Reviews (2)

Very insightful
I think this series of guides is very good. I've just come back from Morocco and found this to be the better of the books to be carrying (others I met had Footprint, Rough Guide or Lonely Planet). It is as good as an inspiration to go as it is as a reference inside that mosque, market or on that mountain. It must not be confused with the 'comprehensive' reviewed/listing/directory book of the Lonely Planet genre (for people who call themselves adventurers yet cannot go to a hotel that has not been 'bigged up' in their 'bible' - well at least they're all guaranteed to end up in the same shed based on one person's opinion!). There's rarely a book with as many photos and full color diagramatical explanations - call me illiterate but sometimes I just want to see a photo of something and say 'I want to go and look at that'!
Morrocco travel guide
It has a lot of wonderful pictures and very clear descriptions of the regions of the country and includes a brief history.I hope Morocco will live up to the wonders of this travel guide! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Africa    2. Reference - General    3. Travel    4. Travel - Foreign    5. Travel / Africa   

Subjects:  1. Africa    2. Travel    3. Travel - Foreign    4. Travel Guides    5. East Africa    6. Travel & holiday guides   

Reviews (41)

an enchanted Africa
Karen Blixen's wonderful writing actually reminds of another Dane, Hans Christian Anderson, for its magical quality and ability to make the most ordinary things latent with mystery. Africa becomes a fairy-tale world in the Dinesen's book, and the setting for her great love withDenys Finch-Hatton. One feels her love of him and of the countryside, and especially her devotion for the people who live all around her. A truly beautiful and mystical writer, who could see beyond the surface of things, she has the skill of imparting joy as well as tragedy.

A Breathtaking View of a Vanished World
I've long been fascinated by Isak Dinesen's life and with this book she lovingly describes the very heart of it, her sixteen years running a coffee plantation in the African highlands.She tells the reader almost nothing personal; but her descriptions of this vanished place and time are nothing short of magic.By "erasing" herself from the landscape, you are really and truly experiencing her life there.It was a mesmerizing experience and I hated to finish the book.Fortunately, it's now mine and I can re-read it any time I want to!

Denisen's Mastery of the Memoir
Denisen's ability to take you into Africa and make you know it as she did is astounding--she captures feelings very difficult to describe, and makes you want to see Kenya for yourself, the Hills of Ngong. She is a story-teller, yes, but she does not tell her stories in any way conventional; much of the time you have no idea as to the chronological order of things. Yet it doesn't matter, because she is conveying feelings and emotions which are not limited by time. And when time does come to play a role in her stories you are informed of it as is necessary. I would recommend this to anyone who wants to experience life as it should be experienced, confusing the primitive life of the Natives with the sophisticated Europeans come to visit Isak on her farm. Through the course of the novel, conflicts arise, celebrations take place, nature's best is described in full detail, and living things die as is natural. Denisen ends her work as beautifully as she began it, and you feel as though you have been through something really important when you finish. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1895-1963    2. 20th century    3. Authors, Danish    4. Biography    5. Biography/Autobiography    6. Classics    7. Country life    8. Description And Travel    9. General    10. Kenya    11. Literature - Classics / Criticism    12. Social life and customs    13. Biography: general    14. Dinesen, Isak    15. Fiction / General    16. Homes and haunts    17. Travel writing   

Reviews (2)

Ghana on the ground
Observations, current and pertainent info, from knowledgeable travelers who've been there. This is the stuff you want to know to plan a successful journey.

An Excellent Travel Guide
If you are traveling to Ghana, West Africa, this is the essential guide to have with you.It has an easy to read layout and includes everything you would ever need to know.I highly recommend this if you are going to that area.I am glad I own a copy! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Africa    2. Travel    3. Travel - Foreign    4. Ghana    5. Travel & holiday guides    6. Travel / Africa   

Editorial Review

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Reviews (21)

