A selection of recommended titles for this expedition, available from nhbs.com

David Attenborough

Attenborough brings his matter-of-fact clarity to discuss the latest scientific research on the state of the planet with explanations on rainforest destruction, global warming, extinction of species, rising sea-levels, drought and meteoric collisions.
Over the course of three programmes, he works with experts to ask whether nature really is in a crisis of species extinction, to examine why has this come about and finally to understand what options for the future remain open to us. His quest takes him on a truly global trail, from Kenya to Ecuador, from the Philippines and the Maldives to Easter Island, and from South Africa to California - visiting habitats of threatened species and exploring ways in which life can be sustained for the future.

Running time: 150 minutes.
BBC Video

Diversity of Life
Edward O Wilson

An inspiring work by this eminent scientist and conservationist. Wilson traces the processes that create new species in bursts of adaptive radiation, and identifies the five major extinctions of the last 600 million years. Each cataclysmic event, caused by a meteorite strike or climatic change, required 10-100 million years of evolutionary repair. The lessons are clear - the sixth major extinction, caused this time entirely by man - could ultimately be the greatest of them all. Drawing on evidence and examples from around the world, the author argues forcibly that the conflicting forces of economic development and natural preservation must be reconciled if the world's biological diversity is to be saved. A great book.
From the text: `Consider this: Of the estimated 10 million species of plants and animals alive in the world's rain forests, a minimum of 27,000 go extinct each year; 74 each day; 3 each hour'
`Edward Wilson is today's towering figure in American Biological Literature. Not since Darwin has an author so lifted the science of ecology with insight and delightful imagery.' Richard Dawkins. New edition includes an extensive new forward by the author.

406 pages, b/w illus, figs.
Penguin

Last Chance to See . . .
D Adams and M Carwardine

Now available on CD-ROM. A book full of tragi-comic overtones, this is an account of five expeditions to various parts of the world to search for rare and endangered species, such as the aye-aye, the kakapo and the Yangtse River dolphin. Carwardine is an experienced zoologist, but Adams is better known as the bestselling author of A Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.

224 pages, col illus.
Pan

Wild Africa
Patrick Morris, Amanda Barrett, Andrew Murrary and Marguerite Smits van Oyen

Book accompanying a forthcoming BBC TV series, in the same style as Andes to Amazon. Chapters will focus on the heart of the African landscape, revealing how the resident wildlife has adapted to thrive in its unique natural environment. Habitats covered include: The ancient heart (jungle), Islands of creation (mountains), Endless place (savannah), Sweet waters, bitter cauldrons (rivers and lakes), Sands of time (coasts) and Beautiful furnaces (deserts).Wild Africa shows how a once stable continent has been fragmented into these six extraordinary realms, and how this process has catalysed the evolution of many remarkable animals and plants in each.

240 pages, 240 col photos, maps.
BBC Books

Larger Carnivores of the African Savannas
Jacobus du P Bothma and Clive Walker

This marvellous book presents the behaviour and ecology of all African carnivores that are larger than jackals in an ordered and scientific way. It is augmented by many colour photographs taken by both authors, and excellent sketches by the internationally renowned wildlife artist Clive Walker.
Contents include: Introduction; The African lion; The leopard; The cheetah; The caracal; The African wild dog; The spotted hyaena; The striped hyaena; The brown hyaena; The aardwolf; and The large carnivore guild.

274 pages, 78 col photos, b/w photos, 58 b/w illus.
Springer

African Big Cats

The Haunted Huntress follows the fortunes of a mother cheetah and her two cubs in Kenya's Masai Mara, and Night of the Leopard follows a female and her two cubs as she moves through the night in the African savannah.

Running time: 58 mins approx.
BBC Video

Cheetahs
Luke Hunter

72 pages, 40 col photos.
Colin Baxter

Beautiful Wild Animals of Southern Africa
D Rogers

Extensively illustrated picture book of the region's most attractive and interesting wildlife. Text in English, German and French.

