The Rough Guide to Game Parks of South Africa

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Discover the Game Parks of South Africa with this comprehensive and entertaining travel guide, packed with practical information and honest recommendations by our independent experts. Whether you plan to take a jeep safari, tick off the big five or sleep in a camp in the lap of luxury, The Rough Guide to the Game Parks of South Africa will help you discover the best places to explore, eat, drink, shop and sleep along the way.

Features of this travel guide to Game Parks of South Africa:

- Detailed regional coverage: provides practical information for every kind of trip, from off-the-beaten-track adventures to chilled-out breaks in popular tourist areas
- Honest and independent reviews: written with Rough Guides' trademark blend of humour, honesty and expertise, our writers will help you make the most from your trip to South Africa
- Meticulous mapping: practical full-colour maps, with clearly numbered, colour-coded keys. Find your way around Kruger National Park, aHluhluwe-Imfolozi Park and many more locations without needing to get online
- Fabulous full-colour photography: features inspirational colour photography, including a field guide to the animals you are likely to see
- Time-saving itineraries: carefully planned routes will help inspire and inform your on-the-road experiences
- Things not to miss: Rough Guides' rundown of the animals you shouldn't miss and the parks' best sights and top experiences
- Travel tips and info: packed with essential pre-departure information including getting around, accommodation, food and drink, health and outdoor activities, culture and etiquette, shopping and more
- Background information: comprehensive 'Contexts' chapter provides fascinating insights into the wildlife of South Africa
- The ultimate travel tool: download the free eBook to access all this from your phone or tablet

You may also be interested in: Rough Guide to South Africa; Rough Guide to Kenya; Rough Guide to Cape Town The Winelands and The Garden Route

About Rough Guides: Rough Guides have been inspiring travellers for over 35 years, with over 30 million copies sold globally. Synonymous with practical travel tips, quality writing and a trustworthy 'tell it like it is' ethos, the Rough Guides list includes more than 260 travel guides to 120+ destinations, gift-books and phrasebooks.

Now in its eighth edition, Bradt's Mozambique remains the most established and sole standalone guide to this alluring African country. In-depth coverage of wildlife, history, culture, and diving and snorkelling is complemented by invaluable, up-to-date practical advice on travel and accommodation, presented in an easy-to-navigate geographical structure covering north, central and southern Mozambique. Originally written by Philip Briggs, this new edition has been updated by Africa experts Huw and Kate Hennessy, authors of several previous Bradt guides. Mozambique is a country of two halves. The tourism-savvy south offers romantic tropical beaches, luxury lodges and world-class diving, plus the tree-lined capital of Maputo, a city oozing Afro-Mediterranean flair. In contrast, the less-developed north is one of Africa's last frontiers, with excitingly vast game reserves and idyllic coastal panoramas that entice intrepid travellers and those hankering after barefoot luxury. With its national park set-up expanded and refurbished, Mozambique looks set to reclaim its standing as one of Africa's top safari destinations. Moreover, although one of the continent's fastest developing tourist countries, it still offers opportunities to experience 'quintessential Africa'. As Mozambique approaches 50 years since independence, development boosted by one of Africa's highest economic growth rates and a swift resurgence following 2019's devastating cyclone are drawing tourists back to a forest-clad interior descending to 2,500km of pristine, palm-fringed coastline. Bradt's Mozambique reveals a country dotted with natural, historical, cultural, and architectural wonders that reflect a history that fuses exploration, trade, and culture. Highlights include the UNESCO world heritage site of Ilha de Mocambique, a 16th-century Arab and Portuguese trading post; ancient rock art at Chinhamapere; adventurous journeys by train and Arab dhow; the birdlife of Mount Namuli, accessed from the tea-plantation town of Gurue; windsurfing in Pemba and surfing in Tofo; and diving or snorkelling in biologically rich seas, including around Bazaruto, home to some of Africa's last remaining dugongs, five of the world's seven endangered sea turtle species, and two thousand species of fish. Whether you are a culture vulture or wildlife enthusiast, a watersports enthusiast or honeymooning couple, the in-depth coverage and practical advice for all budgets means that Bradt's Mozambique has everything you need to plan a thrilling holiday.

