lerasp

We are getting ready to go to Kenya/Tanzania safari in November. What books do you recoomend for good pre-safari reading (both fictin and non) and to take with us? I want to take a guide to animals that is sufficient but is not too heavy. Pre-reading, I've read "out of africa" and loved it! Does anyone have any other recommendations?

thanks

Kavey

These threads may help:

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34517934

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34585066

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34565840

jasher

Hello,

The Safari Companion (Richard Estes) Definitely pre-reading as it's a big book, but it will lend a lot of insight to what you see on safari.

Joy Adamson's books on the cats she raised in Kenya: the Elsa books, Queen of Shaba (leopard) and Pippa (cheetah). You may be visiting some of the places she worked and lived

Raising Daisy Rothschild: Raising of an orphaned Rothschild's giraffe by the people who went on to found Giraffe Manor and the Giraffe Centre in Nairobi

The Flame Trees of Thika (Kuki Gallman) - Memoir of a childhood in Kenya

Into Africa (Chris Packer): Book on lion conservation and research in the Serengeti and Ngorongoro areas, told in a travel journal style

Cheers,
Julian

atravelynn

West with the Night by Beryl Markham

Have a great trip!

bwanamitch

The best field guides are those that not only cover mammals but a good selection of mammals, birds, insects, trees, flowers, etc that you are likely to see. Here are some personal recommendations from my own library along with links to my website where you can find cover images, flap texts and shopping links (near the shopping cart sign).

The by far best of such guides is "The Wildlife of Southern Africa" (ISBN 1-86872-451-4), and although not targeting at East Africa, in this guide you will find many species of that region as well:
http://www.safari-shop.de/FieldGuide...#1-86872-451-4

It's only available in South Africa (at Kalahari.net), but ordering is as easy as at Amazon, and delivery will take about 3-4 weeks.

My 2nd best choice would be "National Audubon Society Field Guide to African Wildlife" (ISBN 0-679-43234-5):
http://www.safari-shop.de/FieldGuide...#0-679-43234-5

Another nice book is Collins' "Wildlife of East Africa" (ISBN 0-00-713418-5):
http://www.safari-shop.de/FieldGuide...#0-00-713418-5

also available as US reprint:
http://www.safari-shop.de/FieldGuide...#0-691-00737-3

A more entertaining but very informative book is Richard Leakey's biography "Wildlife Wars" (ISBN 0-312-20626-7) which gives you good insights to nature conservation in Kenya:
http://www.safari-shop.de/NonFiction...#0-312-20626-7

since the hard cover is no longer available, scroll down for the paperback edition:
http://www.safari-shop.de/NonFiction...#0-312-30334-3

OFF TOPIC: Dennis, if you read this, you should have a look at "The Trouble with Africa" (ISBN 0-670-04797-X), wonderful stories from the Zambian bush:
http://www.safari-shop.de/NonFiction...#0-670-04797-X

Mitch