Book Description
Salt caravans in the Sahara, imposing forts on the Ghanaian coast, urban buzz in Lagos, the steamy lushness of Casamance- West Africa's attractions are as diverse as they are intriguing. Whether you want to set out for Timbuktu, laze on a sandy beach or overland it from desert to jungle, Lonely Planet shows you the what, where and how.
MOVE TO THE GROOVE- our expert music chapter tell who's who, where it's happening and what's hot
BE INSPIRED- highlights, itineraries and planning sections help you plot your path
GET THE BACKGROUND with in-depth discussion of West Africa's history, manifold cultures and distinctive arts and crafts
TALK THE TALK- our language chapter will have you greeting locals in 25 regional languages
GO YOUR OWN WAY with detailed transport information and 150 user-friendly maps
Customer Reviews:
Decent info, but presented awkwardly........2005-12-31
This is an adequate guide, but was disappointing in a few areas. Firstly, it is not geared to someone making a comprehensive West Africa trip but rather reads like a collection of individual country guides. It's OK if you are going to just fly in a hang out in a single country, but planning cross border itineraries is a chore. There could be better integration for the area.
Secondly, using the maps and references to them is a bit taxing. Place names that would likely be obsure to the reader are presented in the text without specifying country or area; the only way to figure out where or how is to scan maps randomly for some idea of specifically where they are talking about. Place names are often referred to with different spellings, or more colloquially, in the text than on the maps, making finding them once again a tiring guessing game. There is a lack of consistency. Beyond that, the maps are small and lacking in detail. In other words, you can sort it all out, but this guide makes you work harder than you should have to. You get the feeling that it needed to be proofed once more.
I agree with the accusations of ethnocentrism mentioned previously, but I've grown used to it in LP guides, and in a way appreciate seeing the author's predjudices up front.
Use this guide and you'll have a fine trip, I think, but you'll spend too many hours wrestling logistic details from the text when you could be perusing the fun stuff.
I use LP, Rough Guide, and Moon guides alternately when I travel. Actually, I usually buy all three, study them all before departure, and take the one I think is most useful. I have not found any one brand to be consistently better or worse, it varies by area and author. In this case I think the Rough Guide is much better. It very neatly addresses all my reservations above, and with a better layout.
From a returned Peace Corps Volunteer.......2003-11-10
This book is practically the bible for W. Africa travel. I lived and worked in W. Africa for 3 years (2 years as a Peace Corps volunteer) and I never went anywhere without consulting LP. The information is as accurate as anything out there. It offers you suggested itineraries and "off the beaten path" suggestions as well as the traditionally touristy destinations. Many parts are less objective than other parts and the writers tend to harp on corruption. But W. Africa is a pretty corrupt place in general. If you don't like the editorial sections, skip 'em, the info you need is still there.
SMEARED BY DEROGATORY PHRASES.......2003-05-11
Indeed, this book ("Lonely Planet West Africa") did a good job in outlining many of the popular tourist attractions that are located in this Sub-Saharan region of Africa. I also appreciated its details on several tourists' trails, accomodations, means of transportation, and so on. However, I was very disappointed to note that (just like the "Lonely Planet Africa on a Shoestring") this book is full of discouraging comments. Some of the phrases Lonely Planet used in this book are quite offensive.
For sure, most foreigners who travel to (West) African countries are not expecting to see a paradise, but that does not mean that there is no better way of presenting real and imaginary negative thoughts. This book is smeared by terms and phrases, which I consider derogatory to both (West) Africa and (West) Africans. As a result of this, I will never recommend it to anyone until there is a change of heart by Lonely Planet in subsequent editions.
Good for a shoestring traveller, one-sided at times.......2002-03-19
I once said I would never buy a Lonely Planet guide again, so disappointed I was with their Iceland and Greenland book which was poorly researched, inaccurate and full of rabid anti-American rhetoric.
For my trip to Ghana, it was, however, a choice of only three books available: a semiprofessional Bradt's Ghana (not a guidebook really, more an amateurish newsletter), supremely boring Rough Guide or Lonely Planet. I bought them all in the name of research.
I would say Lonely Planet is best of them all, although certain chapters preaching about evil ways of Western capitalism still reek of Lonely Planet's self-appointed role of bettering the world. Quite annoying, really, and in many cases hypocritical, coming from a lean-and-mean profit-making publishing house.
Most facts about travel, eating, accommodation, etc are accurate and well-researched, although as usual information to someone with a bit bigger budget is very fragmented.
They could give more information about useful websites for both ticket booking and accommodation.
Overall, if you are only buying one book for West Africa, this is the one. If you can get two - buy the Rough Guide as well: it may be boring and cultural information reads as if it was written by your local tax office, but you will get many additional addresses and phone numbers.
