The southernmost tip of Africa is home to a vast and shifting population of birds whose soaring movements and flocks are closely followed by a human flock: the entranced and captivated ornithologists, birdwatchers and seekers of wilderness. If the bird writings of Le Vaillant turned a generation of young European readers into ornithologists this remarkable collection of birding curiosities written by some of our most intrepid bird observers will convert a new generation of South African readers. Enter gently and quietly into this world of birds and absorb these stories told by those who have been watching and listening, who can tell their bishops from their butchers. There is a story here for everyone. Contributors include Vernon Head, Mel Tripp, Peter Sullivan, Morne du Plessis, Claire Spottiswood, Raymond Rampolokeng, John Maytham, Ross Wanless, David Letsoalo, Alan Kemp, Mark Brown, Peter Sullivan, Peter Steyn, Rob Little, Peter Ryan, Richard Dean, Warwick Tarbortan, Mark Anderson, Susie Cunningham, Dave Allen, Callum Cohen and Adam Riley.

Hierdie langverwagte derde uitgawe van 'n Volledige Gids tot die Slange van Suider-Afrika is ten volle opgedateer. Nuwe inligting gebasseer op wetenskaplike navorsing is ingesluit, en hou verband met gedrag, identifikasie, voortplanting en gif. Kenmerke van hierdie boek:

- Dek al die noodsaaklike aspekte van biologie en slang gedrag.
- Spesies se beskrywings word vergesel van volkleur fotos en verspreidingskaarte.
- Eenvoudige simbole maak belangrike inligting dadelik beskikbaar.
- 'n Aparte 'Kyk uit vir' blokkie help om spesies in die veld gou te identifiseer.
- Hoofstukke oor klassifikasie en identifikasie, aanhou van slange, en die behandeling van slangbyte vul die inligting aan.

Hierdie omvattende gids sal van onskatbare waarde wees vir herpeteloë, slangversamelaars, voetslaners, tuiniers en enigeen wat meer van slange wil weet.

Ook beskikbaar in Engels

Recognise birds by their calls with this handy package of CD and accompanying book. These will help identify the sounds made by a range of the most common and widely distributed East African bird species.- CD features 100 bird calls.- Each species account features full-colour photographs, a distribution map and information on habitat, behaviour, feeding and nesting preferences, as well as a description of the call or song.- Common bird names given in English and Swahili. This is the perfect starting point for those who wish to develop their knowledge of bird calls.

For the very first time, local and visiting birders will have a detailed guide to Kenya's best birding sites. The book will help them to locate the key species in each area, including sought-after 'specials' and endemics.

Top 50 Birding Sites In Kenya offers:
a detailed map for each site with specific guidance on what to look for and where
information about the birds likely to be seen
descriptions of each site, indicating the plants and wildlife that may be encountered in addition to the birds
tips for planning your trip
road directions to each site.

Identify bird calls with this handy guide and CD, which together feature 500 distinctive southern African species. The CD gives the best-known song or call of each species; the book provides clear and accessible text, with a brief account for each species, including a description of the song, associated behaviour, similar-sounding species, the bird's favoured habitat type, and a distribution map.

The introduction describes interesting aspects of bird vocalisations, the differences between true songbirds and non-songbirds and why calls often change with the seasons and time of day. Delve into the endlessly fascinating language of birds with this concise guide and CD.

Fully revised, this third edition of the best-selling A Complete Guide to the Snakes of Southern Africa is a comprehensive guide to more than 150 dangerous and common harmless snakes in the region. Detailed species accounts, covering identification, behavior, reproduction and snake venom, are accompanied by full-color photographs, distribution maps, and information boxes highlighting diagnostic features. The book also introduces the reader to snake biology and behaviour; gives guidelines for keeping snakes in captivity; and provides information on the prevention and treatment of snakebite. New information based on recent discoveries and research data has been included, and the taxonomy has been brought in line with recent changes in the classification of species and subspecies. A readable and user-friendly guide that will be invaluable to herpetologists, snake collectors, students, campers, hikers and gardeners, or anyone who may want to know more about these fascinating and widely misunderstood reptiles.

This title focuses on the essentials of bird identification in East Africa by presenting those species that are most likely to be seen in accessible habitats throughout the region.
The text for each species highlights the diagnostic feature or combination of features that will enable the birdwatcher to most easily identify the bird.

For those species that are sexually dimorphic, have both breeding and non-breeding plumage, or in which the juvenile plumage differs markedly from that of the adult, more than one photograph has been included.

Thumbnail silhouettes aid the reader in quickly locating the correct group of birds, and for each species account a map shows the bird's distribution.

