Dining With Elephants

A celebration of French-inspired cuisine and a tribute to the wild, Dining with Elephants invites you to discover not only exquisite dishes, but the magic of a life lived close to nature.

This book is a collection of true stories from 27 years of living in the African bush. A feast of close encounters: elephants strolling past your table, rhinos squatting on the lodge veranda, cheetahs hunting at your front door, and a bushbaby at the bar.

Each story captures the chaos, humour, and profound lessons of life among the wild. It is about coexistence, sharing space with untamed wisdom, and discovering humility in the presence of true intelligence.

Alongside, Françoise shares the inventive, resourceful dishes she created with her Zulu kitchen team. Dining with Elephants is not an ordinary cookbook; it’s a feast of stories and flavours from the heart of the African bush, where French cuisine meets wild adventure

“The most magical book about the African Bush since Born Free.” - Daily Mail “A beautiful love story between humans and the majestic elephants.” - Jo Malone, Daily Express “A must-read for animal lovers.” - People's Friend “Françoise’s descriptions of the empathetic behaviour of elephants, both towards each other and towards the humans who love them, are beguiling.” - Daily Mail

Francoise Malby Anthony was born in France and, after earning a master’s in foreign languages and a DESS in business administration, built a successful international career before moving to South Africa in 1987 with her husband, the late conservationist and bestselling author Lawrence Anthony. Together they founded Thula Thula in 1998, a wildlife reserve in KwaZulu-Natal, which Francoise continues to run today. After Lawrence’s passing in 2012, she created the Thula Thula Rhino Fund and later the South African Conservation Fund, a non-profit company dedicated to wildlife protection, habitat expansion, and community education. She also established the Thula Thula Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre and Volunteers Academy, an educational centre welcoming volunteers from around the world. Francoise is the author of two international bestsellers, An Elephant in My Kitchen and The Elephants of Thula Thula. In recognition to her work in wildlife conservation, she was honoured by France as Chevalier de l’Ordre National du Mérite and recipient of the Prix du Public des Trophées des Français de l’Étranger,. She continues to inspire global awareness of wildlife conservation and sustainable tourism.