Book Description
Since its original publication in 1993, The Safari Companion has been the best field guide to observing and understanding the behavior of African mammals. An indispensable tool for naturalists traveling to Africa, this new edition has been revised to acknowledge the enthusiasm to those watching these magnificent animals at zoos and wildlife parks, and on film. The Safari Companion enables readers to recognize and interpret visible behavioral activities, such as courtship rituals, territorial marking, aggression, and care of young. Each account of over 80 species includes a behavioral table in which the unique actions of the hoofed mammals, carnivores, and primates are described for easy reference. In addition, useful maps show the major national boundaries, vegetation zones, and game parks relevant to the guide. The book includes an extensive glossary, as well as tips on wildlife photography, a list of organizations working to protect African wildlife, and advice on where and when to see the animals.
Customer Reviews:
Well Written, by and Expert.......2007-07-19
I just returned from Tanzania, and used this book while on Safari in Serengetti, Ngorongoro crater, Lake Manyara, and Tarangire.
The main strength of the book is the high level overview given to game viewing in the beginning and at the beginning of each animal section. Without some background in behavioral biology it is tough to watch the animals and find it interesting for too long. After reading the opening to this book I was able to take much more from watching big herds of grazers than the tourists I was with.
Richard Estes is clearly an expert in the field, but he writes in a fashion that is easy to understand for a layman. He also gives some personalization to his accounts, giving personal tips for a good game drive.
The only issue with the book is that it is sometimes difficult to match the behavior of the animals in the field to the book in the limited time that is available on safari, so I would suggest that anyone interested read the sections about the animals they expect to see before the safari, and have those pages marked for reference during the game drive.
Excellent Safari Companion.......2007-03-08
This book was an engrossing and wonderful read as we undertook the Safari.
It provided insight into the behavior and special characteristics of each animal that we saw, and made the sightings much more interesting than just the identification of each species.
Recommended highly!
In my experience, this isn't very useful.......2007-02-26
I've been to Tanzania's national parks twice, and watched a lot of game in both the popular and the less-crowded parks. Estes came with me the first time, based on my interest in the animals and reviewers' comments found here; and this last time I took along the (copied) pages for a dozen or so animals (zebras, elephants, wildebeest, giraffes, etc).
His work is certainly interesting and I fully expected it would be a useful Safari Companion. But it hasn't lived up to expectations.
I know I've been fortunate to have guides who were very knowledgable: getting us into interesting situations, pointing out behavior and being able to answer lots of questions. In the evening, though, I've often checked to see what Estes might have to say about what we'd seen; and, typically, I didn't learn anything new. That, by itself, doesn't justify leaving Estes behind. But with few exceptions, fairly careful reading of Estes beforehand didn't prepared me to "see" behavior that might otherwise have been missed over the course of 5 weeks of game watching. I'm certain it's not that the behavior Estes describes doesn't occur; it's just that we tourists rarely have the opportunity to observe animals for long enough periods for it to happen!
After my second trip, I got a copy of "The Kingdon Field Guide to African Mammals" and I might take it along next time as a close substitute for Estes. For very easy identification of the common animals and birds of East Africa, however, I'll continue to rely on Withers and Hosking, "Wildlife of East Africa" in preference to the "National Audubon Society Field Guide to ..." (which I also own).
Not for the average safari .......2007-01-09
This is a great book for people that want to know about all the variations of antelope, birds etc. If you're looking to go on your first safari and will be amazed by the sight of your first lion, this book is overkill for you.
If you're well educated on animal species, this is a good book for you.
The Safari Companion.......2006-08-21
Excellent safari companion showing various animals and describing them, their habitat, etc. Recommended for anyone going on safari.
Book Description
This guide embraces over 2000 carefully selected plants and animals, large and small, that are likely to be encountered during a visit to any part of the region. It is ideal for all nature lovers, with over 1200 species illustrated and many more identifiable from the text by reference to similar species. Each chapter has been written by a leading expert in the field, most of whom have published major works in their own right.
Customer Reviews:
Simple, nicely illustrated.......2007-03-15
Haven't taken this on the safari yet, but have gone through it to get familiar - it is fairly small (compared to the other book I got, Safari Companion), yet has hundreds of clear illustrations and descriptions of invertebrates, insects, birds, fish, mammals and plants. I think this is going to be a very useful tool!
beautifully illustrated & comprehensive.......2002-04-14
This is the most beautifully illustrated and comprehensive guide I've found for the wildlife of southern Africa. The invertebrate info is hard to find elsewhere, and the fact that this guide includes plants is a welcome bonus. If you buy one guide to carry with you on your trip, this should be it.
