Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #14861 in Books
• Published on: 1999-10-21
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 458 pages

Customer Reviews

An excellent summary of social behavior of African mammals.
I came across Safari Companion in a South African bush camp, where it was considered an essential reference tool. The book describes in detail the social behaviors of the large African mammals, including aggressive and defensive postures, mating habits, child rearing techniques, and territory marking habits. If you have the patience to sit quietly and watch a group of elephants interact, rather than check them off a list and hurry on to the next species, this is the book for you.

For people serious about animals
This book is probably the best resource available for people who are serious about their animal-watching. There is loads of information, from general info about the family to specific stuff about the individual species (mating habits, social habits etc.). There are also helpful (and unintentionally funny) little pictures to explain certain points.

If you are going on safari for the first time I wouldn't recommend this book. If however you enjoy sitting and watching a group of animals this book is perfect. The only negative point is that there are no colour pictures/photos, only black and white drawings.

The best in the field
Like another reviewer, I first came across this book whilst on safari. This is the book that the guides use. Not all guides, only the best ones in my experience of 9 safaris. Having said that, this is not a book aimed at somebody who wants to simply know what animal they are looking at. There are lots of field guides that do that far better, and have colour illustrations as well.
This is a book for those who have already got past the identification stage and are interested in understanding the behaviour of the animals they are watching. If that is what you want to do, this is the book for you.