Safari Press
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Publishing |
| Founded | 1984 in Seal Beach, California, United States |
| Headquarters | Huntington Beach, California , United States |
Key people | Dr. Jacqueline Neufeld (Editor-in-chief), Ludo J. Wurfbain (Publisher) |
| Products | Books, limited editions, audio books, e-books, hunting DVDs |
| Owner | Privately held by a select group of investors |
Safari Press is a publishing firm dedicated to literature on big-game hunting and sporting firearms, under the leadership of editor-in-chief Dr. Jacqueline Neufeld and publisher Ludo J. Wurfbain. The company remains privately held by a select group of investors.
History
Established in Seal Beach, California in 1984, Safari Press moved to a commercial office and warehouse facility in Huntington Beach by 1990. Starting with a single unit, the company gradually expanded until it occupied the entire building. In 1992, it was officially incorporated as Safari Press Inc.
World Wide Hunting Books
Safari Press has its roots in World Wide Hunting Books, which began operations in May 1984 with a modest catalog featuring a white rhino emblem on a shield. This entity specialized in rare and antiquarian big-game hunting literature, releasing catalogs approximately five times per year. In 1985, the Safari Press brand was introduced for its publishing initiatives, while World Wide Hunting Books continued to offer antiquarian volumes.
Publications
The first book published by Safari Press was a reissue of James Mellon's African Hunter in 1985, utilizing the rhino logo originally associated with World Wide Hunting Books. The following year brought additional releases such as John Hunter's White Hunter and John Burger's Horned Death. By 1987, the catalog had grown to five titles, including works like Count Hoyos-Sprinzenstein’s With a Rifle in Mongolia and Jack O’Connor’s Hunting on Three Continents. To date, Safari Press has produced over 300 titles with total print runs exceeding one million copies.
Limited editions
Safari Press is well-known for its premium limited-edition publications. Apart from three exceptions—White Hunter, Horned Death, and Édouard Foà's After Big Game in Central Africa—these limited editions consist of original works not previously available in English. Each edition is numbered and most are signed by the authors, often accompanied by slipcases. The volume of original limited edition titles produced by Safari Press surpasses that of Amwell Press or the original Derrydale Press.
Content and merchandise
While initially concentrating on African big-game hunting literature, Safari Press broadened its scope in the late 1980s with its inaugural sporting firearms book, Craig Boddington’s Safari Rifles. Subsequently, the company expanded its offerings to include wingshooting, North American and Asian big game hunting, as well as mountain hunting subjects. Alongside its own publications, Safari Press began distributing titles from other publishers.
To adapt to evolving technology trends, Safari Press incorporated audio books and e-books into its catalog and now provides an extensive selection of hunting DVDs to satisfy consumer interest.
In 2002, Safari Press enhanced its foothold in the hunting and outdoor media industry by acquiring Sports Afield magazine from Robert E. Petersen.