Extensively researched, beautifully
presented, jam packed with facts and information and easy to follow. (Review by
Keith Millar)
The creators of this book, Chris and
Mathilde Stuart are described on their webpage as Scientists /Authors
/Photographers and Filmmakers. They have previously written 22 books, many of
them bestselling field guides. They have also published numerous scientific
papers and popular articles on the subject of nature and wildlife. For the past
30 years they have spent their time travelling the world researching the
subject and promoting conservation.
With a CV like that it almost goes without
saying that their Field Guide To National
Parks & Game Reserves Of East Africa is an excellent publication.
Extensively researched, beautifully presented, jam packed with facts and
information and easy to follow.
A guidebook such as this is not intended to
be for casual reading and, given the region covered, may not at first glance
have much relevance to us in Southern Africa. However, it will certainly prove
to be invaluable to anyone planning a trip to East Africa.
What it is more, the information is
interesting enough to give one ideas about visiting this region, or at least
adding that thought to a bucket list.
The guide covers the National Parks and Game
Reserves of Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda, at total of 58 diverse
conservation areas which are home to some of the continent’s most spectacular
wildlife and biomes. For each area there is key background information which is
vital to anyone planning a trip or for use while on the trip itself.
There are detailed descriptions of the
history, geology, climate, vegetation and wildlife of each reserve, as well as
maps indicating places of interest, and the best sites to view various species.
Also included are text panels featuring
each parks highlights and facilities and important alerts.
At the back of the book there is an
extensive photographic identification guide of the mammals, birds, amphibians,
reptiles and trees of the area. This will be priceless to any traveller to the
region. There are also suggestions for further reading and a contact number for
each country.
The book itself is presented in a A5
paperback format and is fully glossy and in colour. It is robustly bound – as
befits a book which will probably be lugged around in the bottom of a backpack
and used in all sorts of conditions and environments.
Stuarts’
Guide To National Parks & Game Reserves Of East Africa is published by Struik Nature (an imprint of Penguin Random House South
Africa (PTY) Ltd).
The ISBN Number is: 978 1 77584 062 6.
Recommended retail price R320. – Keith Millar
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