Nature's Strongholds: The World's Great Wildlife Reserves

Nature's Strongholds, by Laura Riley and William Riley, is a very important book for the history of life. It is not really an encyclopedia. Nor a lesson in geography. It is not just a very practical travelog with rich inside information. It is all of those, but what it really shows is a detailed locator, through all the continents, of the Sacred Places, indeed the Strongholds, where the evolving wildlife is guarded, protected and preserved for now and the future. The pictures and text are brilliant and flow from their many years of exploration and devotion.

Laura and Bill Riley's book is a unique directory and guide to the best wildlife reserves around the world. It is a tremendous resource for ecologists and orginary tourists like myself. The many photographs are beautiful and the detailed descriptions are suberb. The book is a valuable tool for travelers and fascinating and enjoyable even if you cannot make the trip.

This book is a must for serious travelers who like to include visits to intereesting natural habitats and wildlife--I have given the book to a number of friends and they are all thrilled with it--Bill [email protected]

Nature's Strongholds is one of the most beautiful books I have seen in a long time. The photographs are not only gripping and moving, but also sharp, clear and very carefully printed. The layout makes the wealth of information enticing and accessible, which is a great boon to the armchair traveler as well as to the regular explorer. The information provided for each site is just what the serious traveler, amateur ornithologist, conservationist, or eco-tourist would want, too--a list of significant birds, beasts, and other features not to be missed. Most valuable of all, perhaps, is the inside information on each location that the Rileys, explorers and conservationists of many years experience, provide. Both as a record and as a call to preserve the spectacular refuges described, Nature's Strongholds is a magnificent gift to the world!

An indispensable guide if you're thinking of going to any of the great places, but equally wonderful armchair reading if you're staying home. Marvelous photographs.