Fully revised and updated, Filmer’s spiders: an identification guide to Southern Africa features all 63 families of spider that occur in this region. A fresh layout, full-colour photographs throughout – many of them new – and diagrams of diagnostic features make this a quick and easy guide for use in the field. The spiders are grouped into web-living, ground-living and plant-Iiving species to aid identification.

Each family is described in terms of the spiders' lifestyle, habitat, size, behaviour and poison potential, and the best collecting methods are given in each case. For those species whose poison is potentially harmful to man, the effects and recommended treatment of bites are discussed.

This handy format book will appeal to anybody wishing to gain insight into the daily lives of spiders.

Gauteng may be the Place of Gold, but it is also home to many hikes and walks that most Gautengers don't even know about. This book will help you discover them while giving you a more intimate encounter with Gauteng, a province shrouded in the beauty of indigenous vegetation, mountains, rivers and waterfalls. Tim Hartwright covers both the shorter walks in urban parks and rural areas, along with overnight trails such as Suikerbosrand. He explores the unique places that are right on every Gautenger's doorstep, one of these being the Braamfontein Spruit, and shares the rich heritage we need to preserve in our city. Numerous private trails have blossomed in areas closer to the main metropolises of Gauteng. Shorter weekend and day hikes have come into vogue and in most cases these trails cross private land rather than that belonging to the state. Most municipalities have embraced hiking as part of their commitment to the outdoor recreational activities they offer their residents and visitors. Explore the various nature reserves, historical, archaeological and geological sites. Included in the book: Detailed description of around 60 hiking and walking trails in Gauteng, including the history and geology, fauna and flora of each area; a difficulty rating is included, helping you decide if it is suitable for the whole family; brief descriptions on how to get to the route with GPS coordinates for starting points; security information and emergency numbers; contact details for trail - to know if you should book in advance to walk the trail; comprehensive maps for each hike or walk.

1970 was a time when there were no GPS’s, no electronic calculators or notebook computers, no communication via VHF or SSB radios and satellite phones, no accurate quartz watches, no access to weather forecasts, no EPIRB (emergency position indicating radio beacons), no lightweight small-boat refrigeration, no water makers, no disposable napkins (except cotton wool wadding), no yellow margarine and only limited dehydrated foods. At that time, a young Johannesburg couple fulfil a dream adventure in a 25-foot yacht.

This is a story of survival at sea, a husband's resourcefulness in the face of huge difficulties, running out of food and water and an amazing reunion with the author's Danish roots. It reaches a climax when they have a baby and decide to return to South Africa when he was just four months old. The wooden sloop’s voyage of 23,000 nautical sea miles concluded with the return to South African shores after a 53 day passage in the Southern Ocean.

The story is a faithful rendition of the author’s log and letters which allow the reader to step back into the past and relive the thoughts, feelings, fears and faith of a young wife, mother and sailor.

Lawwe grappe vir enige onderwerp onder die son! Kom lag jou slap vir die lawwe grappies in hierdie fantastiese reeks grapboeke vir kinders! Elke boek bevat hope grappe waarmee jy jou maats kan laat lê van die lag. Daar is klop-klop-grappe, grappe oor rugby en krieket, miskruiers, miere en ander snaakse diere, vakansiegrappe en 'n klomp lekker spokerige grappe! Hoekom wou die hond nie tennis speel nie? Hy was 'n bokser. Het jy gehoor van die hokkiespan wat so opgewonde was omdat hulle vyfuur die oggend moes oefen? Toemaar, ek ook nie. Watter soort kryt maak 'n mens pimpel en pers? 'n Stoeikryt. Waar boer spoke? In begraafplase. Wat eet vegetariese vampiere?

Nek-tariens en bloedlemoene Daar is nou vier splinternuwe lekkerlag-titels in die reeks:

- 101 Sportgrappe

- 101 Vakansiegrappe

- 101 Spookgrappe

101 Goggagrappe Vorige titels in die reeks:

- 101 Dieregrappe

- 101 Klop-klop-grappe

- 101 Lawwe grappe

- 101 Grappe vir pousetyd

Four full-colour posters depicting different animal groups, featuring their names in four languages – English, Afrikaans, Xhosa and Zulu. Insects of Southern Africa illustrates some 60 of the region’s common and conspicuous insects, with icons showing which are poisonous. These colourful educational posters make beautiful wall hangings, and are ideal gifts for young nature-lovers. Excellent aids in a classroom, home, nature centre or library.

Sunday Times adventure travel writer, Claire Keeton, and photographer Marianne Schwankhart have worked together to make sure you never have to spend another weekend at home wishing you were doing something more exciting.