The Best Autobiography I've ever read
I find most autobiographies to be masterbatory exercises in which the authors attempt to explain themselves.
There Is No Africa
Underlying Blixen's tale of early 20th century Africa is the presumption that there was such a place; that is, a people or nation of peoples existed to which she went and from which she was forced to depart by economic circumstances. This presumption a priori allows her to reminisce about Africa the way it was or was supposed by her to have been.
Here I am, where I ought to be.
I'm another reader who comes to Out of Africa by way of Holden Caulfield in Catcher in the Rye; and it became recommended reading before I visited Kenya for myself in the early 90's.So, having just finished it and now half way through Shadows on the Grass, my overall impression is a pleasant one.I enjoyed Dinesen's writing style very much, and would agree with many readers that Out of Africa deserves a place among the classics in English literature.It's Karen Blixen's memoirs of her time in Kenya around WWI, living and working on her coffee plantation near Nairobi.Her descriptions of the Natives, her European friends, the land, the animals, flora and fauna are incredible.The chapters shift back and forth in time, some focused on specific events and individuals, some more whimsical and anecdotal.Reading Out of Africa transports the reader into early 20th Centrury colonial Kenya, and more concretely, onto Ms. Blixen's farm at the foot of the Ngong Hills.Years later she takes up her time in Africa again in Shadows on the Grass, talking more about her loyal Somali servant & right-hand man, Farah, taking a more philosophical tone regarding "masters & slaves", Native superstitions, manners, and so on.Shadows is inferior in many ways to Out of Africa, and it feels more like an "addendum" to the main work, which is poetry by comparison.By the time she writes it, she seems to have grown slightly more distant, and well, Colonist European.
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Subjects:  1. 1895-1963    2. 20th century    3. Authors, Danish    4. Biography    5. Biography & Autobiography    6. Biography / Autobiography    7. Biography/Autobiography    8. Country life    9. Description and travel    10. General    11. Kenya    12. Literary    13. Social life and customs    14. Women    15. Biography & Autobiography / Women    16. Dinesen, Isak    17. Homes and haunts   

Reviews (5)

Good overall, but very disappointing in places
Lonely Planet is the leader in travel books. This isn't just my opinion, I've met many other travelers who won't go anywhere without the appropriate LP book. Africa on a Shoestring is a great guide, with information on places to stay and what to see, for travelers who don't want to spend a fortune and aren't afraid to get out and actually experience the local culture.
good overview
It took so muchto get there and I found it very comforting having this book to entice me along.Yes it was pretty general but it left us open to meeting people and having more excuses to dig for directions.Many times we were invited into people's homes, the ones that spoke English and French.I always prefer roughing it to clean ironed sheets and air conditioned rooms.Anglin writes well and although there are some holes, there's no book out there that is better for seeing the raw Africa.

Don't head for Africa without Africa on a Shoestring in your pack
As someone who just returned from a solo tour(via local buses, trains and hitch-hiking) through Botswana, Zambia and Namibia with this book in my pack I feel I can review it more fairly than those who have simply looked it over while dreaming about a future trip.
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Subjects:  1. Africa    2. Travel    3. Travel - Foreign    4. Travel & holiday guides   

Reviews (1)

Lonely Planet scores again!
Just like the rest of the Lonely Planet tour guide books - it's awesome!Everything is the same in this book as the others, except it's about South Africa.So, if you liked their other tour guide books, as I do very much, you'll like this one too.Check it out! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Africa    2. Travel    3. Travel - Foreign    4. Lesotho    5. Republic of South Africa    6. Swaziland    7. Travel & holiday guides   

Reviews (2)

beautifully illustrated & comprehensive
This is the most beautifully illustrated and comprehensive guide I've found for the wildlife of southern Africa. The invertebrate info is hard to find elsewhere, and the fact that this guide includes plants is a welcome bonus. If you buy one guide to carry with you on your trip, this should be it.

A Comprehensive Guide
While visiting So.Africa, I had a million questions on what I looking at.I found this book and carried it with me throughout the trip.When we went on game runs, I would check off what we saw and make reference notes (e.g. the Baboons were eating Jackalberries - I could reference both the mammal and the tree section).The variety of birds in the country (over 900) was astounding and having the book made it much more fun and interesting to look up.This is the only book I found that combined lower invertabrates, spiders and other arachnids, insects (including a large butterfly collection), fish, frogs, reptiles, birds, mammals,grasses-sedges-ferns&fungi,wild flowers, trees.Several people on the tour had me write down what we saw so they in turn could get this book and make notes. A good book combining everything in one neat package for those who like to play outside! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Africa    2. Animal Ecology    3. Nature    4. Nature/Ecology    5. Plant Ecology    6. Plants - General    7. Wildlife    8. Nature / Wildlife    9. Science / Nature & Ecology    10. Southern Africa    11. Wild animals   

