G.M. Branch   Two Oceans (David Philip, SA). Don't be fooled by the coffee-table format; this is a comprehensive guide to southern Africa's marine life.

 

David Bristow   Best Hikes in Southern Africa (Struik, SA). Well-written and reliable guide that does your homework for you, selecting the best trails from a confusingly extensive lot.

David Bristow   Drakensberg Walks: 120 Graded Hikes and Trails in the 'Berg (Struik, SA). An indispensable paperback for anyone exploring the Drakensberg, with detailed route instructions and informative background about the natural history of the massif.

Shirley Brossey   A Walking Guide for Table Mountain (self-published, SA). Useful and inexpensive guide to trails around the Table Mountain, with handy hand-drawn maps and down-to-earth text.

Duncan Guy   The Very Best of Johannesburg and Surrounds (Struik, SA). A rare book which delights in the diversity and colour of Johannesburg - lots of photographs and some good detail on the nooks and crannies of Gauteng.

Judith Hopley   On Foot in the Garden Route (self-published, SA). Excellent little guide that's perfect if you're planning on exploring the coasts and forest of the Garden Route on foot.

Jaynee Levy   The Complete Guide to Walks & Trails in Southern Africa (Struik, SA). Encyclopedic hiker's bible covering over 500 trails suitable for all abilities, with useful practical information about what to take and where to book. One to invest in if you're a keen trailist spending time in the country, but definitely not light reading to take on a walk.

Mike Lundy   Best Walks in the Cape Peninsula (Struik, SA). Handy, solidly researched guide to some of the Peninsula's many walks, and small enough to fit comfortably in a backpack while you are walking them.

Tony Pooley and Ian Player   KwaZulu-Natal Wildlife Destinations (Southern, SA). Comprehensive directory of every game and nature reserve in the province, with useful practical and background information.

Charles Stewart   Rock and Surf Fishing (Southern, SA). Uninspiringly written, but the author does appear to have tried his luck from nearly every available vantage point on the South African coast, and the book is a useful guide to what he has found out on the way.

Cornel Truter   West Coast (UCT, SA) The history, flora, industry, agriculture and tourism of this gaunt but beautiful stretch that is the opposite of the lush Garden Route.