is the raw, unvarnished collision between human endurance and the untamed wilderness.
Films on the same thread
Out of Africa
Sydney Pollack · Film · 1985
Shares a thread with Cry of the Kalahari: Self-Discovery.
Much like Cry of the Kalahari, this film captures the profound transformation that occurs when one immerses their life within the vast, challenging landscapes of the African continent.
Where the Crawdads Sing
Olivia Newman · Film · 2022
Shares a thread with Cry of the Kalahari: Survival.
If the isolation and survivalist spirit of Cry of the Kalahari moved you, you will appreciate this story of a woman forging her existence entirely within the natural environment.
Gorillas in the Mist
Film · 1988
Shares a thread with Cry of the Kalahari: Wildlife conservation.
This film mirrors the scientific dedication found in Cry of the Kalahari, focusing on the intense human-animal bond and the fierce, protective advocacy required to save vanishing species.
The Call of the Wild
Chris Sanders · Film · 2020
Shares 2 threads with Cry of the Kalahari: Self-Discovery, Survival.
The harsh, unforgiving landscapes that defined your experience with Cry of the Kalahari are central here, showcasing the brutal realities of survival when one is thrust into the wild.
Series on the same thread
Life on Earth
Series · 1979
Shares a thread with Cry of the Kalahari: Survival.
The sweeping ecological curiosity that drives Cry of the Kalahari finds its grandest expression here, as David Attenborough documents the evolutionary struggle for survival across our entire planet.
Life
Martha Holmes · Series · 2009
Shares a thread with Cry of the Kalahari: Survival.
You will find the same fascination with animal adaptation and survival strategies in this series that you encountered while reading the authors' detailed observations in Cry of the Kalahari.
Trials of Life
Series · 1990
Shares a thread with Cry of the Kalahari: Survival.
This series expands on the biological themes of survival present in Cry of the Kalahari, offering a deeper look at the life cycles and adaptations of diverse wild creatures.
The Living Planet
Series · 1984
Shares a thread with Cry of the Kalahari: Ecology.
If the ecological insights of Cry of the Kalahari captivated you, this series provides a comprehensive look at how species uniquely adapt to the challenges of their specific habitats.
Podcasts on the same thread
Tooth & Claw: True Stories of Animal Attacks
Wes Larson, Jeff Larson, Mike Smith | Daylight Media · Podcast · 2026
Explores: Human-wildlife conflict, Apex predators, Biological survival.
This podcast explores the dangerous reality of human-wildlife conflict with the same expert perspective that the authors brought to their research and survival adventures in Cry of the Kalahari.
Search & Rescue NZ
Podcast
Explores: search and rescue operations, wilderness survival, human resilience.
The themes of human resilience and the unpredictable danger of the wilderness that permeate Cry of the Kalahari are front and center in these gripping stories of outdoor survival.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is Cry of the Kalahari a true story?
Yes, Cry of the Kalahari is a factual account of the seven-year period that authors Mark and Delia Owens spent living in the Kalahari wilderness. The book documents their personal experiences with survival, their interactions with local wildlife, and the development of their conservation research project.
How long were the authors in Africa for Cry of the Kalahari?
The narrative detailed in Cry of the Kalahari covers a seven-year span. During this time, the authors established a conservation research project while living in the Kalahari wilderness, documenting their survival challenges and their encounters with the various animals living in that environment.
Does Cry of the Kalahari focus on conservation research?
Yes, a central theme of Cry of the Kalahari is the establishment of the authors' conservation research project. The book provides an account of their efforts to study the wildlife of the Kalahari wilderness while maintaining their own survival over the course of seven years.
What kind of wildlife is featured in Cry of the Kalahari?
Cry of the Kalahari features accounts of the authors' contact with both curious and dangerous animals throughout their seven-year stay in the African wilderness. The book documents these specific encounters as part of their broader experience with survival and their ongoing conservation research project.