Game Ranger in your Backpack

Introduction

The book is a book that provide a new angle to the normal field guide type of book in the sense that it provide interpretation of the subjects. The nature guide on a open game drive vehicle should do this type of interpretation while driving through the veld. The same applies when walking in the veld.

It is a book that full fill a specific need for the nature enthusiast and the writers should be complemented on it.

Division of the book

The book cover a wide range of subjects which is giving you the reader a good perspective on the whole habitat that you are driving through. It covers the landscape in terms of geology, mammals are interpreted. Birds are discussed not in identification only but in behaviour as well.

Reptiles and amphibians are done in the same way as the birds. Insects and other invertebrates are focused on the main groups but is not a identification chapter. The plants are well covered and is again a mix between identification and usage. The tracking and field signs is sufficient and it was difficult to stay within the limits for the writers of their objective.

The colour coding to find the different chapters is a easy way to navigate in the book. One aspect that I think would have enhanced the book would have been a chapter on ecology explaining the concepts of it. It is addressed in the book itself at the different subjects.

Highlights of the book

The highlights of the book lay in a few aspects. The use of the dots towards the photos is a very good idea and it enhance the whole reading experience.

On page 15 the explanation of the carnassial shear is a typical example. The only problem that the writers had was that the dots disappear in the photos such as the one about the rough tongue of the lion. the background of the photo "swallow" the dots.

The bolding in the sentences is helpful to get focus and in my case I can use them to draw a mind map of the whole page to assist in the interpretative part.

The layout of pages is excellent with the use of colours. One of the irritating aspects is that some of the photos is "looking" out of the pages. A example of this is the two lion photos on page 15. It would be better if they can look "into" the pages and not off the page. It is not a big deal but it is noticed.

Special note on the photo's is that they are supplementary to the text and notes. It is clear that the photographer has a big collection of photos' to be able to do this type of text - photo matching. Well done.

Use of the book

This is a book that the nature enthusiast can use all the time. We need more of these type of books in SA with this specific angle of writing. It is for the tourist driving through game reserves, it is use full for the nature guide student as well as rangers.

It covers such a variety that you can use it outside the Low veld as well.

Conclusion

This book is a must for the nature enthusiast. The ecology introduction is needed in a reprint as it is so important to understand. The wish list is that the track and tracking and signs of the veld can be expanded in a reprint.


Reviewer