South Africa’s Fynbos Biome, which spans the country’s Western and Eastern Cape provinces, is one of the richest floras in the world. In addition to its spectacular botanical diversity, the region is also famous for its remarkable variety of fauna, with some species occurring nowhere else – from the tiny Micro Frog to the brightly coloured Orange-breasted Sunbird and the large, strikingly marked Bontebok. The first of its kind, this concise field guide covers more than 400 species in four animal groups: mammals, birds, reptiles and frogs. The species accounts include key identification features and are paired with full-colour photographs and distribution maps. This guide encompasses popular tourist destinations such as the Cape Peninsula, the Kogelberg, the Cederberg, the Agulhas Plain, the West Coast and Baviaanskloof. Sales points: First guide to focus on Fynbos wildlife. Ideal for visitors, hikers, botanists, conservationists and anyone with an interest in the region’s natural history. Written by conservationists with extensive field experience. Supported by high-quality colour photographs.
Sasol First Field Guide to Fynbos of Southern Africa is a beginner's guide to one of the most complex and fascinating communities of plant species in the world. Included in this guide are particularly striking specimens and those that display typical fynbos features. Full-colour photographs, distribution maps, and easy-to-read text will help the beginner and emerging naturalist to discover where fynbos occurs, how it has evolved and survives and how to recognize and identify specimens in the field.
A field guide to the wildlife of southern Africa, describing over 2,000 plants and animals, with accurate illustrations in full colour. This book has been a trusted fi eld companion for many years. Comprehensively updated, it now features range maps for most groups. The chapters are colour-coded for easy reference, and diagnostic features appear in bold type within the descriptions. Each chapter is written by a leading expert in the field. All the main plant and animal groups are covered: Lower invertebrates, Spiders and other arachnids, Insects, Freshwater fishes, Frogs, Reptiles, Birds, Mammals, Grasses, sedges, ferns and fungi, Wild flowers, Trees
Whether you are a bird-watcher, an angler, a hiker, a diver, an environmentalist, or merely a weekend nature lover, this guide will provide hours of fascinating reading and be an invaluable reference for years to come.
The southwestern Cape is home to one of the world's richest floras. From an estimated 7 000 species of true fynbos, Field Guide to Fynbos covers over 1 000 species of this flora. It focuses on the most common and conspicuous wild flowers, with an emphasis on those species with showy, or at least evident, flowers that are most likely to be encountered. Each species described is accompanied by its common names, a vivid photograph, distribution map, comparisons with similar species where applicable, and notes on traditional uses. For the first time, non-botanists have a real chance of accurately.
Part of the Fynbos biome, Renosterveld is one of the world’s most threatened vegetation types, with just 5% of its original extent remaining. Focusing specifically on the Renosterveld of the Overberg region in the Western Cape, this field guide is the first of its kind to cover this highly endangered ecosystem, characterised by nutrient-rich soil which has been exploited for agriculture. An in-depth introduction sets the scene, defining what Renosterveld is and giving some historical background to the ecology of the area. The plants section follows, featuring over 980 plant species from the common and ‘showy’ to the weird, obscure and often-overlooked. A shorter section of 140 animal species showcases the diversity of creatures found here despite severe habitat loss and fragmentation. Additional features include a glossary with supporting illustrations, guidelines for landowners and farmers, and a comprehensive index. Field Guide to Renosterveld of the Overberg promises to be an enduring record of this unique and severely threatened ecosystem. It will be a vital addition to any nature lover’s bookshelf. Sales points: Comprehensive coverage of Renosterveld species, identification at a glance, full-colour photographs of all species described, expert author team.
Field Guide to Fynbos features over 1,000 species from the Cape Floristic Region – home to one of the world’s richest floras. This fully updated edition focuses on the most common and ‘showy’ plants. An introduction unpacks the world of fynbos – including origins, diversity, climate and adaptations – and is followed by a photographic key and descriptions of the fynbos families. Species descriptions are accompanied by photographs, distribution maps, comparisons with similar species, and notes on traditional uses. For botanists and amateurs alike, this will remain an indispensable guide to South Africa’s most renowned flora. Sales points: written by an expert in the field, fully revised and updated, will enable identification of a vast array of fynbos species, glorious full-colour photographs of all featured species, key to plant families for easy ID.
The Rough Guide to Game Parks of South Africa Make the most of your time on Earth with the ultimate travel guides. World-renowned 'tell it like it is' travel guide, now with free eBook. 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.
South Africa's fynbos region has intrigued biologists for centuries. It has achieved iconic status as a locus of megadiversity and therefore a place to study the ecological underpinnings of massive evolutionary radiations. Researchers have made great advances over the past two decades in unravelling the complexities of fynbos ecology and evolution, and the region has contributed significant insights into the adaptive radiations of large lineages, conservation science, pollination biology, invasive plant biology, and palaeoanthropology. Lessons from the fynbos offer much of value for understanding the origin, maintenance, and conservation of diversity anywhere in the world. This book provides the first synthesis of the field for 20 years, bringing together the latest ecological and evolutionary research on the South African global biodiversity hotspots of the Greater Cape Floristic Region - the iconic fynbos and succulent karoo. It explores the historical and modern physical and biological environment of this region, the circumstances and processes which have fostered its remarkable biodiversity, and the role this diversity has played in the emergence of modern humans. It also discusses the challenges of contemporary management and conservation of the region's biodiversity in the face of accelerating global change.