Now into its eighth edition and written by Philip Briggs, the world's leading author of African guidebooks, Bradt's Rwanda has been the go-to guide for visitors to the 'Land of a Thousand Hills' for more than 20 years. Still the only standalone guide in English to this increasingly popular destination, it remains in a class of its own for in-depth information. With fresh research into developments across the country, Bradt's Rwanda includes expanded coverage of Gishwati Makura National Park, which opened to tourism in 2021, and up-to-date details of rapidly modernising Kigali, considered Africa's cleanest city. Rwanda continues to change and develop at an unprecedented pace - no country has a higher proportion of female parliamentarians - and there's hardly a more accessible part of Africa. It's no less intriguing for the convenience, however, and Rwanda's superlative natural attractions constantly improve, with growing animal populations, as in Akagera National Park, where Africa's Big Five (rhino, lion, leopard, elephant and buffalo) can be seen. This new edition also includes extensive maps and natural history information, details of kayak and canoe excursions on Lake Kivu and the Mukungwa River complement advice about staying on tea plantations at Sorwathe or Gisovu. It contains everything you need to know about tracking mountain gorillas in Volcanoes National Park (workplace of primatologist Dian Fossey of Gorillas in the Mist fame) and chimpanzees in Nyungwe Forest National Park (East Africa's largest surviving montane forest, harbouring numerous endemic birds and primates) and Gishwati Makura (which is also the only location for the rare golden monkey outside the Virunga mountains). Also covered are Nyanza, with its hilltop Rukari Palace Museum; and the National/Ethnographic Museum of Rwanda, the top cultural site in Huye (Butare). A chapter on nearby cities and national parks provides key necessary information to take an excursion into neighbouring DRC, including how to see lowland gorillas. As not only the most in-depth guide available in English, but also the guide with the longest history in the country itself, Bradt's Rwanda is the indispensable companion for visitors including wildlife enthusiasts and Africa aficionados.

For the UK This new tenth edition of Bradt's Zanzibar, Pemba and Mafia remains the most in-depth guide available to these exotic and alluring islands. Thoroughly updated following extensive on-the-ground research, accommodation listings are near comprehensive, with over 300 properties spanning all budget levels featured, many newly built and the vast majority not featured in other guides. Bradt's Zanzibar also offers for more detailed coverage of the islands' cultural, historic and environmental status than other guides, and the authors make a point of featuring more ethically- minded hotels, tour operators and activities, from fair- trade shopping opportunities to marine awareness guidelines. All maps have been accurately updated with every property, major attraction, eatery and road recorded using GPS. No other guidebook provides this level of guidance. Zanzibar, Pemba and Mafia have become increasingly accessible dream destinations. All offer some wonderful beach resorts catering to most styles and budgets, but they also offer superb diving and snorkelling, while Swahili-related cultural highlights range from the history-steeped alleys of Zanzibar Stone Town to a scattering of evocative ruins spanning several centuries, and the more low-key fishing villages that line the coast. Bradt's Zanzibar is the most frequently updated book on the islands: the authors are personally known in the region for their face-to-face research methods and this is the book of choice for hoteliers and expatriate workers/residents on Zanzibar. The guide also includes a dedicated section on southern Tanzanian safaris in the Selous/Nyerere and Ruaha National Parks, making this the ideal choice for a bush and beach combination.

This new, thoroughly updated fifth edition of Bradt's Northern Tanzania Safari Guide remains the only full-length guidebook focussed exclusively on the country's north and on Zanzibar. Reflecting tourism's shift away from backpackers and budget camping safaris to upper-end and mid-range safaris and beach holidays, it is tailored closely to the requirements of anyone going on a safari to northern Tanzania, followed by a few days on Zanzibar. Northern Tanzania is dominated by Africa's finest safari circuit, offering spectacular game-viewing year round. Centred on the legendary Serengeti National Park and its world-famous wildebeest migration, this circuit also incorporates the Ngorongoro Crater and surrounding Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Lake Manyara and Tarangire national parks. Geographically northern Tanzania is one of Africa's most varied regions, with a palm-fringed Indian Ocean coastline complemented by the scenic wonders of the Great Rift Valley, and several impressive volcanically formed mountains, most notably snow-capped Mount Kilimanjaro, the tallest peak in Africa and a popular goal for hikers. Lesser-known gems include the prehistoric rock art at Kondoa (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), the forested Arusha National Park and Amani Nature Reserve, and the spectacular Ol Doinyo Lengai - Africa's most active volcano. Serviced by a well-developed safari industry, northern Tanzania's superlative reserves are complemented by a stopover on the legendary Spice Island of Zanzibar. With its atmospheric old town, idyllic beaches and offshore reefs teeming with marine life, it is every bit as evocative as its name. Written by acknowledged Africa experts and prolific guidebook writers Philip Briggs and Chris McIntyre, this guide prioritises practical information about the area's peerless collection of national parks, game reserves and other safari destinations. Accommodation listings for the safari destinations are the most detailed and authoritative available, the authors weeding through the ever-growing number of lodges and camps to create a critically selective list of the best properties across all price points. Meanwhile, a colour wildlife field guide provides great detail about wildlife and where to see it. All in all, Northern Tanzania Safari Guide is the most authoritative source available for visitors - an essential travel companion for both first-time visitors and seasoned safari-goers.