They’ve collected over 30 great weekend destinations and given you the lowdown on the adventure activities you can do in each – visit Waterval Boven and try climbing, a mountain bike trail or learn to fly fish; take your children on a hike to explore the sandstone formations of the Cederberg; go horse riding in the Drakensberg; or tackle an urban adventure and bungee jump from the Soweto cooling towers.

Decide where you want to go and they’ll tell you what adventures are waiting for you, or decide what activity you want to do and they’ll tell you the best weekend destinations to head for.

Southern Africa is the natural home of the richest and most diverse succulent flora in the world. These plants come in all shapes and sizes, from trees such as the baobab at more than 20 m tall, to miniature soil huggers, just a few millimetres high, which mimic their pebble-desert surroundings.

This user-friendly, richly illustrated field guide features more than 700 southern African succulents, focusing on the most interesting and commonly encountered species. An introduction to families and their key features will help readers identify the relevant plant group, while concise accounts describing the plants’ diagnostic features, along with distribution maps, will enable quick ID of species.

More than just an ID guide for plant lovers, this book will inspire gardeners who are turning to indigenous, low-maintenance and waterwise plants for cultivation.

Maak jou potlood skerp vir die opvolg van die blokraaitreffer 100 beste blokraaie van 10 jaar!

Is jy reg vir die opvolg van die blokraaibonanza 100 beste blokraaie van 10 jaar? Dan het ons goeie nuus vir jou! Die opvolg van dié blokraaitreffer, getiteld 100 beste blokraaie van 10 jaar II, is nou beskikbaar! Trek jou pen nader en wys hierdie 100 blokraaie wie’s baas!
100 beste blokraaie van 10 jaar II is die tweede bielie van ’n blokraaibundel uit die immergewilde en topverkoperreeks 50 blaaskansblokraaie. Hierdie  splinternuwe samestelling beloof, nes sy gewilde voorganger, ure se woordplesier en kopkrap.

Slyp jou tande en maak jou potlood skerp vir nog 100 heerlike woordraaisels!

Geology off the beaten track follows on the success of author Nick Norman’s earlier Geological Journeys (co-authored with Gavin Whitfi eld), which has sold more than 20 000 copies in the last 6 years. This new book helps readers understand and interpret the geology along SA’s regional and other less-travelled roads.

- It features 13 detailed routes across the country, taking in geologically interesting areas such as the Richtersveld,Cape winelands and the Valley of Desolation near Graaff-Reinet.

- The text is richly illustrated with photos and explanatory diagrams, making it suitable for armchair travellers too.

- Maps for all the routes indicate key geosites, with GPS readings to pinpoint their location.

This is a must-have handbook for travellers in the region, or for anyone wanting to know more about our rocks and landforms.

Animals are often heard before they are spotted, and this book serves as an excellent guide to help identify 76 creatures (mammals, birds, amphibians and insects), based primarily on their calls.

For each of the species listed, there is a full-colour photograph, distribution map and brief facts about its life history and behaviour.

Key features:

- An accompanying CD with 76 common animal calls

- Photographs and distribution maps for each species

- Interesting facts, including habitat, diet and time of calls

An invaluable resource for nature lovers of all ages, this CD and book will provide a new way of recognising the varied sounds of Africa's wild areas.

Field Guide to Fynbos features over 1,000 species from the Cape Floristic Region – home to one of the world’s richest floras. This fully updated edition focuses on the most common and ‘showy’ plants.

An introduction unpacks the world of fynbos – including origins, diversity, climate and adaptations – and is followed by a photographic key and descriptions of the fynbos families. Species descriptions are accompanied by photographs, distribution maps, comparisons with similar species, and notes on traditional uses.

For botanists and amateurs alike, this will remain an indispensable guide to South Africa’s most renowned flora.

East Africa is one of the world's premier wildlife regions, well known for its mass migrations of herds and the dramatic predators that accompany them. As iconic are the trees that grow here - some endemic to the region and almost all identified with the plains and slopes of this land, stretching from the muggy coast, through grasslands and up to the cold, dry reaches of high mountain peaks. Among them are mangroves, cycads and palms; marulas, acacias and sausage trees; fever trees, toothbrush trees and giant bamboos and heaths.

This book presents some 100 of the region's most visible and significant tree species, arranged by vegetation zone. Multiple images of each species showing key ID features, such as bark, leaves, flowers and fruit, are teamed with concise descriptions, where to see the trees, calendar bars indicating flowering months, interesting notes about their uses - both medicinal and practical - and the myths and legends they have generated.

Colorful, interesting and geared for quick tree identification, this handy guide will help visitors and locals alike make the most of East African safaris.

Skreeusnaaks en uittartend soos net Deon Maas kan.

