The Rough Guide to South Africa, 2nd Edition

Detailed guidebook, good recommendations on local guides to use (we tried their recommendation of the township tour in Cape Town), places to stay and things to do. I am planning to use them again for my subsequent trips to other regions.

I lived in SA for about 5 months. We had both the LP and the Rough Guide and although it was nice to have both, I would recommend the Rough Guide if you were just going to choose one book. I found the Rough Guide to be a little more accurate in the prices listed and the organization to be far superior to the LP. The LP was helpful with more general information, but the Rough Guide provided more information on the little, out of the way places. If you plan on using hostels, it is imperative to pick up a Coast to Coast after arriving. It is a compelation of hostels, organized by area, that is put out by the hostels of SA. It also includes hostels in Swaziland, Lesotho, and Mozambique. Most hostels involved with the book have free copies that you can take.

A well researched book giving all the tips and hints that one needs to know about South Africa. The book doesn't waste your time by making recommendations and then slating them (as other guide books tend to do).

Accurate and well-researched book. The recommendations are generally spot on. Nicely written, it's like travelling around with a friend who really knows the place. As someone who lives in South Africa, it's reassuring to know that there are books that are able to talk frankly about the crime situation without getting into a froth of paranoia.

I am a tour operator and registered tour guide in South Africa. On a recent research trip of more than 10 000 km/ 7 000 miles I used the Rough Guide to go and look for the sites and places most people miss out on when following the well-known tourist routes. The Guide proved to be an invaluable asset in this regard and I strongly recommend it to foreigners and South Africans alike. Its information on the country's history, personalities, culture, visa-requirements, health issues, places of interest, etc. is quite incredible.