Elephants are arguably Africa’s most charismatic animals, and among the biggest drawcards to our game reserves. While the burgeoning game-park industry may be increasing our access to these magnificent creatures, rising human-elephant encounters are an inevitable outcome – sometimes, sadly, fatal. Such encounters could likely have been avoided had those involved understood elephant behaviour, and particularly how these intelligent animals interface with traffic through their territory.

This book describes elephant family life, from rearing of infants to establishing dominance within a herd; it unpacks regular elephant behaviour, the matriarchal system, the particular dangers of males in musth, and many other aspects of their lives. Most of all, it provides guidelines for ensuring safe and enjoyable encounters with these majestic animals.

This is an essential guide for those planning visits to reserves: aside from the interest factor, being able to read the tell-tale signs may just save lives.

A new addition to the successful 'Quick ID guide' series, Primates is a succinct survey of the features and habits of our closest relatives.

Divided into the three main primate groups - great apes, typical monkeys and prosimians (including the bushbabies) - this easy-to-use guide rovides pertinent facts, annotated photographs and up-to-date distribution maps to help readers accurately identify the most commonly seen and charismatic primates in the field.

Of all the animal groups, none looms larger in the imagination than the carnivores. Adapted for hunting and killing other animals, they represent the most powerful predators on Earth.

This compact guide covers both the mighty and ferocious - big cats, wolves, foxes and hyaenas - and a variety of smaller but equally formidable hunters - otters, polecats, weasels, mongooses and civets.

Of the more than 5,500 mammals species worldwide, at least 1,200 occur in Africa. Stuarts’ Field Guide to the Larger Mammals of Africa concentrates on the more visible and easily distinguished larger species, as well as some of the more frequently seen smaller mammals.

This new edition has been extensively revised, expanded and redesigned and includes:

• the most recent research and taxonomy
• revised distribution maps and many new images
• colour-coded grouping of orders
• size icons
• detailed descriptions of each species, offering insight into key identification characters, typical behaviour, preferred habitat, food choice, reproduction and longevity
• whales and dolphins now featured too

Sasol First Field Guide to Mammals of Southern Africa provides fascinating insight into the wild animals of the region.

Through full-colour photographs and distribution maps, and easy-to-read text, the beginner and budding naturalist will be able to identify the more common mammal species found in southern Africa, discover where they live, and learn about their unique feeding and breeding habits.

Following the success of earlier ‘Quick Guide’ books, this slim little volume tackles one of the few groups of mammals that can fly. Divided into large fruit bats and smaller insecteating bats, this ultimate quick identification guide covers Africa’s 12 bat families. An informative introduction touches on evolution, flight, echolocation and reproduction, demystifying an animal that is all too often misunderstood. The text describes the facial characteristics and wing shapes common to each family and points out features that can help to distinguish between them. But it is the photographs and annotated line drawings that are most useful for identification. They include bats in flight and roosting sites, and close-ups of facial structures and wings that highlight key diagnostic attributes. An added extra is a photographic section showing the skulls of a variety bats.

This is a valuable guide for anyone with an interest in wildlife and its less common members.

More than 1 000 mammal species occur in Africa south of the Sahara Desert. These creatures vary in size from the massive elephant to the tiniest bats, shrews and mice. A Photographic Guide to Mammals of Southern, Central and East Africa was compiled with a view to easing identification of many of the larger and more conspicuous mammals in the region, as well as some of the smaller and more unusual ones.

This compact, easy-to-use guide features:

- 152 of the region's mammal species

- key identification features showing how to differentiate between similar species

- distribution maps and a list of major parks and reserves indicating where species are likely to be seen

- quick reference key on inside cover

- thumbnail silhouettes of each family group for quick identification

This new revised edition is an ideal pocket-sized travelling companion for nature lovers and visitors to nature reserves and wildlife areas.

This guide to the mammals of Botswana offers a detailed roundup of more than 80 animals – with maps, travel information and a photographic field guide in a single, handy volume. It covers the six major mammal groups: non-ruminants, ruminants, carnivores, non-carnivorous small mammals, rodents and shrews, and bats – in colour-coded sections for quick reference, and with animal names in seven languages.

An initial section examines mammal anatomy, physiology and behaviour, supported by photographs and illustrations and containing fascinating information on skull muscles, dentition, locomotion, senses, reproduction, digestion and thermoregulation.