Co-authored by regional expert Sean Connolly and Philip Briggs, the world's foremost guidebook writer on Africa, this third edition of Bradt's The Gambia remains the most comprehensive guide available to mainland Africa's smallest country. This new edition integrates recent developments, from recently opened restaurants and hotels to the new roads and bridges that make circumnavigating the country easier than ever. The guide provides detailed coverage of ecolodges and camps, information on festivals, music workshops and opportunities to experience local culture, plus advice about birdwatching possibilities in a country popular with first-time birders to Africa. As well as encompassing popular coastal resorts, the guide provides information required to explore the relatively undeveloped interior and proposes excursions into neighbouring Senegal, making it ideal for visitors on organised holidays and independent travellers alike. Bradt's The Gambia reveals all the practical information needed to explore arguably Africa's most welcoming and safest country (not for nothing is it nicknamed the 'Smiling Coast') with its plethora of beach resorts, catering to all tastes and budgets, that line the 80km stretch of tropical coastline running from the capital Banjul to the remote southern border. Small in size but rich in African character, The Gambia offers perhaps the closest English-speaking 'winter sun' destination from Europe. Justifiably popular with birdwatchers, the lush mangrove- and jungle-fringed River Gambia is also home to crocodiles, hippos, rehabilitated chimpanzees and various monkeys. The Gambia offers rich heritage tourism for moderately adventurous travellers, from the mysterious megalithic stone circles at Wassu and Ker Batch to fortified James Island and the former slave-trading village of Juffureh - the heart of novelist Alex Haley's Roots country and part of two UNESCO World Heritage Sites. And why not enhance your visit further by experiencing colourful local markets, witnessing Kankuran and Kumpo spirit masquerades or joining a kayak cruise from the sleepy river port of Janjanbureh, or paying homage to The Gambia's inspiring journey towards democracy and reconciliation at Memory House? All in all, Bradt's The Gambia is the perfect companion for discovering this safe, welcoming and tourist-friendly English-speaking country which provides an ideal short-stay introduction to Africa's unique atmosphere.

This new, thoroughly updated edition of Bradt's Suriname remains the only dedicated English-language guidebook to this emergent and largely unspoiled ecotourism destination and offers by far the greatest depth of coverage available. It is also the first guidebook in any language with a comprehensive section on the Upper Suriname River, an exciting and remote area serviced by around 20 small lodges. Detailed coverage of all accessible parks and reserves is included, including the three main marine-turtle viewing sites and the Central Suriname Nature Reserve (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), with information geared to people joining organised tours as well as those who prefer the independent travel approach. Also included are detailed maps and town plans - many of which are unavailable in any other resource and have been drawn by the author using GPS specifically for this book. Peaceful and politically stable, Suriname is one of the world's most thinly populated countries. Its Caribbean coastline is famed for its peerless turtle-watching opportunities, while the interior is swathed by a vast tract of pristine Amazonian rainforest,rich in wildlife and accessible only by air or along the tropical waterways that incise it. The guide includes a detailed introduction to the diverse wildlife and intriguing history of the only former Dutch colony in South America, along with detailed regional coverage of the tropical coastline, the Historic Inner City of the culturally diverse capital Paramaribo (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), and the thrilling opportunities for exploration afforded by the jungle-swathed interior.