Best written Lonely Planet I've read.......2002-01-20
I really enjoyed this book. I feel it is the best written LP I've ever read (and I've read and traveled with many LP titles). I used the Sénégal section and found the hotel listings current and the maps very accurate. I really liked the special boxes with additional information on dangers, scams, and personal safety. I personally witnessed many things that I had read about in this book, making me ready for would be scam artists. One guy approached me and said "Remember me from the hotel lobby?" I had to keep myself from laughing. I replied back "I think so, which hotel?" and he didn't know what to say. With LP West Africa you will be well prepared to travel in one of the hardest places to travel in the world.
NOTE: The book is 4 years old and the region is even more unsafe now then it was 4 years ago. Be careful when traveling there.
Book Description
A full-length Bradt country guide to Cameroon, in West Africa.
Customer Reviews:
Helpful, but very dated info.......2006-01-18
I have just returned from 3 weeks in Cameroon and this book made the trip with me. My trip was not the usual tourist excursion, as I traveled with expat Cameroonians and lived exclusively with africans. I could go for days without seeing another european and when I did they were usually zipping past in a tour bus or in an NGO vehicle.
First, the positives. The book is well organized and the local Cameroonians were usually impressed that someone would write so much about their country. The advice presented in the book is generally sound and the descriptions accurate. Douala is an "armpit": shrouded in smog during the dry season, scented by the smoke of burning garbage, and made all the more enjoyable by sweltering heat and oppressive humidity. On the basis of the positives, I would award the book 4 stars.
The negatives? Much of the information regarding accommodations is quite dated. For instance, the description of the Skyline Hotel in Bamenda is at least five to seven years old. It has been years since the pool had water, the night club is closed, the hotel is frequently without electricity and is in a general state of disrepair and decay. Of course, this is merely symptomatic of the overall decay prevalent throughout Cameroon. Do not rely on the phone numbers listed for the hotels, as many may have changed. On the basis of the negatives I would award the book 2 stars.
Overall, however, I can recommend the book as a serviceable resource for planning a trip and as a useful tool while in country.
This book made me cancel my trip to Cameroon.......2005-11-27
This book describes Cameroon as the armpit of Africa. Seriously. It said that. At least 1/3 of the book is on all the different types of diseases one is sure to catch being there. It says that Cameroon is unique in that there is a type of malaria that will KILL you in 24 hours of the first symptom. This book scared me so much that I went to Egypt alone instead of going with my friends to Cameroon. There arent really any books just on Cameroon. Lonely Planet has one on West Africa which I should have gotten. My friends went and had a wonderful time. The book should have talked about the good things this country has- which as it turns out there are other things there that Malaria! Perhaps if I would of read a different book then I would have not canceled my flight to Cameroon.
Average customer rating:
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Birds of West Africa (Collins Field Guides)
W. Serle ,
Gerard J. Morel , and
W. Hartwig
Manufacturer: Harpercollins Pub Ltd
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Book Description
Revised edition. A travel guide that explores the spiritual significance of the sights of Egypt.
Customer Reviews:
The best book if you want something a little deeper........2001-09-03
If you want a guide book with more than the basic superficial run of the mill tourist info this book is for you.
Lots of maps, tips and explanations of the deeper meaning behind the sites you're visiting.
I'm bringing this book with me on my trip!
Enhanced with maps, diagrams, and photos.......2001-08-11
Now in a updated and expanded new edition, John West's The Traveler's Key To Ancient Egypt continues to be the definitive guide to all of the sacred places of ancient Egypt. The ideal traveler's guidebook is enhanced with maps, diagrams, and photos to accompany the history and spiritual significance of Egypt's art, architecture, mythology, religion, and ritual practices. From the Pyramids of Giza to the Valley of the Kings, this traveler's guide reveals the hidden meaning of monuments, ancient city sites, as well as new research on the dating of the Sphinx. Travel tips include tour information, Nile cruises, what to bring and what to wear, shopping advice, as well as information on money, hotels, and restaurants. If you are planning a trip to the Land of the Pharaohs, beginning with a thorough perusal of John West's The Traveler's Key To Ancient Egypt!
For any mind that is even slightly ajar, let alone open..........2001-03-08
This book is essential for any traveller to Egypt with a mind that is even slightly ajar, let alone open.
West gives an alternative account of the meaning of the monuments and antiquities to be seen in Egypt, more esoteric (though certainly not more difficult to understand) than that which is usually presented in guide books. He points out the details which brought him to the conclusion that the Giza Sphinx is in fact closer to 13,000 years old than the 4,500 years old that has been traditionally believed, and has a different viewpoint to the orthodox school in many cases. He presents both sides of the argument, and gives the information necessary to make up one's own mind based on observation of what is actually there to be seen.
