Book Review – Wildlife Of Southern Africa

edited by Vincent Carruthers (Struik Nature) ISBN 978-1-77584-353-5

I have a well-thumbed copy of the first edition of this wonderful all-in-one field guide, so I was very happy to discover the newly updated version. It’s a comprehensive guide to wildlife, from creepy crawlies to big mammals as well as a reference guide to grasses, fungi, ferns, wildflowers and trees.

I’ve not only used it to identify creatures, animals and plants in the bush, but often around the garden and the house (we had a large Wolf Spider recently!) The illustrations are clear and accurate, each with a short description to help with identification, and updated range maps for each species. There are dragonflies, moths, beetles, snakes, fish and more…over 2000 plants and animals described, including, of course, the Big Five. Each chapter is written by a leading expert in the field, such as Elsa Pooley on plants, Ken Newman and Christine Read on birds, and the editor, Vincent Carruthers, on frogs.

The book is available in English and Afrikaans, and in eBook formats. It’s a brilliant resource, fun to dip into, and a must for any road-trip in Southern Africa.

Judy Ward
5/5

Find out how we rate our books here: The Writers Write Book Review Format