Thursday 5 June 2008

National Audubon Society Field Guide to African Wildlife







Product Description
The first and only field guide to offer comprehensive coverage of the African continent, this guide sends the reader on a virtual safari. All the birds, mammals, reptiles, and insects are brought to life, and the parks and reserves for which the continent is famous are described in thorough detail. This guide is packed with 577 stunning color photographs of African habitats and animals, and provides a wealth of information on more than 850 species compiled by veteran safari leaders and experts in African wildlife.






Customer Reviews
Excellent safari book We took this book and Wildlife of East Africa by Martin B. Withers. This book is much better, we only looked at the other book to see how it paled in comparison. I agree that the descriptions are too brief for a serious wildlife person, but it suited our purpose. I liked that all the pictures are in the middle so you can thumb through all the pictures and then look up the details later. I also liked how this book showed the range of where the animal could be found. The couple of safari guides we showed this book too remarked on what a great book it was - and how clear the pictures are. One guide even offered to buy it off of us!
Clarity, Ease of Use, Good travel weight I have used this book several times in Africa - my edition was published in 1995. Even when your luggage weight is severely restricted (as when you use small airplanes), this doesn't get left behind!! I am constantly surprised that tour guides, etc. from Africa don't know this book - so many of the other guides weigh a great deal and only cover birds or mammals or whatever. This gives countries, habitats, and many pictures plus essays about the wildlife in question plus a map including its range. Outstanding! If you buy nothing else, buy this. I am pleased to discover it is still in print and am ordering one for a friend - no way would I even lend my copy!
Good, but not great! As other reviewers have noted, this is a wonderful Field Guide with excellent photographs and descriptions. Indeed, following my first trip to Tanzania, I purchased a copy. Prior to my second trip, however, someone suggested that I take a look, instead, at Withers' Wildlife of East Africa and I was immediately sold on it. There are various reasons why I think Withers is the better choice for those going on their first safari in East Africa. Most importantly, it's a lot smaller/lighter and the descriptions are opposite the bird and animal photographs, rather than at the back of the Audubon Guide. In addition, the coverage of wildlife is excellent: we saw a lot of different animals and birds and, with very few exceptions, they were all covered in Wild Life of East Africa. A friend is off on safari this summer and asked me about what to take. They had heard of The Audubon Field Guide, but not Withers et al. It's that conversation that prompted me to write this.

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