On my first visit to Egypt, my companions and I felt rather sorry for tourists in groups with official guides, because they seemed to be missing out on at least half of the story, and in many cases the whole point.
I was particularly impressed with West's analysis of the architecture of the Temple of Luxor, based on the work of Schwaller de Lubicz, and once it was pointed out how the whole building maps onto a plan of the human skeleton, I found it very difficult to refute.
Whilst I did not always agree with his conclusions on every occasion, it cannot be disputed that West has raised thoroughly pertinent questions which conventional Egyptology has either glibly brushed under the carpet or failed to address at all.
Best Guide to Ancient Egyptian Sites.......2001-01-17
One of the most useful guides to ancient Egyptian sites! A visitor can read the descriptions to the tombs, monuments and temples prior to their visit - but the guide is most helpful during and after being awestruck! The guide is more of a historical, academic narrative to the many treasures of Egypt and is much more prefereable to the shallow descriptions of a traditional travel guide. In lieu of an ancient copy of Baedeker's, "Traveler's Key..." is the next best thing!
for open-minded readers.......2000-08-24
The author provides a historical overview of Ancient Egypt and the development of Egyptology (by Kircher, Napoleon, Champollion, and Schwaller de Lubicz among many people). The book covers Egyptian Religion as well as the major religious and funerary texts. Giza, the pyramids and the Sphinx are discussed as are Saqqara, Memphis, Dahshur, Abusir, Meidum, Akhetaten, Thebes, Abydos, Dendara, Esna, Edfu, Aswan, Abu Simbel and Alexandria. A section is dedicated to the content of the Cairo Museum. Included are 5 appendices - dynasties and kings; sphinx and pyramid; glossary; bibliography; and travel tips. Both orthodox and unorthodox views are dealt with in this book, whose emphasis is mostly on the art and architecture of Ancient Egypt. With black and white illustrations, it is recommended for the open-minded reader.
Book Description
This new field guide uses all 147 color plates from Princeton's A Guide to the Birds of Western Africa, with concise, authoritative text on facing pages, to create a compact, lightweight field reference covering all 1,285 species found in the region--from Senegal and southern Mauritania east to Chad and the Central African Republic and south to Congo. It is the first field guide to cover this region exclusively and in such comprehensive depth, and will enable birders to identify any species found in any of the twenty-three countries and territories covered.
Birds of Western Africa also has an updated color distribution map for each species, conveniently placed on interleaved pages within the color plates. The plates, all original and painted by the same leading illustrator, comprise over 3,000 figures--including a number of new images painted for this field guide--and depict almost all the species described. The entries opposite the plates focus on key identification marks for all main plumages.
Both authors have gained extensive field experience over many years in western Africa. Their knowledge and expertise shines through in this unprecedented and outstanding field guide to one of the world's most exciting birding regions.
Customer Reviews:
Best West Africa field guide........2007-07-12
This birding guide is outstanding and a must have for any birder or nature lover that visits West Africa. The color plates of over 1250 species are excellent and the range mape are conveniently located. There is pertinent information for each bird that is helpful. This portable guide receives high marks.
Ted Peterson
Birds of Western Africa.......2007-01-19
Excellent feedback from the receiver as it was a gift. Clear, systematic and complete.
Book Description
Hitch a smooth ride across the Sahara with veteran authors Jim Hudgens and Richard Trillo. Their Rough Guide to West Africa, now in its second edition, takes you from bustling Dakar and other capitals to all the remote towns and beaches. The Rough Guide expertly covers the basics - lodging, transportation, etiquette and inoculations - and the breadth of activities - nightlife, seeing the wildlife and volunteering. The authors also bring the history of each country into focus with a political who's who and stellar takes on the region's vibrant music and art. The following nations are covered: Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Cape Verde Islands, Cote D'Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Gambia, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Togo. 156 maps.
Customer Reviews:
Good book for planning multicountry itineraries.......2006-01-05
As most of the reviews point out, the battle here is between Lonely Planet and Rough Guide. I bought them both, as I usually do before a big trip, and after studying them both will take the RG. They are both good in terms of information on hotels and restaurants, I just found the layout of RG a bit better. Cultural and travel basics are better organized up front, the maps are larger and much clearer, and the references to the maps in the text easier to decipher. But for me the big plus is that the RG contains much better information about moving between countries, and information about specific transport options from area to area - boat, bus, train - is much more detailed. If you are planning a multi-country itinerary the RG is, IMHO, much better. They are both equal in terms of info, I think, I just feel like for me RG got the details right.
