From the big cats to the endangered wild dog and Ethiopian wolf, the often-maligned hyaenas and the opportunistic jackal, carnivores captivate and fascinate and excite. This large format study examines their behaviour, social make-up, relations and interactions and is supported by dramatic photography. Index, gloss, map, 160pp, SOUTH AFRICA. STRUIK.

A coffee table book of photographs showcasing the variety of animal wildlife in Africa. Organised into four major themes: courtship, mating and parenting; the quest for food; the ways animals survive and defend themselves; and sociability. 160pp, SOUTH AFRICA. STRUIK, 1868721612

This guide highlights and compares wildlife reserves and other major attraction across Africa, making planning a safari trip easier. The author describes with enthusiasm the activities available in each country and safari park. The recommendations are targeted towards travellers looking for comfortable surroundings with modern amenities from lodges and hotels to camps. Includes detailed information on walking and hot air ballon safaris, scuba diving and snorkeling, night game drives, mountain climbing, gorilla and horseback safaris as well as family and honeymoon trips. Countries described in detail are Botswana, Kenya, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe. The countries also described are Burundi, Lesotho, Malawi, Rwanda, Swaziland, Mauritius and Seychelles Islands and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Also includes usual travel advice for visas, vaccinations and packing. Index, gloss, 688pp, colour and b/w illus, USA, SPRINGFIELD BOOKS 0939895102

Richard and Bookey Peek hadn't planned on adopting a warthog, any more than one would plan a tidal wave, a tornado or triplets, but at Stone Hills, natural disasters have a way of happening when you least expect them. Through Zimbabwe's dark days, Stone Hills has become a world in itself, a place where you might share your shower with an owl or your bed with a baby squirrel, where crocodiles are named after unpopular guests and a rather special warthog named Poombi relinquishes her place on the sofa to return to the wild - much to her indignation. Col photos, 341pp, UK. LITTLE BOOKS.

Second, expanded edition. How does the elephant's trunk work? Why do oxpeckers sit on animals? This publication these everyday questions about mammals and birds that are prompted by visits to the bush. It fills the gap in the existing literature by being an authoritative, all-in-one guide that caters to laymen, enthusiasts and field guides alike. 600 colour images, 366pp, SOUTH AFRICA. JACANA MEDIA.

A field guide to African mammals by a behavioural biologist explaining why animals act as they do and what their behaviour means. Illustrated with b/w line drawings, maps and diagrams. Index, bib, gloss, xxii, 611pp, USA. CALIFORNIA U P, 0520080858

A coffee table book containing some 150 wildlife photographs submitted over the years as entries in annual wildlife photography competitions. Includes images covering almost the entire spectrum of the animal kingdom. 128pp, SOUTH AFRICA. STRUIK, 186825450X

1997 Hardback

An A5 laminated fold-out field guide featuring all the carnivores of the African continent. Animal names in English, French and German. SOUTH AFRICA. ECO-EDUCATIONAL PUBLISHERS.

1999 Poster 0620245379

Coffee-table book covering all the members of the cat family throughout Africa in unprece-dented depth, concentrating on the big three - lions, leopards and cheetah - illustrating how this family succeed at being super-predators. Examines the different habitats cats occupy, adapta-tions they require, their social and reproductive lives, and how they hunt. It will also explore their stormy relationship with people. 176pp, SOUTH AFRICA. STRUIK.

A photo led wildlife book focusing on the characteristics of the cheetah. The authors describe how cheetahs have adapted to their environment and discuss some of the ways people are assisting in their conservation. 95pp, UK. EVANS MITCHELL BOOKS.

New (2004) printing of the most comprehensive identification guide to African wildlife, describing more than 850 species of African mammals, birds, reptiles and insects. Colour photographs for each species and range maps for 470. Index, 988pp, UK. HARPERCOLLINS PUBLISHERS.

1995 0007198116 Hardback

Twelve years of work on the part of acclaimed wildlife photographer Steve Bloom has resulted in this joyous celebration of the elephant, from the wildest outreaches of Botswana to the teeming cities of India. His photographs include aerial shots, the drama of the fight between angry males, tender interaction between mother and calves, the rich decorations of the elephants of India, and extraordinary underwater images. 224pp, UK. THAMES & HUDSON.

