The Safari Companion - A Guide to Watching African Mammals

Overall impression: We loved this book! It provided an in-depth description of 80 African safari animals (mammals) including areas where they are found, and eating, mating, hunting, defending, rearing young and other behaviors. Individual animal descriptions were usually 1-2 pages in length. The first three chapters (Social and Mating Systems, Observing African Animals and Understanding Animal Behavior) introduced us to the book concepts and set the stage for the varied and detailed information it provided.

Divided into four sections: Antelopes and Other Ruminants, Other Hoofed Animals, Carnivores and Primates, it provided us a glimpse of the wonderful wildlife we had seen and were preparing to see on our next safari. Though we found the social organization and mating systems icons a challenge to follow, we appreciated the effort and dedication they required. The book was peppered with maps showing national boundaries, vegetation zones, and game parks as well as lively and detailed illustrations depicting the animals and their various behaviors.

Date of publication: 1999

Publisher: Chelsea Green Publishing Company

Number of pages: 460

Size: 6”x9”x1.125”

Weight: 1 lb and 10 oz

ISBN number: 1-890-132-244-6

Author: Richard D. Estes, a leading authority on behavioral ecology of African mammals, he was at the time of the book’s publication Research Associate of the Smithsonian Institution, Associate of the Harvard Museum of Natural History and Co-chairman of the World Conservation Union’s Antelope Specialist Group.

Price : $25

Date of review: February 2005