Decent But Not Great.......2002-12-02
The Rough Guide series is nice, if sometimes odd, for understanding what to do and what not to do in particular countries or regions. Usually, its best to get both Rough Guide and Lonely Plaent and compared the information between the two, just to avoid any unfortunate occurances. But thats just me. Anyway, this book basically covers travel in West Africa: Mauritania, Mali, Niger, Senegal, the Gambia, Cabo Verde, Burkina Faso, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Cote d'Ivoire, Ghana, Togo, Benin, Nigeria and Cameroon. Theres basic travel information, as well as notes for getting into and out of each country, and things you can do while your there. Maps, religious information, notes on social mores, currency info, food and so forth are all covered throughout the book. There are also some useful phrases in French (the most widely spoken language in West Africa), as well as some phrases in Hassaniya Arabic, Mandinka, Bamana, Twi, Susu, Hausa, Yoruba and other indigenous languages.
Fans of Afro-Pop should check out the back of this book, which is full of cultural references. There are lists of significant books, movies, musicians and songs. Sure, it is a bit dated, but some old favorites are included on the list who are well worth checking out. In fact, I should restate that, given the mercurial nature of African society, it is pretty likely that many things in this book have changed since it was published. Before doing anything in this book, you might want to look it up online or something first.
Not the best investment.......2002-03-28
At the moment, there are two main contenders on the market with comparable books on West Africa: Rough Guide and Lonely Planet. Neither is perfect.
Rough Guide may feel a bit more professionally-made, and has been made on a bigger budget too, but it suffers from terminally boring writing style.
I said this before and I`ll say it again: if people who write guidance for your tax returns were to write guidebooks they would probably come up with similarly uninspired language.
The book does not offer the same level of self-righteous (and often annoying) rhetoric about evils of capitalism as Lonely Planet. I find this aspect commendable: some of us want the travel guide to give us facts and not explanations for whom to vote and what to think.
However, on balance, I have to admit that Lonely Planet is better resarched and more accurate, and also less bulky. If you have plenty of luggage allowance and money's no object, buy both, otherwise, stick with Lonely Planet.
Interesting but not so relevant.......2000-12-26
Yes, this is an interesting guide. If you are either an adventurer and/or an armchair traveller, by all means try it out ! Yet, this is not the kind of book it clams to be, namely a travel guide. Few people would find it relevant to their travel plans while in Africa. If you want advice from Lonely Planet, who published this book, then get their other book "Lonely Planet West Africa", much more thorough and relevant for most travellers.
Necessary but not sufficient.......2000-07-25
This Rough Guide offers thorough, helpful information for travelling around West Africa, including events, hotels, restaraunts, cutoms, traditions, safety precautions, language reference, etc. I especially liked the fact that each time CFA's or other currency were mentioned, their dollar equivalents were also calculated. The Lonely Planet Guide does not do this. Also, this Rough Guide is organized better and easier to read than the Lonely Planet. The problem with the Rough Guide, though, is that while it gives all the necessary information to get around, it does not offer any subjective advice that the naive West Africa traveller would want to know. For example, The Lonely Planet guide gives the same information as this book about a campsite in Niamey, but adds that it is ugly, with few trees, and many people have been robbed there. That is something I want to know. I certainly found all the necessary information in this guide, but it is still insufficient in many ways.
Average customer rating:
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Forest Entomology in West Tropical Africa: Forest Insects of Ghana (Series Entomologica)
Michael R. Wagner , and
J.R. Cobbinah
Manufacturer: Springer
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ASIN: 0792310268 |
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South Africa's Winelands Of The Cape
Gerald Hoberman , and
Marguerite Lombard
Manufacturer: Gerald & Marc Hoberman Collection
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Suite Francaise
ASIN: 1919734988 |
Book Description
This curriculum guide provides anthropological and historical research as well as literary criticism on five narratives from West Africa: Camara Laye's The Dark Child, Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart, Ama Ata Aidoo's The Dilemma of a Ghost, Ousmane Sembene's God's Bits of Wood, and Mariama Bâ's So Long a Letter. The background and critical materials are integrated into well-developed lesson plans which include reproducible student handouts, teacher resources, and reading resources.
Voices from the Continent will be a useful resource for college professors and teachers of English and social studies on the high school level who seek to diversify the standard curriculum by introducing students to modern African literature written or translated into English.
The featured literary works are available in the United States and appropriate for use in a variety of courses with students at different reading levels. These literary works introduce a variety of universal themes while simultaneously presenting the experiences of particular ethnic groups in different regions of West Africa.
The lessons contained in this guide may be used in whole or in part, and they may be integrated into larger units on world literature, cultural diversity, psychology, social studies, sociology, and women's studies.
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