Reviews (2)

Excellent on Eritrea as well as Ethiopia
"Smallchief" mentioned that he had used this book in only in Ethiopia; I can attest that the Eritrea section is excellent as well. The walking tours of Asmara are a particularly useful and enjoyable introduction to a beautiful and eminently walkable city.Some of the information is out of date - a number of the establishments mentioned in the book are now closed, presumably due to the Eritrean economy's difficult straights.Let's hope that Ethiopia and Eritrea can overcome their joint and singular difficulties.
A fascinating country
I have used the Lonely Planet Guide for two visits to Ethiopia.I haven't been to Eritrea so I can't comment on the guide for that country.
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Subjects:  1. Africa    2. Travel    3. Travel - Foreign    4. Eritrea    5. Ethiopia    6. Travel & holiday guides   

Reviews (30)

An unimpressive narrative of a colorful destination
To readers who favorably reviewed this book I'd like to recommend reading other travel narratives by Tahir Shah. I am a big fan of Shah. All previous works were records of Shah undertaking ambitious projects with bravery and ardor. I always appreciated his sense of humor, and admired the list of classic travel literature he reads for preparation. In this book the project -- renovating a Caliph's house he purchased in Casablanca, Morocco -- remains unequivocally ambitious, but the book lacked the other hallmarks I grew to expect from Shah.
A Year in Provence goes south
Enjoyable enough read, but a little repetitive with the superstitious natives and their djinns alternating with the menace of a mysterious gangster who wishes the author to fail in his endeavor to fix up a glorious old house in Casablanca. IN the end it is somewhat unclear why he would want to live there as the local culture is not portrayed in a very interesting light other than its old world craftsmanship and the usual plotline about the locals decidedly unbritish approach to schedules.The proverbs that subtitle the chapters are the most interesting things you get along the culture line.

agree with the rest
I have to say that I agree with the other reviews which all seem to be glowing.
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Subjects:  1. Africa    2. Biography    3. Description And Travel    4. Essays & Travelogues    5. Morocco    6. Shah, Tahir    7. Travel    8. Travel - Foreign    9. Travel writers    10. Travel / General   

Reviews (2)

Amazingly Helpful
As world travelers experiencing our first trip to Ethiopia, we found ourselves carrying Briggs' book with us everywhere! His intelligent guidance was informative and helpful in every way.We felt that he was with us, helping us understand and enjoy this complex and fascinating land.We wish to thank Mr. Briggs for his incredible attention to detail, which greatly enhanced our trip.Don't go to Ethiopia without it!

Indispensable Guide to Ethiopia
I am planning my third trip to Ethiopia, and Philip Briggs' 4th edition of Ethiopia: The Bradt Travel Guide has proved to be indispensable.I have used his previous guidebook editions on my trips, and his information and tips are always exactly right.As an extra added bonus, he is an entertaining and perceptive writer, and the books are fun to read as well.This is the only book a traveler needs for a trip to Ethiopia. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Africa    2. Travel    3. Travel - Foreign    4. Ethiopia    5. Travel & holiday guides    6. Travel / Africa   

Reviews (6)

I have used this man's safari service
David's book is a glorious account of average people spending time with nature's truly inspiring flora & fauna.If you're planning on going on safari, this is a must have.If you've been, this will bring back wonderful memories.Peter & Dana

Feel Africa at Home
We have been on two Safari's and "On Safariby David Anderson" tells it all for less than $100.It keeps memories alive and well...the joy of picking up this book and living the greatest vacations of our life is priceless!Everyone that looks at this book cannot believe how beautiful the animals, the people and the views are.The Lodges are especially suprising to all!
Great Guide to Africa!
If you are thinking about a trip to Africa and are unsure of what to expect, "On Safari" reveals many hidden treasures and serves as a practical guide to planning a great safari in the wonderous land of Africa.
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Subjects:  1. Travel    2. Africa    3. Special Interest - Adventure    4. Safaris    5. East Africa    6. South Africa    7. Pictorials    8. Photography   

Reviews (19)

