Nature Books

From hot desert sands to awesome mountain ranges; from verdant vineyards to beautiful sandy beaches; from temperate forests to great expanses of alluring bushveld - South Africa has it all!
With such a stunning diversity of landscape, together with an astounding variety of wildlife in magnificent national parks and wilderness reserves, matched with a colourful and proud ethnic heritage, South Africa merits its distinction as Africa's leading tourist destination.
The images portrayed in "Natural Splendours of South Africa" brilliantly capture and reflect the beauty and wonders of this amazing country.

Southern Africa is the natural home of the richest and most diverse succulent flora in the world. This user-friendly illustrated field guide features more than 700 southern African succulents, focusing on the most interesting and commonly encountered species.

An introduction to families and their key features points readers to the relevant plant group, while concise accounts describing the plants' diagnostic features, teamed with images and distribution maps, enable quick identification of species.

The book also offers:
• A guide to the defining features of succulents
• Multiple colour photographs of all featured species
• The uses of succulents - and a conservation alert
• A section on gardening with succulents

More than just an ID guide for plant lovers, this book will inspire gardeners who are turning to indigenous, low-maintenance and waterwise plants for cultivation.

Waarom is 'n slang se tong gevurk?
Het slange ore?
Waarom vervel slange?
Watter slange maak of hulle dood is?
Hoe dikwels eet slange?

Maak kennis met 36 van Suider-Afrika se mees algemene en interessante slange in hierdie opwindende gids. Ontdek die boeiende gewoontes van slange - waar hulle bly, hoe hulle jag, watter gevare hulle trotseer en hoe hulle hulself beskerm. 'n Breedvoerige inleiding tot talle aspekte van slanggedrag ontsluit die wonderwêreld van hierdie dikwels misverstane reptiele.

"Saunders' Field Guide to the Gladioli of South Africa" is a distillation of days spent in the field by Rod and Rachel Saunders, studying gladioli. Organised into seven sections, this thorough and easy-to-use guide will ensure quick identification of all 166 South African species.

• A short history of gladioli sets the scene, followed by key information to facilitate identification.
• In-depth species descriptions and photographs detail each plant and its habitat. Accounts are augmented with notes from Rachel Saunders' journals.
• Distribution maps indicate where species haven been recorded and flowering months are given to each plant.
• An illustrated glossary unpacks difficult botanical terms.

Lavishly illustrated with over 1,300 photographs, "Saunders' Field Guide to Gladioli of South Africa" is set to become the definitive guide to these elegant plants.

A celebration of the rich diversity and beauty of indigenous trees.

"The Ways and Wonders of South African Trees" uncovers the fascinating world of trees and how they function. Presented in two parts, the first explores the physiology and behaviour of trees and the second the grandeur of a select number of species, richly supported by photographs.

In Part One, a detailed introduction focuses on the complex life of trees, uncovering how they grow, compete for water, defend themselves and make use of photosynthesis to survive, and the symbiotic relationship they have with each other and other species. Record-breakers such as the oldest, tallest and largest trees are also featured.

Part Two showcases some 150 conspicuous species, including the iconic baobab, sausage tree and mopane tree, as well as lesser-known but interesting trees such as baboon's breakfast. These accounts describe their unique traits and their different parts and discuss how they are used by animals, birds and humans.

Bigger, better, and with many added features, this well-loved guide is more indispensable in the field than ever.

Southern Africa has a rich variety of tree species, with an estimated 2 100 indigenous species and more than 100 naturalized aliens. "Field Guide to Trees of Southern Africa" describes and illustrates more than 1 000 of these, focusing on the most common and those most likely to be encountered.

This new edition of the region's best-selling tree guide offers:
• A new 87-page section of full-tree photographs
• Comprehensively revised and updated text
• Expanded coverage, now detailing even more of the region's trees
• Updated distribution maps
• Many new photographs to aid identification

Species are logically arranged in 43 groups based on easy-to-observe leaf and stem features, and each account is illustrated by full-colour photographs of the tree's diagnostic parts. The text also touches on the practical uses of the trees.

Fully revised and updated to reflect the most recent taxonomic changes, this long-awaited new edition of "Field Guide to Butterflies of South Africa" feautres all of the region's 671 known butterfly species.

The species entries have been updated and expanded, and discuss identification, habits, flight periods, broods, typical habitat, distribution and larval food sources. An introductory section covers butterfly biology, classification, anatomy and behaviour.

Lavishly illustrated with full-colour photographs, a full two-thirds of the images have been replaced with new material. Male and female forms - where they differ - and upper- and undersides (where possible) are shown on pages facing the species descriptions. A simple numbering system between text and images ensures easy identification.

Additional features:
• Photographs of mostly live specimens in their habitat
• Colour-coding at subfamily level for ease of use
• Quick reference to butterfly groups on inside front cover
• Distribution maps for all species
• Up-to-date common names and alternative names provided

In this inspired account, nature writer Rupert Watson explores the life and times of the African baobab, from its origins to its present status on the continent and its future in a changing Africa. He effortlessly blends natural history and personal observation, sometimes drawing on extracts from the records of early explorers. There are intriguing accounts of the baobab's eccentric growth and reproductive habits, its present-day distribution, and its wide impact on everyday African life.

The "Field Guide to the Succulent Euphorbias of Southern Africa" by Alma Möller and Rolf Becker is a pioneer of publication on euphorbias in southern Africa. It is a beautifully illustrated, full-colour identification guide that makes it easy for the layperson as well as anybody interested in the flora of southern Africa to identify a particular species.

The "Field Guide to the Succulent Euphorbias of Southern Africa" contains:
• Introductory chapters containing general information about the species characters, how to identify an Euphorbia, growing euphorbias in cultivation, gardening with euphorbias, medicinal and other uses, herbaceous species and invaders.
• Detailed descriptions of 235 species, including emphasis on distinguishing features, habitat, distribution maps, conservation status, scientific and known common names, as well as notes on similar species.
• Similar looking species are grouped together in 18 species groups based on easily recognisable morphological characters. Group 19 contains previously undescribed species, and Group 20 contains species of uncertain status.
• More than 870 full-colour photographs and illustrations.
• Taxonomic classification.
• Glossary and index to scientific and common names.

"Sasol Eerste Veldgids tot Gesteentes & Minerale van Suider-Afrika" bied 'n fassinerende blik op die gesteentes en minerale van die streek. Met behulp van volkleurfoto's, beknopte teksvensters en maklik leesbare teks, sal die beginner en outluikende geoloog die meer allgemene gesteentes en minerale in suider-Afrika kan verken, en meer te wete kom oor hul eienskappe, gebruike en verspreiding.

"Sasol First Field Guide to Gemstones of Southern Africa" is a fascinating guide to the gemstones of the region. Full-colour photographs and easy-to-read text will help the beginner and budding naturalist to identify the more common gemstones that occur in southern Africa, discover where they are found, and learn about their unusual features.

Towering above the city of Cape Town, Table Mountain has a tumultuous story to tell that extends back over 500 million years. The iconic landmark at the southwestern tip of Africa has been a welcome sight to locals and overseas visitors for more than 500 years. One of the most-climbed mountains in the world, Table Mountain has inspired many to record their thoughts and impressions.

While the rocky massif has remained virtually unchanged, people's perceptions of it have changed dramatically. The written records of those who encountered Table Mountain reveal how we learned to read the deep history of the region in parallel with the development of geology as a science. "Interpreting Earth" chronicles the evolution of how we think and feel about mountains.