The Rough Guide to South Africa, Lesotho & Swaziland Paperback February 20, 2018

"The Rough Guide to South Africa, Lesotho & Swaziland" is a comprehensive and easy-to-use travel guide for budget travelers looking to explore all that South Africa has to offer. The guide provides detailed coverage of all seven provinces, including lesser-visited destinations like Cradock, Groot Marico, and Venda. The game parks, particularly Kruger, are well-covered, with each part of the park explored in detail. Accommodation options, from basic camping to luxury lodges, are presented equally. One of the standout features of this guide is the cultural, linguistic, and historical background it provides. The historical overview is solid and fair, and the descriptions of music and literature are in-depth. The language guide is also helpful. The maps, though adequate, provide sufficient orientation even for smaller, provincial stops. However, there are a few areas where the guide falls short. Firstly, it underestimates the difficulty of solo travel without transport, with limited coverage of rail links and intercity buses. The dangers of using combi taxis, especially for solo travelers, are not adequately highlighted. The guide also fails to address the often chaotic nature of services in the country, such as long lines at banks. Perhaps the biggest oversight of the guide is its understated analysis of the crime situation in South Africa. The reviewer emphasizes that the country is very dangerous, particularly for solo travelers, but the guide's coverage of crime is minimal and greatly understated. More attention to public safety could have provided a more accurate representation of the potential dangers. Despite these shortcomings, "Rough Guide: South Africa" is still a useful and informative resource for travelers looking to explore the country. Its thorough coverage of game and national parks, along with its cultural and historical background, make it a valuable tool in planning a trip to South Africa.