Essential Birding - Western South Africa

By Callan Cohen and Claire Spottiswoode

Published by Struik ISBN 1-86872-524-3

If, like me, you have discovered the birding delights of South Africa, then you will know that it would not take much for a friend to persuade you to venture back to 'the beautiful country'. Here is a book that will do just that.

With 613 species, including 76% of Southern Africa's 181 endemics, a beautiful climate, stunning landscape and awesome wildlife, you'd be forgiven for feeling just a tad envious of Cape Birders. But just two weeks with Essential Birding - Western South Africa and you too could experience one of the world's bio-diversity hotspots and amass a trip list approaching 400.

The idea for this guide followed frequent requests by both local and visiting birders for assistance with birding trips, particularly with finding the endemics. Essential Birding - Western South Africa describes 120 top birding sites. Authors Cohen and Spottiswoode know this region better than any one. Had this book been available two years ago I wouldn't still need the enigmatic Cape Rockjumper and I might have seen the Spotted Eagle Owls behind the Kirstenbosch visitor centre.

The book includes detailed maps and route directions for each of the major sites and the key species to expect. Details on how to find the various Cape endemics and other speciality species (undoubtedly the key to this book's success) are covered alongside interesting references to the botany, geology and historical context of the ground you tread.

But this book is more than just another site guide. From the 'Benguela current petrels' to the 'Kimberley Pipits', Cohen and Spottiswoode lead you through the birding challenges facing the most serious of Cape birders.

This book has information crammed into every corner of its 136 pages and this in fact creates my only criticism. Thumbnail sized photos along with a fascination for cut-out images of birds pasted around the text, printed on glossy pages has created, in my mind, a design disaster. Whether driven by financial considerations or a desire to keep it lightweight (not essential, you drive everywhere in South Africa and this is not a field guide) this book has the look and feel of a tour operator's brochure. But with this book, you may get by without the tour operator. With "Essential Birding - Western South Africa" you should try going-it-alone.

Whether you are a fan of Newman, Roberts or Sasol, this is now the essential companion if you're heading for a birding trip around Western South Africa. No serious birder should even consider stepping onto the Cape without this guide.

Birdlife South Africa and Cape Bird Club recommended.

Martin Birch

Click here for a sample chapter from the book

You'll soon be able to order this book online with Amazon etc but in the meantime, you can order your copy at www.capetownbirding.com They accept credit cards!