AFRICA & MIDDLE EAST - TRAVEL GUIDES

“To see ten thousand animals untamed and not branded with the symbols of human commerce is like scaling an unconquered mountain for the first time, or like finding a forest without roads or footpaths, or the blemish of an axe. You know then what you had always been told -- that the world once lived and grew without adding machines and newsprint and brick-walled streets and the tyranny of clocks.”
- Beryl Markham, West with the Night

TOP LOCATIONS & TOPICS

South Africa

Morocco

On Safari

photo of a person riding a camel in front of some pyramids

Egypt

Israel & The Middle East

A5 RECOMMENDATIONS

Out of Africa, by Karen Blixen

Out of Africa is a book by the Danish author Karen Blixen, sometimes published under the pen name Isak Dinesen, recounting her life on a coffee plantation in Kenya during the last stages of the British Empire. The book is noted for its respectful and insightful view on the character of Africans, and for her love of the nature around her. Out of Africa was made into an Academy Award winning movie of the same name in 1985, starring Meryl Streep and Robert Redford.

Lonely Planet

We recommend Lonely Planet as one the best travel guidebooks for Africa. It can be an intimidating country for travelers, and Lonely Planet does a great job providing practical advice for all budgets. They are the world’s largest publisher of travel books, known for the strength of their local knowledge and for their love of culture and exploration. They have travel guides for most countries, so be sure to get the best book for your specific trip.

Bradt Travel Guides

One of the best travel guides for Africa is the Bradt Travel Guide series. Bradt is particularly known for tackling smaller exotic destinations, and they might in fact have the only real travel guide for some of the more obscure destinations. Their coverage is always very comprehensive and well-written, and reflective of the author’s own passion and expertise. It is a smaller company that doesn't publish new editions as frequently as their competition, so be sure to check the publishing date.

Dark Star Safari, by Paul Theroux

Paul Theroux’s original travelogue on Africa is called Dark Star Safari, and in our opinion one of Theroux’s best books. Theroux spent time in Africa while in the Peace Corps, and he therefore has a particular affection for the continent. His writing here is particularly enlightening and entertaining, helping make Theroux’s reputation as one of the world’s best travel writers. Click here for our review of Dark Star Safari.

A Long Way Down, by Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman

Long Way Down is a book by Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman about an extended motorcycle trip they took together in 2007 from Scotland down through Europe and Africa. The book is a follow up to a similar journey they made in 2004, described in the book Long Way Round, when they rode over 2,500 miles from London to New York. Casually written, this is an enjoyable and slightly funny journal of their adventures. Click here for our review of Long Way Down.

Green Hills of Africa, by Ernest Hemingway

Green Hills of Africa is a travelogue from Ernest Hemingway recounting a long big-game hunting safari in East Africa. The book is not his most famous or popular, but it does provide some real insight into the legendary writer’s character and personality, and into the motivations behind big game hunting. Click here to see our review of Green Hills of Africa.

West with the Night, by Beryl Marham

West with the Night is the story of Beryl Markham, an adventurous and inspirational woman who grew up in East Africa in the early 1900s. It is considered a classic of outdoor literature. Markham was a bush pilot who later became the first person to fly nonstop from Europe to America. Click here for our review of West with the Night.