I've seen various books on Amazon.com (Audobon guide's, Withers, etc.) - if you had to pick ONE book to study or take with you to Namibia for a PG safari, as well as bird and animal watching (like in Etosha), what would it be? Looking for something that will cover the main species, including major birds, with color pics and some descriptions of behavior, habitat, etc.

I think Jonathan Kingdon's guide to mammals in Africa is an excellent choice as a reference for animal identification. A book with both birds and mammals in the same book will either be too cumbersome to carry, or too incomplete to be useful. I don't even know if they exist. I like the Ian Sinclair book for birds. Maybe there are some Namibia specific books for this, but I don't know them.

I can't think of a book that is "Namibian" that you could get easily here. There are many interesting books you can get in Namibia on its geology and touring there; however, you'd be hard pressed to get them here.

I would recommend that you Google 'Namibia' and read all you can on its history, is geology, and its people. This will make your visit more interesting and get you in the mood. Kudude

I have suggested a couple of times that you should get a copy of Safari Guide 2007-2008 from Safari Press. It's about $75 and covers most of the questions that you have been asking on the forums. It covers every country open to hunting in Africa and lots of material for first time hunters such as yourself and experienced hunters also. I refer to it on a regular basis.

John,

Get a copy of Estes, The Safari Companion. It tells you what those animals are doing when one grooms another, nuzzles it or fights with it.

Might try a Lonely Planet Guide to the place as well.

A good read that may be available from http://www.bookfinder.com is The Sheltering Desert by Hanno Martin about two young Germans who tried to hide out in the desert instead of being interned in WWII.

The late Olga Levinson wrote some good stuff on Namibia of earlier years and there's plenty on politics leading up to and after Independence in 1990. Lot written on bushmen there, too.

Regards, Tim

The SCI Record Book of Trophy Animals, Africa volume. It has natural history text such as you'll find in all the mentioned books, plus records of who shot what, with whom, and where and when , for all the animals you will encounter anywhere in Africa. The drawings of the animals aren't in color as in the other books, but there are photos of trophy animals with hunters, and this helps provide scale to what you'll be hunting. On my first trip to Africa in 1983 I had no idea how large each antelope was, even though I'd seen all kinds of photos and drawings, and had read their weights.

Bill Quimby

I like to get a copy of the Lonely Planet book for any country before I travel. Usually has good history, quick language lesson and sites to check out. I really liked the one for Namibia. I also carried the Audubon Field Guide, wished I would have had a better local bird guide, since that one covers too much territory.
On easy reading, Wilbur Smith has a series that does some nice background on Namibia and South Africa. One was called "Burning Sands" I think. They give a good feel for the people and history.
bfly

One of my favorite books on Africa probably won't qualify for what you want, as it is a bit large at 10" x 12". More of a coffeee table book, but incredible photos, and good history and description of all the habitats and animals.

Called "WILD AFRICA", and is a Discovery Channel issue. Printed in Great Britain and available thru www.dk.com. ISBN 0-7894-8158-8 and costs about thirty dollars. Amazon has fifteen of them, new and used (cheap).

Great for researching stuff about the ecological basis, and the wife and kids love it. Then buy your birding book specifically for Namibia when you get there.

John,

Good suggestion by BLANK here. Problem is you want to get some reading in beforehand.

Still for some books, especially what-bird-is-that you can wait until you get to Windhoek and then go check the books out at the CNA (Central News Agency) shop in the basement of the Kalahari Sands Arcade right in the middle of town. Your PH will likely know the German-run bookshop that, if I recall, is just down to the light (a/k/a robot) and around the corner from the Arcade. It has an even better selection.

Regards, Tim

Not certain if this an apt answer, however, you might consider the "African Hunter" "Shot Placement". I like it better than "The Perfect Shot"