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READING AND TRAVEL GUIDE

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Books for

Enrich your travels with reading! Here's a hand-picked list prepared for your journey in conjunction with the book experts at Longitude.

Essential Reading

Item EXSAF194. Buy these 5 items as a set for $106 including shipping, 15% off the retail price.
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Lonely Planet Botswana & Namibia

Lonely Planet Botswana & Namibia

by Lonely Planet

  • GUIDEBOOK
  • 2010
  • PAPER
  • 424 PAGES

An informative practical guide to Botswana and its attractions, including nearby Victoria Falls. (BOT14, $27.99)

The Safari Companion

The Safari Companion

by Richard Estes

  • FIELD GUIDE
  • 1999
  • PAPER
  • 459 PAGES
  • BEST SELLER

An invaluable encyclopedic guide to Africa's mammals by a noted scientist. Written with the typical safari-goer in mind, this perennial bestseller includes black-and-white drawings, an overview of each group and in-depth information. (AFR06, $30.00)

The Wildlife of Southern Africa, A Field Guide to the Animals and Plants of the Region

The Wildlife of Southern Africa, A Field Guide to the Animals and Plants of the Region

by Vincent Carruthers | Kenneth Newman

  • FIELD GUIDE
  • 2008
  • PAPER
  • 320 PAGES

With 1,200 color illustrations by a range of experts, this compact field guide includes all the birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, insects, fish and plants that a traveler is likely to encounter in Southern Africa. (SAF59, $29.95)

Cry of the Kalahari, Seven Years in Africa's Last Great Wilderness

Cry of the Kalahari, Seven Years in Africa's Last Great Wilderness

by Mark Owens | Delia Owens

  • BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR
  • 1985
  • PAPER
  • 352 PAGES

The story of a family thrown out of Botswana for its stance on conservation. While their approach to conservation is controversial, there's no doubt that the Owens are dedicated to the wildlife of southern Africa -- and are very good writers. (SAF13, $16.00)

Southern Africa Regional Map

Southern Africa Regional Map

by ITMB

  • 2008
  • MAP

A double-sided map of the continent south of the Zambezi River, at a scale of 1:2,125,000, with color photographs and notes on parks and major attractions. (SAF63, $12.95)

 
Botswana Map

Botswana Map


by Globetrotter

  • 2011
  • MAP

With a country map (1:1,600,000) and insets of Chobe and other national parks on the reverse. (SAF07, $10.95)

Bradt Guide Zambia

Bradt Guide Zambia


by Chris McIntyre

  • GUIDEBOOK
  • 2012
  • PAPER
  • 518 PAGES

Safari guide McIntyre's practical and detailed overview of Zambia, its history, culture, attractions and natural history with color photographs, local maps and excellent travel information. Fourth edition. (ZMB01, $28.99)

Africa

Africa


by Phyllis Martin | Patrick O'Meara

  • CULTURAL PORTRAIT
  • 1995
  • PAPER
  • 400 PAGES

African history and prehistory, popular culture, art and economics -- it's all here in the most popular introductory text for undergraduate African studies courses in North America. With maps, photographs and drawings. (AFR07, $26.00)

Africa, A Biography of the Continent

Africa, A Biography of the Continent


by John Reader

  • HISTORY
  • 1999
  • PAPER
  • 816 PAGES

With the ease of a practiced journalist, Reader weaves a masterful and lively tale of the continent, from ancient cultures to modern times. Both authoritative and informal, this is a splendid introduction to all of Africa. (AFR49, $18.95)

Cultural Atlas of Africa

Cultural Atlas of Africa


by Jocelyn Murray

  • CULTURAL PORTRAIT
  • 1998
  • HARD COVER
  • 240 PAGES
  • OUT OF PRINT

A handsomely illustrated atlas of African history and culture with 96 outstanding maps, 250 color photographs and excellent essays. (AFR47, $50.00)

Lost World of the Kalahari

Lost World of the Kalahari


by Laurens van der Post

  • CULTURAL PORTRAIT
  • 1986
  • PAPER
  • 279 PAGES

Originally published in 1958, this poetic book is the story of a quest to find the San people in the remote desert. It has become a classic romanticized tale of an encounter between the literate European and "noble savage": mystical, captivating and a useful record of a time. (SAF24, $21.95)

The Harmless People

The Harmless People


by Elizabeth Marshall Thomas

  • CULTURAL PORTRAIT
  • 1989
  • PAPER
  • 303 PAGES

A classic study of the Bushmen of the Kalahari, novelistic in its detail. Based on the author's fieldwork, the account is direct, informative, and strong on the character of the people and land. (SAF60, $15.95)

