List of Field Guides
| Description | |
 | The Shell Tourist and Travel Guide of Botswana Please provide detail description Receive this book absolutely free if you order The Shell Tourist Map and Travel Guide of Botswana |
 | The Shell Field Guide to the Trees and Shrubs of the Okavango Delta This book is 220 pages thick and consists of 62 color-illustrated tree and shrub species with numerous line drawings of plant species, birds, animals etc. The author lived in the Okavango Delta for 15 years and she has worked closely with the local tribes to collect data on the uses. There is an illustration of each tree or shrub mentioned as wells as separate drawings of the leaf, flower and fruit . The sixty-two plants chosen include all the common, most useful and most noticeable plants in the area. Most of the plants described in this book occur commonly elsewhere in southern Africa as well, especially in Namibia, Zimbabwe and the northern part of South Africa. Although there is a section on the description of leaves, flowers, fruit etc., the author uses a holistic approach in the wider description of the plant. Each plant is described within its habitat and ecological niche – soil preference, habitat preference, the fauna associated with it, the animals, birds and insects that feed on it, medicinal and food values to humans, superstitious beliefs and there is even a short description on propagation. Additionally, there are fifty information ‘boxes’ which provide information on a variety of related subjects ranging from ‘How to create fire by friction’, ‘How to make palm wine’, ‘Do animals get drunk from Marula fruits?’, ‘Poisonous snakes of Botswana’, ‘Ringworm disease’ etc. At the back of the book is a campfire quiz, providing questions and answers on information provided in the book. The quiz is in three sections, each on a different level of advancement. |
 | The Shell Field Guide to the Common Wild Flowers of the Okavango Delta This book is 160 pages thick and the 50 species that occur most commonly in the area are discussed. Each one of these species is illustrated by a color photograph, as well as a water-color illustration. Apart from the 50 main species, there are at least 30 additional photographs of plants that occur in the area but they are not discussed in the same detail. There are numerous line drawings and extra information boxes, containing information on related subjects such as diseases, plant poisons, natural insect repellents, natural dyes etc. There are very interesting information about superstitions and traditions of the people of the Okavango. Like in the tree book, the author has used a holistic approach, describing each species within its habitat and the purpose it serves within that habitat. Flowering herbs of the Okavango are very rich in chemicals and many of them are used medicinally. The author collected information on their medicinal and food values from the local tribes. There is also information on the habitat preference of these plants, plants associated with them, animals and birds that feed on them, insects associated, poisonous values, medicinal values, food values etc. At the back of the book is a campfire quiz, providing questions and answers on information provided in the book. The quiz is in three sections, each on a different level of advancement. |
