15 Books for your African Safari Adventure

At The Savannah Society, we believe travel is about more than where you go. It is about how you see, feel, and think. A safari may surround you with wildlife and vast landscapes, but books add another layer: context, history, philosophy, and personal stories that stay with you long after the journey ends .

Here are fifteen remarkable books to pack for your African adventure:

Cry of the Kalahari

Mark & Delia Owens

A riveting non-fiction account of life as early conservationists in Botswana’s Kalahari Desert. It is raw, remote, and filled with both scientific insight and human struggle. Delia Owens’ gift for storytelling, later seen in her best-selling novel Where the Crawdads Sing, shines through.

The Sheltering Desert

Henno Martin

Part survival story and part philosophy. Written by a German geologist who fled into Namibia’s Namib Desert during WWII, it reflects on what life in an arid wilderness can sustain and what it means to live close to the earth. A perfect companion for anyone traveling into desert country.

West with the Night

Beryl Markham

An extraordinary memoir by one of Africa’s first female bush pilots, soaring across Kenya in the 1930s. The prose is widely praised, and even Hemingway admitted envy. The book captures both daring adventure and lyrical reflection.

Whatever You Do, Don’t Run

Peter Allison

Behind the scenes with a safari guide in Botswana. Funny, self-deprecating, and eye-opening, it reveals what life is like on the other side of the safari vehicle, from close calls with wildlife to the quirks of guests.

Affluence Without Abundance: The Disappearing World of the Busmen

James Suzman

An anthropologist’s deep dive into the Ju/’hoansi of Namibia, one of the world’s oldest continuous cultures. It challenges Western ideas of wealth and progress while offering an accessible introduction to hunter-gatherer life.

The Shadow of the Sun

Ryszard Kapuściński

Written by one of the world’s great correspondents, this collection spans decades of reporting across Africa during times of upheaval and transformation. Kapuściński’s prose is sharp, intimate, and unflinching, making politics and history feel personal.

The Covenant

James A. Michener

An all-encompassing historical fiction of South Africa. It is long and sprawling, tracing the story of settlement, conflict, and change up until the 1970s. Demanding but rewarding, it provides a panoramic backdrop for any journey through South Africa.

Don’t Let’s Go to the Dogs Tonight

Alexandra Fuller

A raw, funny, and heartbreaking memoir of growing up in war-torn Rhodesia (Zimbabwe). Fuller’s writing is vivid and unsparing. Recently adapted into a feature film, it remains a deeply human entry point into Zimbabwe’s history.

A Story Like the Wind

Laurens van der Post

A coming-of-age tale set in a fictional landscape that blends elements of South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Botswana. Van der Post’s own remarkable life informs his writing, which explores both wilderness and spirit in equal measure.

An Arid Eden

Garth Owen-Smith

A conservationist’s account of Namibia’s Kaokoland, one of Africa’s last truly wild frontiers. Rich in first-hand detail, it paints a portrait of pioneering conservation in a place where wildlife still roams free across desert mountains and dry riverbeds.

Mukiwa: A White Boy in Africa

Peter Godwin

A vivid memoir of growing up in Rhodesia during a time of political conflict and transition. It blends innocence and brutality, memory and history, offering a textured sense of Zimbabwe’s past.

The Game Ranger, the Knife, the Lion, and the Sheep

David Bristow

A lighter read: a collection of entertaining short stories from rangers and adventurers in South Africa’s Kruger area. Part bush lore, part campfire storytelling, it is fun, digestible, and easy to dip into between game drives.

A Lion Tracker’s Guide to Life

Boyd Varty

Part memoir and part philosophy, this mindful read draws lessons from the art of tracking lions in the South African bush. Varty reflects on presence, surrender, and what it means to live in tune with the land. A thoughtful companion for anyone looking to slow down and absorb the rhythms of safari life.

Diamonds, Gold, and War

Martin Meredith

A sweeping account of how the discovery of mineral wealth reshaped Southern Africa. Meredith traces the economic and political forces behind the diamond and gold rushes, showing how commercial and imperial pursuits influenced not only South Africa but also Zimbabwe and Zambia. A fascinating and often under-discussed perspective on how colonial ambitions still echo in the region’s present.

The Elephant Whisperer

Lawrence Anthony

A moving story of a conservationist who took in a troubled herd of elephants on his reserve in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Anthony’s deep connection with the animals shows both the challenges and rewards of conservation, and his empathy for wildlife leaves a lasting impression on anyone who reads it.

When you travel with the Savannah Society, we do not just curate safaris. We curate experiences that change how you see the world. Packing one of these books means your African adventure will be more than breathtaking landscapes and wildlife. It becomes a journey into history, culture, and human resilience.