Bradt's Uganda has for many years been considered the go-to source of information for travellers heading to or interested in this extraordinary country. This new ninth edition of the most comprehensive guide available has been fully updated by Philip Briggs, arguably the world's most experienced guidebook author and certainly the most experienced writer on Africa, and also includes a new full-colour wildlife section with over 100 colour photographs. Mountain gorilla tracking is Ugandas most popular activity and this new edition provides expanded coverage of gorilla-tracking options, describing the gorilla groups and their locations - in short, everything anyone who dreams of encountering these remarkable primates needs to know. Accommodation listings and descriptions have also been completely revised, taking into account the rapid increase in choice of places to stay, and providing a more critical appraisal of the best options in every price bracket. Bradt's Uganda includes detailed maps of the country, updated or created from scratch using GPS by the author, and this new edition also offers increased coverage of Karamoja and the northeast, a major growth area for tourism. Uganda boasts the most biodiverse - and arguably most exciting - safari circuit in Africa, ranging from the lush montane forests of Bwindi, which protect one of the world's largest remaining populations of mountain gorillas, to the tree-climbing lions of Queen Elizabeth National Park. Whether you are visiting on safari, for birdwatching, white-water rafting on the Nile or trekking some of Africa's highest mountains, Bradt's Uganda remains the essential companion guide.

This 8th edition of Bradt's Ghana remains the only dedicated guidebook on the market and the most comprehensive source of travel information on the first country in sub-Saharan Africa to gain independence and the world's second-largest producer of chocolate. Covering everything from Ghana's 550km of Atlantic coastline to its remote and sparsely populated northern border with Burkina Faso, this new edition has been thoroughly updated and is an ideal companion no matter what your interests are. Written by Philip Briggs, arguably the world's most experienced guidebook writer, it covers everything from inexpensive opportunities to see wildlife to cultural and historical aspects such as the slave trading posts. Background, practical and health information are complemented by a dedicated, illustrated chapter on wildlife, 63 maps and 18 chapters split across five regional sections, from Accra and surrounds to the coast, through eastern and central Ghana, right up to the north. The popular Cape Coast and the Ashanti regions are both covered, as is the increasingly high-profile Chale Wote Street Art festival. Friendly, safe and inexpensive, Ghana is an ideal destination for first-time visitors to Africa. It is rich in little-visited national parks, forest reserves, cultural sites and scenic waterfalls and blessed with bleached white beaches and the lush rainforest of the Atlantic coastline. Bradt's Ghana is accompanied by a dedicated, updated website run by the author himself and caters for everyone from birdwatchers to bar-hoppers. Whether you want to cruise the world's largest man-made reservoir, Lake Volta, on a pokey old steamer, hike with elephants in Mole National Park, or party all night in Accra's glittering Osu district, Bradt's Ghana is an indispensable companion.

This new eighth edition of Bradt's Malawi remains the only standalone practical guidebook to this magical East African destination, long known as the 'warm heart of Africa' (and the first country outside Denmark to have a Carlsberg brewery). Malawi is a small country with a big lake - accounting for around a third of its territory - and a big welcome. Written by Philip Briggs, arguably the world's most experienced guidebook author, this new edition benefits from a thorough country-wide update of all the practical information, with the addition of significant new game park accommodation. Dedicated chapters on background information, health and flora and fauna are complemented by a 19-chapter breakdown of the country and 37 maps, making this an ideal companion for backpackers, over-landers, wildlife spotters, birdwatchers and other outdoor enthusiasts. Included in the guide are the many outstanding adventure opportunities: kayaking on the vast lake amongst dug-out canoes; hikes from tea estates up to the heights Mount Mulanje; and watching the 'big five' animals in wonderful natural surroundings. There's also a resurgent music scene, intriguing monuments built by former colonisers and compelling village culture to discover. With the reintroduction of species including lions - and the recent translocation of large numbers of elephants to Nkhotakota Wildlife Reserve - Malawi is a wildlife destination to savour. From luxury camps to local guesthouses, from rhino trekking to cycle tours and from crafts to cultural tourism, Bradt's Malawi covers every aspect of your trip.

