Botswana Time

Posted In: Botswana

Trinidad Feaster says...

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It revived so many memories of my experience as a Peace Corps high school teacher in the same region. Mr. Randall relates his experience, first as an assistant tour guide and later as a grade school teacher with characteristic British humor and an objectivity that is unusual for articles and books on post-apartheid southern Africa. He gives the reader a sample of the moral complexities affecting the people of the region (racial and cultural relations, AIDS) without degenerating into didactic platitudes. The reader also gets an introduction to the grandeur of the Kalahari and its wildlife; although if I have one criticism, its that he doesn't give enough attention to the Okavango Delta and Victoria Falls. Nevertheless, there is a lot to like about this book, and I would recommend it to anybody who has an interest in southern Africa. Five stars.

Posted on October 13, 2010

Inga Feeler says...

Received in a very timely fashion & book in excellent condition as advertised.Enjoyable reading that covers the places I plan on visiting.

Posted on October 16, 2010

Mona Duchene says...

I found this item to be very useful for travel to Botswana.It's also an entertaining read!

Posted on October 17, 2010

Jesusa Scullawl says...

This guide is everything you can hope in Bradt.Very detailed, with drive by drive directions for driving and also great recomendations for lodges across the spectrum.If you aren't doing a tour, or you are driving yourself, this is the clear winner amongst african guide companies and the Botswana guide has great information on BOTH Chobe park AND Victoria Falls.

Posted on October 18, 2010

Hye Burtts says...

This book offers practical advice on structuring your wildlife safari in Botswana, complete with information on where/when to find which species, how to select a safari company, how to do it on your own, choosing a lodge or camp, and tailoring your itinerary to meet your unique needs.The descriptions of the various parks and reserves were not as compellingly enticing as the Bradt guide to Tanzania, so I will probably choose to visit Tanzania instead of Botswana.But if I am lucky enough to be able to take a second safari, I will definitely use this book to decide where in Botswana to go, where to stay, and what time of year to visit.

Posted on October 19, 2010

Greta Lamon says...

I read this guide book cover to cover like a novel. It's interesting, well written, and extremely helpful with all aspects of planning. My safari is scheduled for August 2010.

Posted on October 19, 2010

Evelynn Ockenfels says...

If you look above, yes, Amazon says, "Whatever you do; don't run" is a non-fiction (or at least it should). But I guarantee, it's nothing like one's average fact-filled, information-overload type of non-fiction. Rather, it's a series of short stories with absolutely no plot that goes through the whole book. And guess what? It doesn't need any, for each chapter, a.k.a. short story, is hilariously entertaining standing on its own.



The whole idea of this delightful book is that the author, Peter Allison, needed a job in Africa when he was 19 so he could pay for a ticket back to Australia, his original country. It was a while ago, about 16 years, so in the year 1994. Since then to present I should hope that Peter has found a job as a safari guide in South Africa, eventually moving to Botswana. He has faced dangers such as charging lions and elephants and encountered animals that most of us will never see. The tourists he guided were the basic stereotypes of whatever country they were from, but that just made it all the more funny. His book isn't just words though; it has photographs! They make the story come alive even more. The funny thing about the background was that Peter only planned to stay in Africa a year; that obviously got stretched out.



It was a rather quick read even though I was supposed to annotate it, but I got lost in it, and finished it all in one sitting. "Whatever you do; don't run" is good for a summer's day, where one can just let your mind wander to the brush of Africa. Just make sure one has the time because some parts I had to reread and the rest I wanted to appreciate. I agree with other reviews, though, it made me laugh out loud or at the least smile and chuckle. Even just thinking of it makes me smile. It leaves the reader feeling refreshed. And if the reader's still unsatisfied with just this, Peter Allison wrote another book about the African brush, "Don't Look Behind You!" which I can't wait to start on. But this book isn't all entertainment. Allison provides some information on the animals he shows, so "Whatever you do; don't run" would do well for any traveler who plans on going to Africa. I gave it 5 stars, but of the 70 reviews that include mine, only 2 were 2 stars. They are the minority of the reviews, but in case you are too, I'd read their reviews. One of them said that the author made it seem that the tourists were bad, or at least carried an unpleasant attitude. If you look through the book, the chapters that are specifically about the costumers are relatively few in number. He probably had thousands of other tourists that he said nothing about; it only was those few he showed a negative attitude toward. I'd recommend this scrumptious dessert of a book, consisting of a meager 264 pages, to anyone.

Posted on October 20, 2010

Karon Rasset says...

What do you want to know about Botswana?Chances are you'll find it in this truly outstanding book by Chris McIntyre.Having travelled to Botswana the last three years we've gathered many resource books to learn about travel within the country, its people, culture, history, wildlife and of course, the types of safaris available.



If you're even thinking about a safari in southern Africa this book is a must.Had we read this book three years ago, many of our decisions about the when, where and how of African safaris would have been significantly different. Whether you're a first-time traveller to Africa or a seasoned veteran, I STRONGLY recommend you pick up a copy of this no-nonsense and straight-forward book.You'll be glad you did.

Posted on October 20, 2010

Muoi Zinsli says...

Will Randall once more finds himself taking an unusual teaching job, this time in the town of Kasane in Botswana.Here he finds himself not only teaching the children but running the school football team as well, football being of supreme importance.He also ecounters a lot of exotic wildlife, with elephants and crocodiles literally on his doorstep.And he has to deal with some very shady characters.And, sadly, he has to come to terms with the terrible devestation that AIDS is wrecking throughout the country.



Fans of Alexander McCall Smith's 'No 1 Ladies Detective Agency' will be pleased to discover that Botswana is every bit as delightful as it is described as being in that series,and the people, on te whole as friendly, kind and good, as Mma Ramotswe and her friends. A delightful and heartwarming book.

Posted on October 21, 2010

Liz Derk says...

This travel book of Botswana does not cover all of the wildlife viewing areas of the country. We will be traveling to the Tuli reserve on the Eastern edge and wanted to see some information on the private parks in that area as well as the lodges. The book didn't cover any of that, which was pretty disappointing.

Posted on October 21, 2010