Well-researched and well-written spotlight on an overlooked land
I was directed to Michela Wrong's "I Didn't Do It For You" via my recent reading of Adrian Hartley's outstanding memoir "The Zanzibar Chest" (he dedicates the book to Ms. Wrong with a brief "Now it's my turn").As the offspring of an Italian mother and a British father, Wong is uniquely qualified by heritage (in addition to her obvious journalistic talents) to tell Eritrea's story.We get an expert and detailed (and downright fascinating at times) accounting of this small country's sinuous path through two colonial masters, the rules of Haile Selassie and Mengistu, its machinations with the superpowers during the Cold War (mind-boggling complex because US-funded Ethiopia and Soviet-funded Somalia actually 'dance past each other' and switch sides), the long battle for Independence and - almost incredulously - another war after independence had already been won.If even there was a country that 'punches above its weight', Eritrea is it.
Easy Reading
Great book that puts the reader into Africa and the events that transpired in Zaire/Congo.The author does a great job of explaining the background and key events that led up to the present situation in this African country.

An important but neglected subject
I picked up this book because my Uncle lives in Eritrea and I knew next to nothing about the place.It was immediately apparent that the writing was that of a journalist and not a historian but Wrong does a good job of placing the modern problems in a historical context.Some might say that the author is anti-American in her presentation but, if the shoe fits...The subject of Eritrea is important from both a humanitarian and strategic perspective but most Americans couldn't find the place on a map.A recommended read. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1993-    2. Africa    3. Africa - East    4. Africa - East - Ethiopia    5. Africa - History    6. Eritrea    7. Foreign relations    8. History    9. History - General History    10. History: World    11. Political    12. Revolution, 1962-1993    13. Revolutions    14. History / Africa / East   

Reviews (9)

Decent info, but presented awkwardly.
This is an adequate guide, but was disappointing in a few areas.Firstly, it is not geared to someone making a comprehensive West Africa trip but rather reads like a collection of individual country guides. It's OK if you are going to just fly in a hang out in a single country, but planning cross border itineraries is a chore. There could be better integration for the area.
From a returned Peace Corps Volunteer
This book is practically the bible for W. Africa travel.I lived and worked in W. Africa for 3 years (2 years as a Peace Corps volunteer) and I never went anywhere without consulting LP.The information is as accurate as anything out there.It offers you suggested itineraries and "off the beaten path" suggestions as well as the traditionally touristy destinations.Many parts are less objective than other parts and the writers tend to harp on corruption.But W. Africa is a pretty corrupt place in general.If you don't like the editorial sections, skip 'em, the info you need is still there.

SMEAREDBY DEROGATORY PHRASES
Indeed, this book ("Lonely Planet West Africa") did a good job in outlining many of the popular tourist attractions that are located in this Sub-Saharan region of Africa. I also appreciated its details on several tourists' trails, accomodations, means of transportation, and so on. However, I was very disappointed to note that (just like the "Lonely Planet Africa on a Shoestring") this book is full of discouraging comments. Some of the phrases Lonely Planet used in this book are quite offensive.Read more

Subjects:  1. Africa    2. Travel    3. Travel - Foreign    4. Travel & holiday guides    5. West Africa   

Reviews (7)

VERY HELPFUL
The highlights of this book is that it contains not only the dictionaries and useful phrases but also good explanation of grammar which makes understanding easier. Can't learn a language without grammar. They also try not to complicate by teaching "survival Swahili".

"Must Have" for East African Tourists
What's not to like?The compact size makes it easy to pack and tote on your trip to East Africa.It works great as a pre-trip study resource for the language - and equally well if you never open it until you are in a market in Tanzania and want to know "bei gani?" ("how much?")The book is organized in a way that makes sense - you can go to the section on shopping and find, not just a list of vocabulary words, but lots and lots of phrases to cover all kinds of situations.(If you have ever had to look up what you want to say word by word in a language guide, you will appreciate the value of this feature.)Like all Lonely Planet publications, it is written with a sense of attitude and energy - not dry like many language guides.My (Ki)Swahili is pretty good at this point - but I still pack this book whenever I go to East Africa.

