During the planning phase of a trip I spend a great deal of my planning, either looking at guide books in our iExplore library or spending time looking through our online guides or reading user accounts for a destination.Once I have actually determined where I will be going and the logistics of how I will get around and where I am staying my focus turns to the experience. I start to read about the destination. This can be combination of learning the history of my destinations, learning about the culture and wildlife or reading first hand accounts.
Certain destinations have required reading. For instance you must read the history of polar explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton prior to embarking on an expedition to Antarctica. I would not recommend anyone go to Australia without reading Bill Bryson's In a Sunburned Country.
The book I have enjoyed the most in preparing for my upcoming Safari to Zambia and Botswana is the National Audubon Society Field Guide to African Wildlife. This is a handy guide that will help you to better identify and learn about the more than 850 species of amazing mammals, birds, reptiles and insects native to Africa. Despite the great depth of information it fairly compact and has a cover that will protect it being tossed around and pulled out of daypacks.
I highly recommend this book to anyone planning an African Safari!
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