The Scramble for Africa

The Scramble for Africa


by Thomas Pakenham

  • HISTORY
  • 1992
  • PAPER
  • 738 PAGES

Absorbing and meticulously researched, this in-depth history of the Victorian land grab in Africa includes excellent portraits of the egomaniacal personalities who overran the continent. (AFR26, $23.99)

Exploration of Africa, From Cairo to the Cape

Exploration of Africa, From Cairo to the Cape


by Ann Hugon

  • EXPLORATION
  • 1993
  • PAPER
  • 173 PAGES
  • OUT OF PRINT

This jewel of a book chronicles the 19th-century exploration of Africa with hundreds of contemporary paintings and prints, brief chapters on the expeditions, and a very useful chronology. Livingstone, Burton and others are featured in a series of journal excerpts. (AFR03, $15.95)

The Eye of the Elephant, An Epic Adventure in the African Wilderness

The Eye of the Elephant, An Epic Adventure in the African Wilderness


by Mark Owens | Delia Owens

  • TRAVEL NARRATIVE
  • 1993
  • PAPER
  • 305 PAGES

The adventures of conservationists Mark and Delia Owens in the Luangwa River Valley of Zambia. They set up camp in the wilderness among the elephants, but are drawn into an ugly struggle with the local people. (ZMB04, $18.95)

Mating

Mating


by Norman Rush

  • LITERATURE
  • 1992
  • PAPER
  • 480 PAGES

This comic novel evokes daily life in Botswana and skewers the notion of well-intentioned academics at large in the developing world. The description of a trek from Gaborone to the Kalahari is terrific. (BOT03, $16.95)

The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency

The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency


by Alexander McCall Smith

  • MYSTERY
  • 2009
  • PAPER
  • 235 PAGES

The delightful introduction to Botswana's formidable female detective, evoking the cultures, customs and texture of Africa. (BOT10, $13.95)

Okavango, A Journey

Okavango, A Journey


by Adrian Bailey | Robin Keene-Young

  • NATURAL HISTORY
  • 2006
  • PAPER
  • 144 PAGES
  • OUT OF PRINT

The South African-based team, drawing on over a decade of visits to the Okavango Delta, captures its wildlife and habitats in beautiful color photographs. (BOT26, $24.95)

Relentless Enemies: Lions and Buffalo


by Beverly Joubert | Dereck Joubert

  • NATURAL HISTORY
  • 2006
  • HARD COVER
  • 176 PAGES
  • OUT OF PRINT

The husband-and-wife team document two years among the lions of Botswana's Duba Plains in 100 stunning images in this companion book to a National Geographic film on the Okavango Delta. (SAF175, $40.00)

The Myth of Wild Africa

The Myth of Wild Africa


by Jonathan Adams | Thomas McShane

  • NATURAL HISTORY
  • 1996
  • PAPER
  • 290 PAGES

The authors, associated with the World Wildlife Fund, explode the romantic fallacy of an untouched continent where animals roam freely in sanctuaries. It's a no-holds-barred critique of old-style conservation in Africa. (AFR15, $29.95)

National Audubon Society Field Guide to African Wildlife

National Audubon Society Field Guide to African Wildlife


by Peter Alden

  • FIELD GUIDE
  • 1995
  • PAPER
  • 988 PAGES

This comprehensive photo guide covers 850 birds, mammals and reptiles of Africa. With range maps and a good country-by-country overview of habitats and parks. (AFR25, $24.95)

Newman's Birds of Southern Africa

Newman's Birds of Southern Africa


by Kenneth Newman

  • FIELD GUIDE
  • 2010
  • PAPER
  • 538 PAGES

This commemorative tenth edition celebrates the contribution of the late author, Kenneth Newman, fully revised and updated by his daughter, Vanessa Newman, to reflect the latest research, taxonomy and common names. (SAF29, $26.00)

Southern African Wildlife, A Visitor's Guide

Southern African Wildlife, A Visitor's Guide


by Mike Unwin

  • FIELD GUIDE
  • 2011
  • PAPER
  • 234 PAGES

A popular photographic guide to the mammals, birds, reptiles and habitats south of the Zambezi. With 300 color photographs and illuminating text. (SAF131, $26.99)

The Kingdon Field Guide to African Mammals

The Kingdon Field Guide to African Mammals


by Jonathan Kingdon

  • FIELD GUIDE
  • 1997
  • PAPER
  • 476 PAGES
  • OUT OF PRINT

This stunningly-illustrated, comprehensive field guide by a leading authority includes Kingdon's 480 exquisite color paintings. (AFR32, $49.50)

More Recommendations

Here are some other groups of books that might be of interest

Longitude provides recommended reading for travelers in partnership with the leading tour operators and travel programs for hundreds of destinations worldwide. We've got the classic, new and hard-to-find books and maps to help you get the most out of your adventures.