48 pages, 80 col illus.
New Holland

Collins Guide: African Wildlife
PC Alden, R Estes, D Schlitter and B McBride

Excellent portable guide, covering 200 mammals, 300 birds and many reptiles and insects. The photographs are organised by shape rather than taxonomic sequence. The accompanying text covers behaviour, biology and identification, and there is a section on places to visit. The authors bring to bear their experience in leading many safaris.

988 pages, 577 colour photos, 495 maps, 200 illus.
Harper Collins

Kingdon Field Guide to African Mammals
Jonathan Kingdon

From the author of East African Mammals this wonderful guide combines Jonathan Kingdon's long personal experience of Africa and his artistic talent to produce a field guide to all the known species of African land mammal. With a concise text the guide provides full information on identification, distribution, ecology, evolutionary relationships and conservation status. The focus is always on the mammals as seen in the field and on their ecology and evolutionary interrelationships. Introductory profiles summarise the characteristics of the various mammal groups, and coverage of several more complex groups of small mammals is simplified by reference to genera, though all 1150 African species are listed. The most up-to-date identification and species list is employed. Twelve newly recognised species of bushbaby, fourteen newly named baboons, guenons and mangabeys and nine newly recognised colubus monkeys contribute to the most modern treatment of the primates. New species of bats, rodents and fox are also included as well as a fully revised listing of the duikers, squirrels, and genets.

464 pages, 480 species illustrated, 280 maps covering 460 mammal species or groups.
AP Natural World

Wild Ways: Field Guide to the Behaviour of Southern African Mammals
P Apps

Illustrated by Penny Meakin.
Contains 117 species accounts describing the distinct behaviour of southern African mammals, illustrated with line drawings.

197 pages, line illus.
Southern

Behavior Guide to African Mammals
R Estes

This unique book aims to complement the existing field guides, in not only describing the appearance of Africa's mammals, but also their behaviour and actions. Covering four major groups - ruminant hoofed mammals, non-ruminant hoofed mammals, carnivores and primates - the text describes each species' distinctive behaviour, with descriptions of their appearance, relationships, evolution, ecology, social organisation, feeding, mating, fighting, plus where to find them. ` A work of tremendous scope ... Amateur naturalists and tourists to the parks of Africa and finally professionals will find this a stimulating, well-documented summary.' John F Eisenberg, Florida Museum of Natural History.

633 pages, 426 illus [by Daniel Otte], range maps.
California UP

Signs of the Wild
Clive Walker

Fully updated for the new edition, full colour distribution maps for each of the 88 animal species are presented (which complement the in situ photographs of each animal), as are new droppings and spoor for a number of species and skull features of the carnivores.

215 pages, col photos, distribution maps.
New Holland

Photographic Guide to Tracks and Tracking in Southern Africa
Louis Liebenberg

Drawing on the most pertinent aspects of the author's Signs of the Wild, this photoguide presents approximately 130 mammal species for identification by means of their tracks and signs.

144 pages, 160 col photos, illus, 130 maps.
New Holland

Ecotravellers' Wildlife Guide to Southern Africa
Branch

c. 500 pages, illus.
AP Natural World

Discovery Guide to Southern Africa
P McKinstry

256 pages, 60 col & b/w illus, 10 maps.
Immel

Insight Guide: Namibia
Kurt Schlenther

328 pages, col photos, maps.
Insight Guides

Bradt Country Guides: Namibia
Chris McIntyre

These two countries have become far more accessible since their independence. This edition covers recent developments, but the emphasis is still on conservation, development and the environment. Both countries still have large areas of unspoilt wilderness, including the Okavango Delta in Botswana.

478 pages, col photos, maps.
Bradt

Lonely Planet Travel Guide: Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia
Deanna Swaney

Includes a 32-page safari guide and extensive coverage of national and wildlife parks.

800 pages, 48pp colour phots, 110 maps.
Lonely Planet

Footprint's Namibia Handbook
Sebastian Ballard and Nick Santcross

360 pages, b/w photos, illus, 55 maps.
Footprint