A Comprehensive Guide.......2001-05-19
While visiting So.Africa, I had a million questions on what I looking at. I found this book and carried it with me throughout the trip. When we went on game runs, I would check off what we saw and make reference notes (e.g. the Baboons were eating Jackalberries - I could reference both the mammal and the tree section). The variety of birds in the country (over 900) was astounding and having the book made it much more fun and interesting to look up. This is the only book I found that combined lower invertabrates, spiders and other arachnids, insects (including a large butterfly collection), fish, frogs, reptiles, birds, mammals,grasses-sedges-ferns&fungi,wild flowers, trees. Several people on the tour had me write down what we saw so they in turn could get this book and make notes. A good book combining everything in one neat package for those who like to play outside!
Book Description
Searching for springboks? Chasing big cats? This innovative, all-in-one safari guide will help you to find, identify and understand Southern Africa's amazing wildlife. Covers: Botswana, Malawi, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
- Where?
- discover what's there and where to find it
- pinpoint directions and inside tips for Southern Africa's top destinations
- 62 colour maps, including all the famous game parks
- What?
- hundreds of colour wildlife photos show you what's what
- easy-to-read background information on animal behaviour and ecology
- How?
- the lowdown on planning, itineraries, techniques and equipment
- expert advice on photography, safaris, whale-watching and birdwatching
Customer Reviews:
very useful for picking out where and when to go.......2007-06-20
If you want to go to Africa, but aren't sure where or when to go, this is a very useful book. Even if you are using a travel agent and expert tour company, this book will help you evaluate alternatives and enable you to make intelligent suggestions.
The book is also useful when you're back home and trying to figure out what kind of animal is in your photo.
Book Description
The wildlife of southern Africa is the major attraction for visitors to this popular region. This guide encompasses all countries south of the Zambezi and Kuene rivers: Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, southern Mozambique, South Africa, Swaziland, and Zimbabwe. In the same format as the acclaimed Madagascar Wildlife it provides a colorful introduction to the mammals, birds, reptiles, and other wildlife, along with advice on how to make the most of a safari and even observing wildlife in everyday settings. The sheer range of habitats spanned by this region--grasslands, wetlands, desert, and bushveld--ensures that visitors have an almost unequalled opportunity for observing species in the wild, especially when the sealife and coral reefs of the coastline that fringes on two oceans are included. Accessible, comprehensive, and beautifully illustrated with around 300 photographs, this is a travelers' companion that will appeal both to the first-time visitor and the serious naturalist.
Customer Reviews:
Classic Africana.......2006-09-27
If you are into reading about old time African hunters, this book is one you must have on your shelves. He was obviously a very tough man who lived a life full of adventure. If you read many other old time African hunters, you will find this book to complement others. Well worth buying.
Average customer rating:
- Verbose and superficial: a waste of money
- Outstanding and thorough book about South Africa
- Outstanding and thorough book about South Africa
- Most comprehensive book on southern Africa
- A must if you plan to visit Southern Africa
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Adventuring in Southern Africa: The Great Safaris and Wildlife Parks of Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Namibia, South Africa, Malawi, Lesotho, and Swaziland
Allen Bechky
Manufacturer: Sierra Club Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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Similar Items:
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National Audubon Society Field Guide to African Wildlife
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The Safari Companion: A Guide to Watching African Mammals Including Hoofed Mammals, Carnivores, and Primates
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Fodor's African Safari, 1st Edition: From Budget to Big Spending Where and How to Find the Best Big Game Adventure In Southern and Eastern Africa (Special-Interest Titles)
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Botswana: The Bradt Travel Guide
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Lonely Planet Southern Africa
ASIN: 0871565935 |
Book Description
Southern Africa - long famous for the oldest and best-managed game parks on the continent - is becoming increasingly popular as an adventure travel destination. In the 1990s the number of visitors to the region nearly doubled, to more than 6.5 million tourists per year, as adventure travelers abandoned traditional safari sites in Kenya and Tanzania for the world-class national parks of Botswana and Zimbabwe, Zambia and Namibia. Favorable political changes have inspired an increase in tourism to South Africa, and the pristine wilderness areas in the smaller nations of Malawi, Lesotho, and Swaziland have become favorites with budget travelers in search of adventure well off the beaten track.
Adventuring in Southern Africa is a comprehensive guide to the geography, culture, natural history, and adventure opportunities in these eight countries, including:
The legendary areas of Victoria Falls, the Okavango Delta, the Zambezi River, Etosha, and Kruger National Park
The classic safari as well as unconventional car, hiking, rafting, and canoe trips
The nuts and bolts of how to plan a trip, including what to pack, how to adjust to local customs, what documents to take, and safari etiquette
A full range of travel styles, from luxury tours to independent budget travel
How to stay healthy while traveling in Africa
With appendices listing safari tour operators and conservation groups, as well as a helpful safari bibliography, Adventuring in Southern Africa is an essential tool for anyone planning a trip to this spectacular and still unspoiled part of the world.
