Customer Reviews
Excellent safari book 
2008-03-27
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 2007-05-31
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! 
2007-03-17
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.
Invaluable 2007-01-09
Took on safari. Useful size and plastic cover resists creasing and dirt.
Photos are first rate and the detail sections well indexed. I took several books with me, but this was the one I used for identifying animals and birds.
Ideal Safari Companion 2007-01-09
I recently went on Safari in Kenya & Tanzania and this was the book mostly used by our various guides. I purchased on my return and it has been invaluable help naming the animals and birds in all my photos. It has also given me a much better background knowledge of the area and wildlife we saw. I would definitely recommend the book to anyone going to Africa, by the way the book was available in Africa at almost 3 times the Amazon price!!
Audubon Guide to African Wildlife 2007-01-04
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.
Excellent Safari Book 2006-11-07
This book gives an excellent overview of the african animals (mainly southern and eastern africa, but covers animals from the entire continent). The mammal and bird sections are the strongest and most complete. There is also sufficent information on crocodiles, and very little on insects.
It's a great book to take on safari because it contains all the essential information that you would want: good descriptions of the most important animals, descriptions of major ecosystems, and descriptions of each african nation and what wildlife is available in each. There are many good color photographs for each animal and each of the ecosystems covered.
If you want one good wildlife guide to take to Africa, this should be it.
Very handy 2006-11-04
I carried this guide on 20 wildlife rides in South Africa and Botswana. It is the right size, durable and quick to reference. The photos are clear and colorful. It was often handed around the vehicle as we learned more about the amazing creatures we were viewing.
It is a must have.
The best book our African guides have seen! 2006-09-08
We have used the Field Guide to African Wildlife on three safaris to Southern and Eastern Africa. This guide is so wonderful (especially the photos) that on two of these trips, our guides (in Rwanda and Namibia) have been so fascinated with it that we have given it to them at the end of our safari. This will be the third copy of the book I have bought!
Buy this book if you're only buying one! 2006-08-07
We received the Field Guide the day before we departed for a photo safari to Tanzania and Kenya. It proved to be an invaluable quick reference guide to wildlife we saw during the day, as well as an encyclopedic work on each species, including countries where they're found, coloration, mating habits, foods, and myriad other details. You can take a cursury view of an animal or a deep dive into each one. I recommend spending a little time learning the cross-referencing system to get the most out of the book. Don't wait to buy it in Africa, as it costs 3x as much there!
