White Man's Game

This investigative work pulls back the curtain on Western-led conservation in Africa, challenging the feel-good narrative that outside intervention is an uncomplicated good. Through the lens of Gorongosa National Park's ambitious restoration, the book reveals how well-funded environmental initiatives often clash with the complex realities of local communities. It asks the difficult question of why impoverished villagers might resist projects ostensibly designed to help them, exposing a disconnect between foreign ideals and on-the-ground needs. The narrative meticulously documents how conservation can become another form of control, where Western priorities override indigenous knowledge and sovereignty.

Hanes delivers a crucial critique of the neo-colonial dynamics embedded in global philanthropy, where savior complexes and simplified narratives can do more harm than good. The book's strength lies in its nuanced reporting, giving voice to Mozambicans whose perspectives are frequently absent from the triumphant press releases. Readers interested in ethical travel, international development, and environmental justice will find this an essential and sobering read. It forces a necessary reckoning with the unintended consequences of trying to "save" a place without truly understanding it.