In hierdie boek ontsien Maas niks of niemand nie. Hy skryf onbeskaamd en doodeerlik oor allerlei eg Suid-Afrikaanse heilige koeie. Afrikaans op kampusse, selfies, baarde, banting, die Guptas en die sogenaamde Stellenbosch Mafia loop deur onder die uitgesproke skrywer se skerp pen. Sy blatante eerlikheid oor alles van mans se “menere” tot Julius Malema, gay huwelike en NG-dominees is verfrissend.

Dit is vlymskerp, omstrede en onvergeetlik.

Peacocks & Picathartes is a celebration of the diversity of African birds, focusing on families that occur only in Africa as well as iconic families and species that, despite having close relatives in other parts of the world, seem to embody something of Africa.

Watson’s anecdotal style captures vividly his encounters with prized species, such the secretive White-necked Picathartes and the elusive Congo Peacock. He conveys the sheer delight mousebirds take in ‘being what they are’, and reveals the surprise discovery in 1991 of a new partridge in Tanzania’s Udzungwa Mountains.

Drawing on precolonial and current-day avian accounts, he offers his own insights based on a lifetime of personal observations in the wilds of Africa – recounting unforgettable expeditions, quirky bird behaviour, jittery taxonomy, moments of rare good luck – and much more.

Both informative and entertaining, this book captures the essence of African bird life, and will appeal to bird enthusiasts across the spectrum.

Across the face of southern Africa are more than 460 remarkable stone palaces, once the abodes of kings. Some are small, others ramble, but many are absolutely astonishing: all are the legacy of kingdoms past.

Palaces of Stone brings to life the story of these early African societies, from AD 900 to approximately 1850. Some, such as Great Zimbabwe and Khami in Zimbabwe and Mapungubwe in South Africa, are famous world heritage sites, but the majority are unknown to the general public, unsung and unappreciated. Yet, the stone ruins that have survived tell a common story of innovative architecture and intricate stonework; flourishing local economies; long-distance travel; global trade; and emerging forms of political organisation.

By exploring a selection of known and unknown sites, Palaces of Stone reimagines the apparently empty spaces bequeathed to us by history, an Africa of places that once hummed with life. All that remains now are the ruins – a bedrock from which to unravel the past and understand the present.

Horses were key to the colonial economies of southern Africa, buttressing the socio-political order and inspiring contemporary imaginations. Just as they had done in Europe, Asia, the Americas and North Africa, these equine colonisers not only provided power and transportation but also helped transform their new biophysical and social environments. In some ways "Riding High" is an attempt to chronicle the effects of an inter-species relationship whose significance was vast and lead to major changes in the history of leisure, transportation, trade, warfare, and agriculture. On another level, these stories are simply the adventures of a big, gentle herbivore and a small, rogue primate. The horses introduced to the southern tip of Africa were both agents and subjects of enduring changes. This book explores their introduction under VOC rule in the mid-seventeenth century, their dissemination into the interior, their acquisition by indigenous groups and their ever-shifting roles. In its relocation to the Cape, the horse of the Dutch empire in southeast Asia experienced a physical transformation over time. Establishing an early breeding stock was fraught with difficulty and horses remained vulnerable in the new and dangerous environment. They had to be nurtured into defending their owners' ambitions: first those of the white settlement and then African and other hybrid social groupings. The book traces the way horses were adapted by shifting human needs in the nineteenth century. It focuses on their experiences in the South African War, on the cusp of the twentieth century, and highlights how horses remained integral to civic functioning on various levels, replaced with mechanization only after lively debate. They remained useful in certain sectors and linked to totems of social power even in contemporary South Africa. "Riding High" reinserts the horse into the broader historical narrative and speculates about what a new kind of history that takes animals seriously might offer us.

Fully updated and expanded, this third edition of the top-selling Field Guide to Common Trees & Shrubs of East Africa now features more than 520 of the trees and shrubs – indigenous and naturalized exotics – commonly found in the region.

Each of the four sections – trees, shrubs, palms and mangroves – is arranged in alphabetical order according to scientifi c name. The book features:

• An informative introduction to families.

• Species accounts describing the plants’ habitat, bark, leaves, fl owers and fruit.

• General and commercial applications and uses in traditional medicine.

• Almost 2,000 photographs depicting the species, its fruit, fl owers and bark.

• Glossaries, both textual and illustrated, of botanical and medical terms.

Where do unfinished poems go – the early buds, the offcuts, all of the blooms that can’t be bunched together?

In this beguiling bouquet of travel poetry, diary fragments, letters, works-in-progress and retrospection, Helen Moffett offers us a rare look into the workings, misfirings and triumphs of a literary mind.

A collection of tentative moments and emotions, rendered in fleeting and experimental forms.

