African Wildlife & Environment Issue 81

GOOD READS

'MiddleAfrican' Parks and Reserves

urban landscapes with lawns and road verges, and provide human shelter as thatching and construction material. Further information is given on the structure of grasses, the ecology of grasses, grasses and grazers, grasses and arthropods, grasses and fungi and grassland conservation and management.We next learn about the habitats of East Africa, and 'How to use this book'. Then follows the descriptions of 100 species of common, ecologically important or remarkable grasses found in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi. A double-page spread is allocated to each species, with the following information: common name/s; scientific name; description, distribution and habitat; ecology and uses; spikelet measurement and illustrations and labels. Each spread has excellent photographs and often will include a drawing or images of some or other insects or interesting features. The result is a truly outstanding book that will delight anyone interested in natural history. A number of the grasses described in the book have a wide distribution on the continent, and I was pleased to see my beloved 'Rooigras' (Red Grass) that I knew so well growing up on the farm, described on page 220. Themeda triandra is called Red Oat Grass in East Africa, where, like here, it is "One of the most palatable grasses and a favourite grazing for both livestock and wildlife where it occurs.The leafiness, robust growth and nutritious composition make it one of the economically important wild grasses of the region."

Stuart, Chris and Mathilda

(2022). Stuarts' Field Guide to National Parks & Game Reserves in Namibia; Zambia; Malawi. Struik Nature, an imprint of Penguin Random House Botswana; Zimbabwe;

South Africa (Pty) Ltd, Cape Town. Soft cover, 13 x 19 cm, 320 pp, illustrated in colour throughout with photographs and maps. ISBN 978-1-77584 -720-5. RRP R350. Chris and Mathilde Stuart continue to make a major contribution to our knowledge of African mammals, wildlife and conservation, through their extensive range of books, field guides and mobile applications.You can learn more about this remarkable couple online at www.stuartonnature. com. Their new offering is a concise guide to 50 parks in five countries - quite an achievement! - in a densely-packed, information-rich 320 pages that may challenge the eye-sight of senior citizens, but will be a boon to those travellers who are visiting the continent and want to see some of the wonderful wildlife areas on roads less travelled in parts other than southern and eastern Africa. This is the first guide to document and explore the diverse parks and reserves of Africa's 'middle belt' countries, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia and Malawi. This part of Africa contains some prized spots such as the world- famous landscapes of the Namib and Kalahari deserts, the Okavango Delta, Victoria Falls and Lake Malawi, and some of the continent's best- known conservation areas like Etosha, Chobe,

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