Visit the Road Scholar Bookshop
You can find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on
bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
Whatever You Do, Don't Run
by Peter Allison
Allison spins captivating tales of wildlife, camps and the life of a safari guide into a hilarious, slyly informative introduction to Botswana.
The Double Comfort Safari Club
by Alexander McCall Smith
Infinitely patient Precious Ramotswe and her prickly secretary (make that assistant detective!) Grace Makutsi, head to the Okavango Delta where there have been several unexplained and troubling events including the demise of one of the guests.
The Healing Land
by Rubert Isaacson
The author travels to the dry grasslands of southern Africa in search of the legendary Kalahari Bushmen and finds evidence of shamans, powerful religious rituals, tribal hunting practices, and much, much more.
The Last Elephants
by Colin Bell & Don Pinnock
African savanna elephants--among the most magnificent and beloved of our fellow mammals--are an extraordinary, social, and intelligent species. The Last Elephants, an homage to these animals and a clarion call for their preservation, is based upon a shocking finding: savanna elephant populations across Africa are being decimated, with two to three murdered every hour for their ivory. Without action, these elephants soon will vanish from our world. They are a species in imminent danger of extinction, and it is up to us to save them.
Twenty Chickens for a Saddle
by Robyn Scott
Haphazardly schooled by her free-spirited mother and left to roam the bush, Scott writes with warmth and candor of her unconventional upbringing in Botswana, commenting on her Grandpa Ivor (personal pilot to the first president of Botswana), physician father's work, unfortunate pets, siblings and adventures.
Wildlife of Southern Africa
by Martin B. Withers
This Princeton Pocket Guide, featuring 400 color photographs by Withers and co-author David Hosking, covers all the birds, mammals, lizards and insects you are likely to encounter.
Newman's Birds of Southern Africa
by Kenneth Newman
This commemorative 10th edition celebrates the late author with a fully revised and updated version. Edits were done by his daughter, Vanessa Newman, to reflect the latest research, taxonomy and common names.
Botswana Map
by Reise Know How
A detailed map of Botswana at a scale of 1:1,000,000. Unfolded size: 27 x 39 inches.
Botswana, the Bradt Safari Guide
by Marcelle Bienvenu (Contributor), Chris McIntyre
With comprehensive coverage of history, flora, fauna and practicalities, this fourth edition presents Okavango, Chobe, the Kalahari and other popular destinations in detail.
Africa, a Biography of the Continent
by John Reader
With the ease of a practiced journalist, Reader weaves a masterful and lively tale of the continent, from ancient cultures to modern times. Both authoritative and informal, this is a splendid introduction to all of Africa.
Cry of the Kalahari, Seven Years in Africa's Last Great Wilderness
by Mark Owens, Delia Owens
The story of a family thrown out of Botswana for its stance on conservation. While their approach to conservation is controversial, there's no doubt that the Owens are dedicated to the wildlife of Southern Africa -- and are very good writers.
A Natural History Guide to the Arid Kalahari
by Gus and Margie Mills
The landscapes and vegetation, the antelope, the hyenas, cats and other carnivores, the birds and the smaller creatures... all are included in this comprehensive guide. Plus: Tips and advice for getting the most out of your visit to the arid Kalahari. Not only is A Natural History Guide to the Arid Kalahari a wonderful guide to one of the most intriguing nature destinations in Africa, but you can read it like a book.