More than 1 000 mammal species occur in Africa south of the Sahara Desert. These creatures vary in size from the massive elephant to the tiniest bats, shrews and mice. A Photographic Guide to Mammals of Southern, Central and East Africa was compiled with a view to easing identification of many of the larger and more conspicuous mammals in the region, as well as some of the smaller and more unusual ones. This compact, easy-to-use guide features: Â- 152 of the region's mammal species; Â- key identification features showing how to differentiate between similar species; distribution maps and a list of major parks and reserves indicating where species are likely to be seen; Â- quick reference key on inside cover; Â- thumbnail silhouettes of each family group for quick identification. This new revised edition is an ideal pocket-sized travelling companion for nature lovers and visitors to nature reserves and wildlife areas.

Comprehensively revised, expanded and updated, this compact guide makes the ideal travelling companion on trips to the wildlife areas and nature reserves of East Africa.
It features authoritative text describing key identification features; full-colour photographs illustrating a range of commonly encountered, rare and beautiful species; distribution maps showing the range of each species; thumbnail outlines of each family group, enabling quick identification.
THE AUTHOR
Bill Branch is a well-known herpetologist and author of a range of books and papers on African reptiles and amphibians. He has done extensive fieldwork in over 20 African countries and has described over 40 new species.
Bill has served on international conservation committees and co-authored the Atlas and Red List of South African Reptiles.
He holds a doctorate in Zoology from the University of Southampton.

All groups of land animals are presented in this photographic guide, including frogs, reptiles, birds and mammals. A special feature is also devoted to insects. It is illustrated throughout with photographs of each animal together with diagnostic hand-drawings of the spoor and, in some cases, photographs of droppings and other signs to enable easy identification in the field.

Sharks are some of the most misunderstood animals on the planet. We still have much to learn about these fascinating creatures, but time is running out: sharks are more seriously threatened with extinction and in greater need of conservation and management than any other major group of vertebrates.
A Pocket Guide to Sharks of the World is the only field guide to identify, illustrate and describe every known shark species. Its compact format makes it handy for many situations, including recognising living species, fishery catches, or parts sold at markets. This expanded second edition presents lavish images, details on newly discovered species, and updated text throughout. It contains useful sections on the ID of shark teeth and shark fins most commonly encountered in the fin trade, and takes a look at shark biology, ecology and conservation.

Well-organised, well-written and superbly illustrated, A Pocket Guide to Sharks of the World will be an essential resource and definitive reference for years to come.

This book, illustrated by internationally acclaimed artist, Leigh Voigt, examines the role played by the Nguni cattle and cattle-related imagery in the oral tradition of the Zulu. Throughout the ages, wellbeing of the herds has been so closely connected to that of men that cattle have become part of the spiritual and aesthetic lives of the people, a perception that is mirrored in their poetic and complex naming practice.

This book is aimed at the self-drive visitor to Addo National Park. The book is a comprehensive, practical and easy-to-use guide to the routes and roads of Addo National Park. It rates all the roads of the park. Maps and quick-find guides are used for easy reference. All the photographs were taken in the park and illustrate the possibilities of the magnificent sightings one can expect on the various routes and roads. This book is a must-have for any Addo visitor.

Key Features
Comprehensive guide to all roads and routes of the Park
Maps of each route and road for easy navigation
Quick-find guide to the most common mammals, birds, reptiles and trees in the Park
Practical format and size with a soft cover for easy use in a vehicle during game drives
Illustrated by photographs taken from a vehicle on regular tourist roads
Map of the entire Park

Amphibians of Central and Southern Africa is the first comprehensive guide to the frogs, toads, and caecilians of the ten sub-equatorial African countries - Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland Zambia, and Zimbabwe. The result is at once a valuable reference tool, a field guide, and a source of future research.

What the herd taught me about love, courage and survival

A blonde, chic Parisienne, Françoise never expected to find herself living on a South African game reserve. But when she fell in love with renowned conservationist Lawrence Anthony her life took an unexpected turn. Lawrence died in 2012 and Françoise was left to face the tough reality of running Thula Thula without him, even though she knew very little about conservation. She was short on money, poachers were threatening their rhinos, and one of their elephants was charging Land Rovers on game drives and terrifying guests.

There was no time to mourn when Thula Thula's human and animal family were depending on her. How Françoise survived and Thula Thula thrived is beautifully described in this charming, funny and poignant book. Their elephant herd, rescued by Lawrence, shared Françoise's grief at his passing but over time forged a new relationship with her. One day a baby, Tom, became separated from the herd and found his way into Françoise's kitchen. Another day there was a desperate race against time to save a baby who had a snare wrapped round his face and couldn't open his mouth to suckle. Meanwhile Françoise fulfilled her dream of building a rescue centre for orphaned rhinos and other wildlife. Abandoned hippo baby Charlie, who hated water, joined the centre's rhinos and quickly became best friends with a little girl rhino called Makhosi. The traumatised babies had round the clock care, including an unlikely nursemaid in the form of a German Shepherd called Duma. If you loved Lawrence's The Elephant Whisperer, or just want to spend time with some very special animals, then you won't want to miss this sparkling book.