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Hello, my wife and I are coming to Kruger for 5 days in October 2012 and we really have no idea of what types of animals to expect to see, excluding the Big 5. Is there a book we can purchase that has pictures of all the types of animals that we may encounter in Kruger? I don't want to see animals and then not know what they are.

I figure this is a good way to keep my wife involved as she is not into wildlife as much as I am. Keeping a list of all the animals we see each day seems like a good idea. Thanks!

Toby

Hi there corntobewild, welcome to the forum.

You will be able to get a map book in the Park shops that has illustrations of all the mammals and most of the birds in the back, which we found invaluable on our first visits.

If you'd like to have a look before hand there is a book called Mammals of the Kruger National Park that you should be able to get from Amazon. Unfortunately my copy is packed away somewhere so I can't tell you the author or publisher but someone else may be able to help.

Another one that is very useful is Smithers' Mammals of Southern Africa, A Field Guide. ISBN 978 1 86872 550 2

It gives a lot of detail about each animal too.

But maybe a bit of overkill for a first visit

Another one I saw on-line which looks great is
Mammals of the Kruger N. P. & Surrounds,
Author : Veronica Roodt
: Soft cover Size 165x240 96 Pages 2011
ISBN : 978-0-9869926-0-5

Looks like you can order the second one on-line at http://www.netbooks.co.za

Good luck and enjoy your trip

Hi Corntobewild a very warm welcome to you. I hope that you have a most enjoyable trip.

A very sound and comprehensive book is the Prime origons guide to, "Exploring Kruger" by Brett Hilton Barber and Professor Lee Berger. I think that it is available in all the Kruger book stores. It gives possibly the best overall guide to Kruger, the roads, the camps, the geology.

MM -- quite agree -- it's really good

Only problem we had was not being able to read and drive at the same time

Corntobewild
There is a nice book available for not only new visitors, it is a book that I have found very stimulating as a veteran of kruger visits.
'The Mammal Guide of southern africa' by Burger Cillie
Published by Briza Publications.(www.briza.co.za)
All our malls here have book shops where the book is available. The book provides a wealth of information from a photograph, short decisive description to spoor and even the droppings.
I do not go to any nature reserve without it.
My son recently compleated a field guide course and this was one of the books that we had to purchase for the course.
Hope this info helps and happy KRUGERPARKING to both of you.

I must agree with Isinkwe 'The Mammal Guide of southern africa' by Burger Cillie- BEST BUY EVER!!

Hi

On this forum under various topics, you will be able to find hundreds upon hundreds of photos of animals in Kruger. All of them give names as well, so it is very helpfull especially for birds.

This would be my option, as you can copy and save it to your laptop. Then when you get to Kruger, you take your photos and compare them to identify the animal if you do not know. This way you do not sit with a book at the sighting searching for the animal, and then realise that the animal has left allready.

But to have a book is also good, especially if it gives a bit of info on the animals as well.

My favourite book by far!! It is a must read, it will tell you about the little things people dont know about that are interesting. as well as Krugers history. where to go, as well as a road-to-road break down of the park.

Corntobewild, whatever your decision on the book because all of the advice above are excellent I think, I wish you and your wife a very happy Kruger visit with lots of brilliant sightings . The big five is always great to see but the many other animals, birds, reptiles, insects, trees and plants are equally great and it is nice to read a bit more about all of them .

Thanks for all the suggestions everyone. I'm sure I can't go wrong with any of the choices. They all look and sound wonderful.

Toby

Hi Toby

One of the best books I ever got relating to the animals, including spiders, birds, frogs and snakes, fish, butterflies, flowers and trees etc. was "The Wildlife of Southern Africa " by Vincent Carruthers.
I never go to Kruger or any of the other Parks without it. What I do is to write the dates that I have spotted something in pencil next to the picture of the animal.
What is nice about this book is that it is not too bulky or too slim to carry around when you get out at hides and other places.

*hijack*

I dont know about anyone else, but those Identification books are so addictive, I have to this day, three different bird books, 4 different mammal books, 1 insect book, the new "game ranger in your backpack" book (one of the best buys ever) all well as my news book to add to my collection, I bought on Monday, Frogs of Southern Africa, which comes with a cd with all of the frogs voice recodings:)

*hijack*