Good for learning in a Rush
This book teaches the Basics of Swahili grammer and gives a person tons of words and phrases.One could learn some basic Swahili phrases from this and even think in Swahili numbers, but besides that, it is mostly a tourist manual, and unless you plan on being in rural East Africa, and are very polite, do you need to really know tourist Swahili if a large majority of the people will already have the ability to understand you in English? ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Africa    2. African Languages (See Also Swahili)    3. Foreign Language - Dictionaries / Phrase Books    4. Foreign Language Study    5. Language    6. Language self-study & phrasebooks    7. kiSwahili (Swahili)   

Subjects:  1. Aeronautics    2. Bathurst (Gambia)    3. Flights    4. Natal (Brazil)    5. Sao Tiago Island (Cape Verde)    6. Säao Tiago Island (Cape Verde)    7. Travel   

Reviews (3)

This book doesn't live up to the Title
The author shows little respect for Ethiopians in General, numerous instances he describes Ethiopians artifacts as "meager", "dingy" etc. This is unacceptable in my opinion because if your going to write about a place then at least be respectful of the place and the people,the author shows little respect for the overall Culture. Ethiopia has been through many violent episodes in the past so if little fragments of history survive in a tarnished manner take account of the fact that wars are usually unkind to places where wars were fought. I read the intro and noticed the author focused on the Names Aksum which is correct towards one of the ancient name of Ethiopia, also correctly naming Kush a neighboring country north of Ethiopia that impressed me so I bought the book anticipating some quality information. After receiving and reading the first 15 pages the author begins to show his unethusiatic attitutde for Ethiopian History which turned off this reader so I returned my copy and will continue searching for quality unbiased information for Ethiopia.

Be Cautious of the Title
I purchased this book because I was looking for an in-depth study of Ethiopian culture, both past and present.However, it soon became apparent that the book's subtitle "A Cultural and Historical Guide" was somewhat misleading.Rather, Mr. Munro-Hay provides a detailed and scholarly analysis of Ethiopian historical sites.The publisher would have been well-advised to use the subtitle "An Archaeological Survey" instead.If that is what you're looking for, then this book is ideal.But if you want information on contemporary Ethiopian culture, it would be best to look elsewhere.

An explorer's companion
Although not a "tourist guide" this book is a handy reference for anyone with interest in this land.Munro-Hay's subtitle: The Unknown Land provides a clue to the problem he faced in summarizing the history and culture of this ancient country.Known to early Christians as the land of "Prester John," Ethiopia's nearly landlocked location and rugged terrain has made it a challenge to scholars for millennia.Munro-Hay makes an earnest effort to enlighten us on many aspects of Ethiopian history and culture.Rather than provide a surface overview, he divides the country into regions based on ancient kingdoms.It's an effective means of organizing the complex store of research he's brought to the task. Read more

Subjects:  1. Africa - East - Ethiopia    2. Description and travel    3. Ethiopia    4. History    5. History - General History    6. Middle East - General    7. Travel    8. African history    9. African studies    10. Egypt    11. Travel & holiday guides   

Reviews (2)

BEST Book I've Ever Looked At EVER
These tantalizing pictures of beautiful African terrain paralize mewith delight.Once I opened this treasure chest of African glory, I could not stop.Cover to cover, backwards and forwards, this is by far the best hotel book I've ever had the priveledge of having my hands touch.This has a prime place on my coffee table, and heart.I'm going to Africa, baby!!!! And I KNOW where i'm staying!

Exotic playgrounds for the affluent and fantasy for the rest
I really like this book. Kind of heavy and big. Not serious reading of course. Stunning photographs of places most of us can't afford or wouldn't want to. Lots of ideas for those who want to try to make their home look completely different than the norm. Author has selected diverse properties showing you that Africa has just as romantic getaways places as in Europe and the Far East. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Africa    2. Travel    3. Travel - Foreign    4. Hotel & holiday accommodation guides   

Reviews (1)

THE best guide on Tanzani, according to locals
That says it all. We attracted lots of attention by being the first to show up in Tanzania toting the new edition.The locals all agreed it was the most comprehensive & accurate guide available, & were really impressed by some of the things we knew from reading it. We had several offers to buy it when we left but wanted to keep it as a souvenir.
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Subjects:  1. Africa    2. Africa - East    3. East Africa - History    4. Travel    5. Travel - Foreign    6. Travel Guides    7. Tanzania    8. Travel & holiday guides    9. Travel / Africa   

Subjects:  1. Children's Books/Ages 4-8 Fiction    2. General    3. Maps    4. Ethiopia    5. Travel / road maps & atlases