It is not necessary to do any pre-departure reading or purchase any field guides, however an understanding of Africa and also of her people and wildlife will add another dimension to your trip. A basic understanding of wildlife behaviour will also improve your photographs immeasurably.
Your guide is likely to be carrying a copy of the SASOL or Newman’s Bird book and there will also be a small library of reference books at most of the camps. Many guests discover a sudden appreciation of birds after a couple of days in Africa so you may enjoy taking your own bird book.
We would be delighted to hear about any other books (fiction or non-fiction) that you have enjoyed or found useful and would like to share with future guests.
Safari Guides
- Field Guide to the Mammals of Southern Africa: Chris & Tilde Stuart
- The Kingdon Field Guide to African Mammals: Jonathan Kingdon
- The Safari Companion: A Guide to Watching African Mammals: Richard Estes
- Newman’s Birds of Southern Africa: Ken Newman
- SASOL Birds of Southern Africa: Ian Sinclair
- Birds of Prey of Southern, Central, and East Africa: David Allan
- Field Guide to the Snakes & Other Reptiles of Southern Africa: Bill Branch
- Field Guide to the Trees of Southern Africa: Piet van Wyk & Braam van Wyk
- Wildlife of Southern Africa: Vincent Carruthers
- A Field Guide to the Tracks and Signs of Southern and East African Wildlife: Chris & Tilde Stuart
Photography
- Richard du Toit’s Essential Wildlife Photography: Richard du Toit
- RSPB Guide to Digital Wildlife Photography: David Tipling
History, culture and politics
- The State of Africa: A History of Fifty Years of Independence: Martin Meredith
- The Life and Work of Thomas Baines: Jane Carruthers
- A Marriage of Inconvenience: Michael Dutfield
- The Scramble for Africa: Thomas Pakenham
- Long Walk to Freedom: The Autobiography of Nelson Mandela: Nelson Mandela
- King Leopold’s Ghost: A story of greed, terror and heroism: Adam Hochschild
- Dark Safari: The Life Behind the Legend of Henry Morton Stanley: John Bierman
Natural history, ecology and conservation
- Cry of the Kalahari: Mark and Delia Owens
- The Lost World of the Kalahari: Sir Laurens Van Der Post
- The Harmless People: Elizabeth Marshall Thomas
- The Bushmen: Anthony Bannister and Peter Johnson
- The Elephant Whisperer: Lawrence Anthony with Graham Spence
Fiction
- The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency: Alexander McCall Smith
- When a Crocodile Eats the Sun: Peter Godwin
- Mukiwa: A White Boy in Africa: Peter Godwin
- Don’t Let’s Go to the Dogs Tonight: An African Childhood: Alexandra Fuller
- Cocktail Hour Under the Tree of Forgetfulness: Alexandra Fuller
- The Last Resort: A Zimbabwe Memoir: Douglas Rogers
- House of Stone: The True Story of a Family Divided in War-torn Zimbabwe: Christina Lamb
- The Africa House: Christina Lamb
- Blood River: A Journey to Africa’s Broken Heart: Tim Butcher
- Chasing the Devil: On Foot Through Africa’s Killing Fields: Tim Butcher
- Don’t Run Whatever You Do: My adventures as a safari guide: Peter Allison
- The Poisonwood Bible: Barbara Kingsolver