Customer Reviews:
Verbose and superficial: a waste of money.......2001-01-13
...I bought this book to make plans for a trip to Zambia but the chapter about this country is only 40 pages long, both verbose and superficial. Don't get fooled by the "Adventuring" in the title, unless your idea of adventure is to hop by plane from lodge to lodge at $200 or $300 a night. More importantly, except for the park entrance fees, this book doesn't list any price at all (I got them from two other, excellent, travel guides). Comments on cheaper accomodations are few and disenchanted. The maps are equally few and over-simplified (the roads don't even appear!...) Finally, I looked at the chapters about the other countries and it certainly didn't change my opinion about this book. Note also that the date of the last edition (October 97) makes it relatively outdated.
Outstanding and thorough book about South Africa.......2000-03-16
This book is an outstanding resource to be read prior to traveling to South Africa. It covers many different aspects of what the experience will entail. These include the history, etiquette, positives and negatives of each type of travel, various diseases and safety precautions one should take. In addition, he thoroughly delivers every aspect of each south african country...ie. countryside, animals, weather, and history. This book in interesting, exciting, and educational!
Outstanding and thorough book about South Africa.......2000-03-16
This book is an outstanding resource to be read prior to traveling to South Africa. It covers many different aspects of what the experience will entail. These include the history, etiquette, positives and negatives of each type of travel, various diseases and safety precautions one should take. In addition, he thoroughly delivers every aspect of each south african country...ie. countryside, animals, weather, and history. This book in interesting, exciting, and educational!
Most comprehensive book on southern Africa.......1999-10-23
This book is full of interesting and pertinent travel information; it is a MUST for anyone interested in game-viewing and travelling in southern Africa. The author gives best times to travel depending on what you want to see, and for each country, lists brief history/present politics, places to stay--easily accessible to remote--and how to get there and what you may see. He also gives a comprehensive packing list, medical info, and tips on game viewing. Out of the 4 books I bought on southern Africa, this is the one I referred to most often. This book, coupled with The Kingdon Field Guide to African Mammals, is an invaluable southern Africa traveller's necessity.
A must if you plan to visit Southern Africa.......1999-04-17
Prior to my trip, I purchased 4 travel books on Southern Africa then found this guidebook at the Miami airport. It was by far the most accurate and contained all the "need to know" information. Unlike the others, it contained excellent hotel and activity descriptions plus gave detailed information on each region. Sure you want to know some local history but I'm more interested in where to stay, where to eat and what things I can do. At the end of the trip, I left my first 4 guidebooks in Botswana and brought this one home!
Average customer rating:
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African Wildlife: A Photographic Journal
Manufacturer: Bumble Bee Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
General
| Photographers, A-Z
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Nature & Wildlife
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Similar Items:
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On This Earth: Photographs from East Africa
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Africa: An Artist's Journal
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Africa
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Big Cat Diary: Cheetah (Big Cat Diary)
ASIN: 0975434276 |
Product Description
From one of the worlds greatest nature photographers, this stunning 272 page photographic journal leads the reader through the magnificent, awe-inspiring land of southern Africa. Ronn Marateas, superb photographs are organized by chapters like "The Royal Family of the Bushveld , Voices of the Night and The Grey Ghosts of Africa. Writer Pamela Barcita skillfully blends her research with African folklore and tribal legends producing a text that both entertains and enlightens. The result is a beautiful and timeless book which emphasizes the intricate diversity of southern Africa, and underscores the delicate interdependence of all life forms.
Book Description
From the world-famous Kruger National Park in South Africa to Botswana's Okavango Delta, Namibia's Etosha National Park, and Zimbabwe's Hwange National Park, ecotravellers want to experience African savannahs, forests, deserts, and other stunning habitats and catch glimpses of some of the world's most spectacular wildlife: hornbills and parrots, monkeys and big cats, frogs and toads, crocodiles and snakes. This book provides all the information you need to find, identify, and learn about Southern Africa's magnificent animal life. - Identifying and location information on the most frequently seen animals. - Up-to-date information on the ecology, behavior, and conservation of the animals. - More than 500 full-color illustrations of Southern Africa's most common amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammal-the species you are most likely to see. - Information about and photos of Southern Africa's major habitat types. - Descriptions and photos of Southern Africa's most frequently visited parks and reserves. Easy-to-carry, entertainingly written, beautifully illustrated-you will want to have this book as constant companion on your journey.
Average customer rating:
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Complete Book of Southern African Mammals
Manufacturer: Struik Book Distributors (Pty), Ltd.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
General
| Animals
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Mammals
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ASIN: 0947430555 |
Book Description
This book documents the most up-to-date information on each of the region's mammals. It describes the animals under a series of set headings, which cover distribution and status, habitat, field characteristis, sounds, food and feeding, breeding biology and social systems. Each account is accompanied by a full color photograph(s) of the animal in it's naturalhabitat, plus a distribution map.
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- YOU: The Owner's Manual: An Insider's Guide to the Body that Will Make You Healthier and Younger
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Books Index
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