A photo led wildlife book on the elephants of Africa and Asia. Includes information on habitat, diet, the animal's distinguishing features and social structure. 95pp, UK. EVANS MITCHELL BOOKS.

A concise guide to the safari parks of East and Southern Africa. The authors describe how to plan and customise a safari trip and how to choose the right destinations taking into account bugets and concerns about health and children. Includes packing checklists, photography tips, essential words and phrases in Zulu and Swahili, shopping tips, field guides, useful websites and addresses and reading lists. Index, maps, xvii, 190pp, USA. FODOR.

2004 1400012341 Paperback

Stories about the life of a bushveld conservationist at the Kruger National Park, abounding with encounters with elephant, lion, buffalo, leopard and rhino, whether darting for research, managing culling operations by helicopter or stalking on foot. Bib, gloss, b/w photos, 388pp, SOUTH AFRICA. JONATHAN BALL.

26 years of active guiding in countries throughout Africa, with many diverse clients, allows Garth Thompson to pass on a wealth of knowledge gained in this exciting outdoor vocation. His informative words are enhanced by the artful cartoons of Dov Fedler, which add light-hearted humour while emphasising pertinent points. In relaxed and easy-to-read text, Thompson illustrates various principles of guiding with real-life stories. 240pp, SOUTH AFRICA. JACANA.

A compact pocket guide covering all African land mammals, designed for use in the field. Includes 700 colour illustrations, 280 maps, concise text focusing on essential information for field identification, and a scientific names index. Index, gloss, maps, 272pp, UK. A & C BLACK (PUBLISHERS) LTD, 0713669810

Susie Cazenove, brings years of safari experience in East and southern Africa together in a collection of colourful biographies of some of Africa's foremost professional guides. Interspersed with anecdotes of life in the bush, she paints a vivid picture of the passion and dedication of this fiercely independent breed. Illustrated with 60 of the author's own photographs. Maps, 234pp, SOUTH AFRICA. JACANA MEDIA.

A natural history of lions, well illustrated with colour photographs. Index, 72pp, UK. COLIN BAXTER PHOTOGRAPHY.

The poems are about the animals of Africa, and they are accompanied by photographs taken by the author and some of Africa’s most eminent photographers. In most of the poems the animals are given a human persona and described in the context of both the animal and the human condition. Full colour throughout, 120pp, KENYA. CAMERAPIX.

With original photographs from Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zambia and Zimbabwe, the author shares his notes and impressions of the wildlife of these countries. Spending hours and days tracking shy animals and rare birds at the heart of vast plains and marshy deltas, De Wilde has captured some remarkable photographs of the African natural world. Translated from the French by Susan Pickford. 223pp, FRANCE. FLAMMARION, 208030464X

2004 Hardback

An indispensable tool for naturalists traveling to Africa, this new edition has been revised to acknowledge the enthusiasm to those watching these magnificent animals at zoos and wildlife parks, and on film. The Safari Companion enables readers to recognize and interpret visible behavioral activities, such as courtship rituals, territorial marking, aggression, and care of young. Each account of over 80 species includes a behavioral table in which the unique actions of the hoofed mammals, carnivores, and primates are described for easy reference. In addition, useful maps show the major national boundaries, vegetation zones, and game parks relevant to the guide. The book includes an extensive glossary, as well as tips on wildlife photography, a list of organizations working to protect African wildlife, and advice on where and when to see the animals. Index, gloss, 460pp, USA. CHELSEA GREEN PUBLISHING CO.

Think of Africa and one immediately thinks of its wild animals, bird life and even its unusual and colourful insects. The continent's rich and incredibly varied wildlife draws visitors from around the world, and The very best of African Wildlife brings together the very best Africa can offer. From the big five - lion, leopard, buffalo, rhino and elephant - to their many equally impressive companions in the wild, this book presents an extensive overview in stunning images of what the continent has to offer. 128pp, SOUTH AFRICA. STRUIK.

Tales from the bush mingle with poignant descriptions of the African landscape in this memoir of a British man who emigrated to Rhodesia in 1977 with a passion for wildlife and wilderness. As the Zambezi Valley was threatened by development, Pitman began working among the elephants in Matusadona National Park, relocating cheetahs, tracking black rhinos, and introducing tourists to the wildlife of southern Africa. 320pp, UK. SUMMERSDALE.