The field guide section treats one animal per page, with interesting text about their habits, behaviour, communication, social structures, etc, supported by photographs, distribution maps, and images of skulls, horns, tracks and droppings to ensure quick and easy ID. Pictorial keys at the start of each mammal group help readers navigate within the section.

Packed with interesting facts, photographs and maps, this is an essential guide to Botswana's rich mammal legacy.

Southern African Mammals Made Simple enables users to distinguish between commonly confused mammals by applying the breakthrough methodology that made Southern African LBJs Made Simple so hugely popular.

The simple three-step system allows for quick and certain identification of mammals in the field. For each species featured, the book gives:

- range maps

- full-colour illustrations and photographs

- key identification pointers, and

- concise text describing height, weight, habits and habitat.

All of southern Africa’s most common and distinctive mammals are included, but the particular value of this book lies in separating the more challenging species, such as antelope, mongooses, genets, primates and many more. It will appeal to both local and foreign visitors to our game parks.

Greater southern Africa has a wealth of mammal species, almost 400 – all of which are covered in this fully updated, comprehensive field guide.

Now expanded to include species found in Angola, Zambia and Malawi, it has also been extensively revised to include: the most recent research and taxonomy, revised distribution maps and many new images, colour-coded grouping of families, spoor and size icons, skull photographs, grouped for easy comparison, detailed descriptions of each species, offering insight into key identification characters, typical behaviour, preferred habitat, food choice, reproduction and longevity.

East Africa comprises a varied range of habitats, which provide living space for more than 360 diverse species of mammal. These range in size from the elephant to the tiniest bats, shrews and mice.

This compact guide covers all of the common and some of the less common mammal species of the region. For each species it offers: key identification features; behaviour, diet, breeding biology, occurrence and size; clear, full-colour photographs; track illustrations; silhouettes to indicate size relative to human figure; and, distribution map. There is a section on droppings/dung of many of the animals that concludes the book.

Compact and easy-to-use, this is the ideal companion both for regulars and visitors to the region.

Easy-to-use and compact, this is the perfect pocket ID guide to mammals of the region. It covers some 120 mammals, from the smallest (bats, sengis and shrews) to the largest (lion, rhinoceros and elephant), as well as marine species, such as seals, dolphins and whales. Clear, full-color photographs and distribution maps.

A must-have for tourists and nature-lovers alike.This authoritative guide offers concise information, clear images of each animal, distribution maps and illustrations of tracks and droppings. This colorfully illustrated guide offers concise information on key ID pointers, similar species, habitat, behavior, diet, reproduction, longevity, calls, occurrence and measurements. Clear images of each animal, distribution maps, silhouettes indicating size relative to humans and illustrations of tracks and droppings offerconcise yet detailed information enabling quick and easy mammal ID.

Easy-to-use and compact, this is the perfect pocket ID guide to mammals of the region. It covers some 120 mammals, from the smallest (bats, sengis and shrews) to the largest (lion, rhinoceros and elephant), as well as marine species, such as seals, dolphins and whales. Clear, full-color photographs and distribution maps.

A must-have for tourists and nature-lovers alike.This authoritative guide offers concise information, clear images of each animal, distribution maps and illustrations of tracks and droppings. This colorfully illustrated guide offers concise information on key ID pointers, similar species, habitat, behavior, diet, reproduction, longevity, calls, occurrence and measurements. Clear images of each animal, distribution maps, silhouettes indicating size relative to humans and illustrations of tracks and droppings offerconcise yet detailed information enabling quick and easy mammal ID.

Of all Africa's wildlife, none has captured the imagination more than those species that have come over the years to be known as the big five. Whether the biggest, the most beautiful, the fiercest or most formidable, these animals are the ones that have the power to remind us of our insignificance in the face of the true kings of the savannas. This is a truly magnificent record of Africa's Big Five.

First published in 1986, Smithers' mammals is an authoritative and popular guide to the mammals of Southern Africa. This revised and updated edition incorporates the latest information brought to light by molecular genetics, while remaining accessible to the layperson and handy in the field. Each entry includes an in-depth species description; notes on habitat, behaviour, diet and conservation status; accurate illustrations and spoor drawings; and a distribution map.

The title also details the whales, dolphins and seals seen along our coast.

This highly regarded field guide will appeal to general readers and wildlife enthusiasts, as well as to specialists in the field of mammals.