East Africa Wildlife (Nature Observation International)

Just came back from 21 days on Safari in Kenya and Tanzania and used this every single day, along with East Africa Birds. There's a great story to tell, too, about the gift this became (see below). It fit perfectly in my vest pocket and was an invaluable quick look-up guide on washboard roads and at quiet water-hole observatories alike. We saw everything there was to see in our neck of the woods, many times over, and it didn't take long to memorize animals and ID them just from their profiles in the savannah, thanks to this guide. (The only suggestion I'd make to improve it is to add birds in flight -- the coloring is often spectacular and makes some birds easier to ID.) I used my more extensive guide in the evenings for the official log. In addition, this helped with our amazingly well-informed and cheerful driver-guides and our trip tour guide, all of whom spoke English to some degree but in the heat of the drives could use some com support. They each had practically Masters degrees in ecosystems, culture, history, enviro science, and zoology, but being able to point to something WE thought we saw was useful -- and often made them laugh and tell us no, that's a water buffalo in the distance, not a rhino! I brought three with me (along with other books and items) to give away to schools and other community leaders, and to one of our guides. But the BEST outcome was when we visited the Hadzabe bush tribe outside NgoroNgoro crater/caldera. We weren't sure if we'd catch up with this nomadic tribe, but after two hours into the bush, we found their encampment and our click-tongue step-in guide introduced the nine of us to the assistant leader (a real position), named *ng*ng-o. I had taken the travel time to learn several click phrases and, after introducing myself properly to *ng*ng-o, he grabbed my hand and I became his sidekick for the morning. We danced and sang and ate baboon and shot arrows and sat in a *ng*ng-boko (baobab). At one point he, along with their kids and others, were demonstrating which arrows were used for which animals, when I pulled this guide out to try to follow along and make notes. The kids swarmed me and were utterly fascinated by this little laminated visual! I asked our interpreter if it would be OK to offer it as a gift before we left, since I didn't want to intrude on any efforts the tribe or Tanzania were making to retain their culture, and he said, "Sure!" He admitted it may not last long on their nomadic and very spare safaris (journeys), but they'd appreciate it. So at the end of the visit, I offered this to *ng*ng-o, and he accepted with a huge grin and twinkles in his eyes, and the kids took it over immediately. When everyone else had gone to the two jeeps, and I lingered a bit to say goodbye, he gave me a bow and three arrows in return!! I was over the moon with grins over this cultural exchange. I also told him he'd make a great husband, having been the hunter of the baboon the night before, which they'd shared with us this morning (roasted, I might add). He laughed and gave me a big hug -- and a big, full kiss. Two, in fact! :-) This weapon, whose arrows are made with guinea fowl feathers and are -- thus of course -- used to bring down birds, is now among my most precious possessions. These were among the most genuinely cheerful and friendly peoples I have ever had the honor of spending time with (and I've traveled all over the world). I was so pleased to be able to give them this guide as a token of my appreciation for their sharing their culture and hunting secrets with us. Will always be grateful.

A must have if you are going to Kenya and east Africa. I love these type of guides and this one helped me identify so many animals quickly and easily. Could also be used as a checklist with kids. It’s laminated so easy to clean off spills or dirt, folds up compactly and fits in a camera bag, purse or backpack easily. I still have mine to use as a reference for photos I’ve taken.

I found this Pocket Guide, along with the East Africa Birds, to be very informative. I studied these guides prior to my 11 day safari through Kenya, and referred to them at each days end, as well. I would highly recommend both of these East Africa Pocket Guides.

We used it on a Safari in Tanzania Africa in July 2022. I wrote the date when we first saw the animal. It was a great for that. Our human guide pointed out the animals and I made note of them, in ballpoint pen, on the guide. Really handy and easy to pack away and grab when needed. It had all the large animals we saw (plus more) but was missing a lot of the birds. I'm glad I had it and it is now a keepsake of our fabulous Safari.

Went to Kenya and Tanzania on safari recently. These guides were so much fun to use to help identify animals and birds. They were passed around the jeep the entire trip. Everyone loved them! The guides did a great job of identifying everything we saw but these pamphlets helped us keep up with everything and see some of the suttle differences between some of the animals. A trip of a lifetime!

East Africa is teeming with game and bird life that is highly visible everywhere, so such a small guide necessarily has to leave a lot out. This is great for most of what you'll see, though. The animals are grouped very logically, so you typically don't have to scan the entire guide to find what you're looking at. NOTE: this doesn't even scratch the surface on birds (it doesn't claim to, so that's OK). If you're going to East Africa for the birds, get a more exhaustive field guide. I do highly recommend this for a trip to East Africa, though.

I used this pocket guide while we were on safari with some friends in Kenya and it was very helpful. At one of our camps, the camp managers noticed it and thought they should get some to stock in their gift shop as folks often ask them what they're seeing. I really liked that it's small and easy to carry while on safari and that it doesn't take up much room in our weight/size limited carry-on luggage on our domestic flights. It covered most of the non-bird wildlife we saw.

Ordered this for my adult daughter going on safari in Africa. She said they used it a LOT and it was easy to carry, water & dirt proof & a great help in identifying & learning about the many animals. Her Guide highly approved of the accurate info.