The first guide ever to document and explore the diverse parks and reserves of Africa’s ‘middle belt’, it covers Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia and Malawi.

The region contains prized spots such as the world-famous landscapes of the Namib and Kalahari deserts, Okavango Delta, Victoria Falls and Lake Malawi, and some of Africa’s best-known conservation areas, including Etosha, Chobe, Mana Pools, Hwange, Kafue and Nyika.

Written by two prominent conservationists, the book is organised by country, and includes:

• Detailed descriptions of the history, geology, climate, vegetation and wildlife of some 50 conservation areas
• Annotated park maps, indicating places of interest and best sites to view key species
• Text panels featuring each park’s highlights, facilities and activities, wildlife facts, and important alerts
• A concise photographic gallery of mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and trees, for quick identification of commonly seen species

A must-have guide to the parks and reserves of a region renowned for spectacular landscapes, fauna and flora.

Anyone who spends time beside the sea knows there’s a wealth of ‘treasure’ to be found, be it natural or manufactured, living or washed up. Beachcombing in South Africa is a friendly guide to the seashore’s rich pickings.

Short chapters such as Floaters and drifters, Sea-beans, Sponges, Eggs and egg cases, and many more, detail what can be found and how to interpret or identify specimens. Items may reveal links to activities or biological events in the nearby ocean – or, perhaps, thousands of miles away. They may relate to human activities, such as fish or bird tagging, or be oceanographic instruments separated from their moorings. Or they may be part of the growing menace of otsam and jetsam from the planet’s burgeoning human population.

This book will enhance the experience of beachcombing, satisfy curiosity about finds, and contribute to a better understanding of the life in our oceans and along our shores.

Aimed at a wide audience of beach strollers, dog walkers, anglers, bird watchers and families who share a fascination with the seashore and its treasures.

Nog 'n blokraaibonanza.

Het jy 'n blaaskans nodig? As jou antwoord “ja” is, het ons die ideale oplossing. Die volgende titel in die blokraai-trefferreeks 100 beste blokraaie van 10 jaar waarborg jou 'n welverdiende blaaskans. Dit is nou jou kans om hierdie blokraaie te wys wie's baas! 100 beste blokraaie van jaar III is 'n nuwe blokraaibonanza wat 'n keur uit die immergewilde en topverkoperreeks 50 blaaskansblokraaie bevat. Hierdie splinternuwe samestelling beloof, nes sy gewilde voorgangers, ure se woordplesier en kopkrap.

Published annually, Sky Guide Southern Africa is a practical resource for all stargazers, whether novice, amateur or professional. It highlights the cosmic events for each month of the upcoming year, including planetary movements, predicted eclipses and meteor showers.

Star charts plot the evening sky for each season, facilitating the identification of stars and constellations. The guide contains a wealth of information about the Sun, Moon, planets, comets, meteors and bright stars, with photos, diagrams, charts and the images.

The most trusted guide to the southern skies.

From the arms deal to the courtroom, from his own wedding(s) to the Gupta wedding, see if you can spot Jacob Zuma in these hilarious cartoons. Find him in the election queue, in Parliament and at Nkandla. Whether he’s travelling in a bluelight brigade or in the darkness thanks to loadshedding, can you see him?

And that's not all. You can also look out for Julius Malema, Helen Zille, the Shaik brothers, Barack Obama, Sepp Blatter, Steve Hofmeyr, Oscar Pistorius and many many more!

If you’re an adult with a political sense of humour, this book is for you. And kids might enjoy it too.

This book is a field guide to the commonly encountered freshwater macroinvertebrates of southern Africa. It highlights the incredible variation and beauty of freshwater macroinvertebrates, which play a critical role in freshwater and terrestrial ecosystems.

The threat to these organisms is great as their habitats are increasingly threatened, either directly by human activities such as mining and agriculture, or by fluctuating water temperatures due to climate change. Christian Fry hopes that this book will create a greater understanding and interest in these tiny creatures and that there will be better care, enthusiasm and conservation of them.

This book is enabled to help with quick identification:

• Over 900 beautiful photographs
• Notes on the diversity, distribution, life cycle and taxonomic placement of each family
• Comprehensive maps, info on habitats, size and movement for each species
• Detailed family trees to assist with taxonomic placement and identifying features
• Distinguishing features between families, providing additional insight into identification of common freshwater macroinvertebrates

A must-have guide to South Africa’s famously diverse and richly populated parks and reserves.

Stuarts’ Field Guide to National Parks & Nature Reserves of South Africa is an indispensable guide to the country’s best and most accessible conservation areas. Written by two prominent conservationists, this new edition (with slight name change) has been thoroughly revised and updated.

Each of the 43 featured reserves - arranged by province - includes: