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National Geographic Traveler: South Africa, 2nd Edition Paperback – November 5, 2013
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About the Author
SAMANTHA REINDERS has a master's in visual communication from Ohio University. Being a photographer has allowed her to chase penguins, fly on Air Force One, swim with sharks, and meet interesting people--from businessmen to homeless men, and from grannies at a bake sale to a triple murderer behind bars. Reinders' work has appeared in U.S. News & World Report, Time, the New York Times, L'Express, Der Spiegel, Park Avenue, Chicago Tribune, andLondon's Financial Times. In 2005 she moved back to her native South Africa--and the dust roads that feed her soul.
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
By
Cynthia
on February 8, 2014
Format: Paperback
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As you would expect from National Geographic the pictures in “South Africa” are stunning. I haven’t used a Lonely Planet guide to South Africa though I have used ten plus of their other guides so I’d like to do a quick comparison between Lonely’s and Nat Geo’s format and approach to a travel guide.
*Nat Geo is a more narrative approach to destinations listing what the country/area has to offer as opposed to Lonely’s sound bite approach, meaning Nat Geo has less of a mash up of websites and phone numbers. They’ve solved this by separating that info into a 30 page listing in the back of the book. Because of this Nat’s lay out is less crowded which makes the pictures stand out more plus the pictures are usually larger and are set off by background colors whereas Lonely tends to use uniform white as a background.
*Nat Geo doesn’t provide specific trips with a suggested number of days it would take to experience them but they do break the country into regions and list and describe what’s offered at each one.
*One of the most outstanding features of Nat’s approach is the more complete sections of the history and culture, in all about 40 pages, vs. Lonely’s typical three to five pages of history and culture.
*Portability: Nat’s book measures 8.5’ by 5.25’ whereas Lonely’s books typically are about 5’ by 7.75’.
Here are some things that Nat Geo and Lonely have in common.
*Like Lonely Nat’s pages are color coded by region which makes it easy to quickly find the section you’re interested in.
*They both also provide an overall map of the country as well as detailed maps of specific regions.Read more ›
*Nat Geo is a more narrative approach to destinations listing what the country/area has to offer as opposed to Lonely’s sound bite approach, meaning Nat Geo has less of a mash up of websites and phone numbers. They’ve solved this by separating that info into a 30 page listing in the back of the book. Because of this Nat’s lay out is less crowded which makes the pictures stand out more plus the pictures are usually larger and are set off by background colors whereas Lonely tends to use uniform white as a background.
*Nat Geo doesn’t provide specific trips with a suggested number of days it would take to experience them but they do break the country into regions and list and describe what’s offered at each one.
*One of the most outstanding features of Nat’s approach is the more complete sections of the history and culture, in all about 40 pages, vs. Lonely’s typical three to five pages of history and culture.
*Portability: Nat’s book measures 8.5’ by 5.25’ whereas Lonely’s books typically are about 5’ by 7.75’.
Here are some things that Nat Geo and Lonely have in common.
*Like Lonely Nat’s pages are color coded by region which makes it easy to quickly find the section you’re interested in.
*They both also provide an overall map of the country as well as detailed maps of specific regions.Read more ›
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
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Ammy_Evaluator
TOP 500 REVIEWER on February 2, 2014
Format: Paperback
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I guess I've been spoiled by the Lonely Planet Discover series, in that I have begun to expect so much more from travel guides.
So much so that even a very decent guide like this one does not thrill me.
I found fault with the conventional styling, dryness of the text, and the lack of detailed itineraries to help you plan.
In short, this book read more like a social studies lesson than a fun exercise in planning an exciting trip.
If you want to see what I mean, simply take a "Look Inside" tour of a Lonely Planet Discover book (esp. the ones for Turkey, China, and Japan.)
Happy Travels!
~A_E~
So much so that even a very decent guide like this one does not thrill me.
I found fault with the conventional styling, dryness of the text, and the lack of detailed itineraries to help you plan.
In short, this book read more like a social studies lesson than a fun exercise in planning an exciting trip.
If you want to see what I mean, simply take a "Look Inside" tour of a Lonely Planet Discover book (esp. the ones for Turkey, China, and Japan.)
Happy Travels!
~A_E~
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By
A Customer
on January 20, 2014
Format: Paperback
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I ran a boutique travel company, specializing in Russia and the former Soviet Union. Therefore I know what I like in travel guides:
-Portability
-Ease of Use
-Smart Tips
-Comprehensive recommendations without being overwhelming
-Background necessary to understand a particular attraction, and hopefully a particular culture.
National Geographic South Africa fits all of these requirements.
It is an ideal travel guide for someone planning a visit to South Africa, combining urban and nature. Given that it's National Geographic, there's lots of information of an overview nature on South Africa's nifty wildlife.
I would probably combine it with a Lonely Planet guide for more specific recommendations on hotels and restaurants.
-Portability
-Ease of Use
-Smart Tips
-Comprehensive recommendations without being overwhelming
-Background necessary to understand a particular attraction, and hopefully a particular culture.
National Geographic South Africa fits all of these requirements.
It is an ideal travel guide for someone planning a visit to South Africa, combining urban and nature. Given that it's National Geographic, there's lots of information of an overview nature on South Africa's nifty wildlife.
I would probably combine it with a Lonely Planet guide for more specific recommendations on hotels and restaurants.
Thank you for your feedback.
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By
Becky in NOLA
TOP 100 REVIEWERVINE VOICE on January 13, 2014
Format: Paperback
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National Geographic has a reputation for high quality, beautiful pictures, and interesting articles. The Traveler, South Africa book continues with the quality one expects. If you are planning a trip to South Africa, or only visiting mentally while curled up in a comfortable chair, this book will get you there.
The pictures are stunning, they are a safari from home. As I read each chapter about each section of South Africa I'm transported, and if I ever get a chance to actually go, this book, full of interesting tips, travel guides, and places to see and things to do, will be front and center as my traveling companion.
The pictures are stunning, they are a safari from home. As I read each chapter about each section of South Africa I'm transported, and if I ever get a chance to actually go, this book, full of interesting tips, travel guides, and places to see and things to do, will be front and center as my traveling companion.
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By
Marion Coleman
on May 29, 2014
Format: Paperback
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This is a valuable resource for an upcoming trip to the country. I like it for the photos and overall information.
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By
Mdwebb
on May 27, 2014
Format: Paperback
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We just returned from 3.5 weeks in South Africa, traveling by rental car while there. Bought this in addition to the Rough Guide and used the Rough Guide way more. This book only provided skim views over each region, and since we mostly stuck to a particular region in the country, it was limited for us. I was surprised and disappointed that as a Nat Geo publication, there was no animal section to consult throughout the trip. I suppose the book would be fine as an initial planning tool to give you an overview of what the country has to offer, but as an on-the-ground travel book, it isn't as specific as others, making it less useful for the day-to-day experience of travel. Go for the Rough Guide if you want a book you can use while there.
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By
L. Perry
VINE VOICE on February 20, 2014
Format: Paperback
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Disclaimers: This is one of those guide book reviews that I am writing WITHOUT having been to the country in question. Please bear that in mind.
However, I really like this book. It's NatGeo so, of course, the photographs are solid. There's tons of local interest (in print and in photo) and all the Big Practical Questions get answered (where to stay, what to do, what to do, "how do I get to the place in the photo?")
Base on this book, I would check out future NatGeo guides (though I'm typically a Lonely Planet fan).
Enjoy your trip!
(I always want more photos, though.)
However, I really like this book. It's NatGeo so, of course, the photographs are solid. There's tons of local interest (in print and in photo) and all the Big Practical Questions get answered (where to stay, what to do, what to do, "how do I get to the place in the photo?")
Base on this book, I would check out future NatGeo guides (though I'm typically a Lonely Planet fan).
Enjoy your trip!
(I always want more photos, though.)
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