Field guides for Namibia (2 Viewers)

[Andy Hurley]

Hi.
We are planning a trip to Namibia and we would like info on good field guildes for wildlife, (leps, odontae, birds, reptiles and of course mammals) Web sites would probably be the way to go for most, but I would like a hand held copy bird guide. (where and what).
Thank you very much

 

[njlarsen]

Southern Africa Birdfinder (Cohen et al) and Birds of Southern Africa (Sinclair et al) both include Namibia

Niels

 

[Jos Stratford]

Southern Africa Birdfinder (Cohen et al) and Birds of Southern Africa (Sinclair et al) both include Namibia

This is the guide for the 'where', can't be beaten.

For identification, Sinclair is probably also the best of the bunch, better known as the SASOL guide.

 

[Steve Babbs]

Mammals I used a combination of Field Guide to Mammals of Southern Africa by C and T Stuart and the Kingdon pocket guide - both have their advantages/disadvantages. For reptiles I used Field Guide to snakes and other reptiles of southern Africa Bill Branch.

 

[Andy Hurley]

Thankyou very much Niels, Jos and Steve

 

[njlarsen]

Mammals I used a combination of Field Guide to Mammals of Southern Africa by C and T Stuart and the Kingdon pocket guide - both have their advantages/disadvantages. For reptiles I used Field Guide to snakes and other reptiles of southern Africa Bill Branch.

We had both (in greater Kruger), but Stuart and Stuart got far the most usage.

Niels

 

[Jos Stratford]

We had both (in greater Kruger), but Stuart and Stuart got far the most usage.

Niels

Ditto

 

[SteveClark]

I would also recommend "Southern African LBJs made simple" by Newman and King for the numerous tricky cisticolas, pipits, larks and weavers you will encounter.

http://www.randomstruik.co.za/title-page.php?titleID=4244&imprintID=2

Cheers
Steve

 

[Andy Hurley]

Thanks again guys

 

[Jane Turner]

http://www.abebooks.co.uk/servlet/BookDetailsPL?bi=8456483937&afn_sr=para&para_l=90


http://www.amazon.co.uk/Field-Guide...=2025&creative=165953&creativeASIN=0869772791

http://www.buy.sellbackyourbook.com/si/_vl_Z-SE-00218.html

Cheapest copies today

 

[Mike Richardson]

Mammals I used a combination of Field Guide to Mammals of Southern Africa by C and T Stuart and the Kingdon pocket guide - both have their advantages/disadvantages. For reptiles I used Field Guide to snakes and other reptiles of southern Africa Bill Branch.

Another good mammal guide is Smithers' Mammals of Southern Africa: A field guide (2000) edited by Peter Apps.

It has pictures as opposed to photos so compliments the Stuart guide nicely.

Kingdon covers all of Africa so contains many species you are not going to see on your trip. It also does not cover most bats and rodents passed genus level.

 

[OrxyEater]

To add my 10c:

In my view Robert's Birds of Southern Africa is the best one to get:

Either as an app, not cheap, but worth it. Has got photos, sounds, and very detailed text:
https://itunes.apple.com/za/app/roberts-vii-multimedia-birds/id556814020?mt=8

Or the field guide:
http://www.robertsbirds.co.za/
Haven't seen that one available in European stores or Amazon, but you'll get it in the local book stores.

The SASOL / Sinclair has the advantage of showing more illustrations per bird, which at times may be helpful. Robert's illustrations in my opinion are better though, as is the text.

http://www.amazon.de/Sasol-Birds-So...r=8-1&keywords=sasol+birds+of+southern+africa

So I typically carry both, plus the LBJ identification mentioned above.

The third classic (which I don't own) would be

Newman's Birds of Southern Africa
http://www.amazon.com/Newmans-Birds-Southern-Africa-Edition/dp/1770078762

Or the app
http://www.newmansbirdsapp.com/

 

[ChadHahn]

We just got back from a trip to Namibia and found this field guide to be fairly helpful. It didn't have all the birds, insects or reptiles we saw but was a good basic guide.

http://www.amazon.com/The-Wildlife-Southern-Africa-Edition/dp/1770077049

Chad