This new, fully-updated 8th edition of Bradt's Ethiopia remains the most comprehensive, detailed and thorough guide available, particularly known for its strength of background information, coverage of off-the-beaten track areas, and in-depth details of hotels and other tourist facilities. It also contains far more maps than other guides. Bradt's Ethiopia is also the longest serving English-language guidebook dedicated to the country, with a history of 25 years of research and expertise. This new edition has been updated by the original author, Philip Briggs, the world's foremost writer of Africa travel guides. Recent years have seen a notable rise in domestic and foreign private investment in the development of new hotels and national parks; this new edition includes all the most up-to-date details reflecting all the most recent changes, from development of tourist facilities to improved road infrastructure. Bradt's Ethiopia is ideal for visitors of all ages no matter the interest, whether travelling independently or part of an organised group, from adventurous and active travellers interested in cultural, historical, and wildlife sightseeing to international conference visitors, spa tourists and community-based visitors looking for activities such as trekking and horse-riding in the Rift Valley and Simien Mountains. Wildlife and birding visitors who come for Ethiopia's wealth of endemics are also catered for and this new edition includes a dedicated full-colour chapter on wildlife and birds. Of all the African nations, Ethiopia is most prone to misconceptions. The 1985 famine and the cracked barren earth of the Danakil Depression are not images quickly forgotten. But this fully updated guide refocuses the lens to reveal an ancient country that continues to surpass all expectations: from the ancient Judaic cultures of the fertile highlands to the Animist people of the South Omo Valley, from the Afroalpine moorland of the Bale Mountains National Park to the thundering Blue Nile Falls. This book also leads you further off the beaten track, so travellers can see more of this expansive and beautiful land, believed to be the cradle of humankind.

The pioneering first edition of this guidebook was the first dedicated entirely to Somaliland, and this second edition, fully updated and with a foreword by Simon Reeve, continues Bradt's groundbreaking tradition of publishing highly specialist guides to newly emerging destinations. Significantly, this new edition also covers Addis Ababa and eastern Ethiopia - the main gateway into Somaliland. Also included is a detailed historical and archaeological background to a region whose wealth of rock art, ancient burial sites, ruined cities and historical ports stretches back 5,000 years and has links with ancient Egypt and Axum as well as the more recent Ottoman and British empires. Comprehensive birdwatching and wildlife sections include details of where to look for of the region's endemic and near-endemic birds and mammals, while the guide also contains the only proper maps available for the capital Hargeisa and other large towns such as Burao, Berbera and Borama, compiled from scratch using GPS. Somaliland ranks among the world's most obscure and uncharted travel destinations. It comprises the former colony of British Somaliland, which merged with its Italian namesake to form the Somali Republic upon attaining independence in 1960, but unilaterally seceded from the rest of war-torn Somalia in 1991. Now a peaceful and fully functional self-governing democracy, Somaliland still awaits official recognition by the UN AU and most other such organisations more than quarter of a century later. Yet despite its obscurity, this ancient and largely arid land has much to offer the truly intrepid traveller, and the low-key, low-rise capital Hargeisa Is easily reached by air or overland from neighbouring Ethiopia. With this unique guide, discover Las Geel, the most alluring rock art site on the Horn of Africa; the charmingly decayed Ottoman port of Berbera, which provides access to some splendid beaches and offshore reefs; the spectacular Daallo Escarpment, swathed in fragrant evergreen forests that support several endemic bird species; and the abandoned city of Maduna, the most impressive of several mediaeval Islamic ruins dotted around the arid interior.

This indispensable guide offers all the information you need to get the most out of wildlife watching in East Africa. Accessible and beautifully illustrated, this revised second edition of Bradt's much praised guide to East African Wildlife will appeal to both the first-time visitor and to the serious naturalist seeking a compact volume to carry around. Written by Africa expert Philip Briggs, this guide provides a colourful overview of the region's variety of large animals together with information on their habits and habitats. The book also provides an excellent introduction to the region's less heralded variety of smaller creatures including 1,500 bird species and butterflies. It also makes a great souvenir. The wildlife of east Africa is the major visitor attraction of this region, thanks to the legendary game reserves of Serengeti and the Maasai Mara. Bradt's fully illustrated wildlife guides focus on regions of the world particularly celebrated for their amazing and often unique species. With spectacular photography or exclusive watercolour drawings throughout, each visitors' guide provides an introduction to the region's principal flora and fauna alongside suggested wildlife itineraries, practical information on when to go and what to take and photography tips. Written in a deliberately engaging way, they offer something different from dry field guides, and will appeal to the interested layman as much as the wildlife devotee. Ideal as a lightweight companion to any wildlife trip.