- Paperback: 680 pages
- Publisher: Lonely Planet Publications; 7th Revised edition edition (1 Nov 2006)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 1740599705
- ISBN-13: 978-1740599702
- Product Dimensions: 19 x 13 x 2.8 cm
- Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
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Amazon Bestsellers Rank:
321,679 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #1 in Books > Travel & Holiday > Countries & Regions > Africa > Swaziland
- #1 in Books > Travel & Holiday > Countries & Regions > Africa > Lesotho
- #33 in Books > Travel & Holiday > Countries & Regions > Africa > South Africa
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Product Description
Review
Nobody covers the world like Lonely Planet.' --New York Post, May 2004
Product Description
A multi country guide to increasingly popular South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland. With a full colour wildlife guide and in depth coverage of the music of South Africa.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I have been a fan of lonely planet books in the past and own quite a few of them. However, having just returned from a trip to South Africa where used this one heavily to plan the trip, I was pretty disappointed. In general there seemed to be too heavy an emphasis on the backpacking traveller and people who have lots of time for their travels (lots of details of 5-day hikes and things) as opposed to the general holiday(ing) traveller. I also think that there were just some significant misjudgments in their recommendations. There were several towns described as "choc-full" of activities that then proved to be pretty dull and others that were described as "historic" or "quaint" which had little to look at.
Finally, I also think that there was too much "worthiness" creeping in as well. I think there was an appropriate emphasis on township tours and the complex social situation in South Africa (the section on history was very good) but there was then also sideways digs at places the book perceived to be "tacky" or "artificial" when in some cases these were actually pretty well run tourist attractions. I am sure with more time and with a slightly hardier spirit I could have gone for some of the more "authentic" options the book outlined, but short of time and looking for some ease of travel I actually rather enjoyed some of the "artficial" places the book was so disparaging of.
Like I say- not one for the holidaying tourist- this is strictly one for the backpacker or gap year traveller.
Finally, I also think that there was too much "worthiness" creeping in as well. I think there was an appropriate emphasis on township tours and the complex social situation in South Africa (the section on history was very good) but there was then also sideways digs at places the book perceived to be "tacky" or "artificial" when in some cases these were actually pretty well run tourist attractions. I am sure with more time and with a slightly hardier spirit I could have gone for some of the more "authentic" options the book outlined, but short of time and looking for some ease of travel I actually rather enjoyed some of the "artficial" places the book was so disparaging of.
Like I say- not one for the holidaying tourist- this is strictly one for the backpacker or gap year traveller.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I am surprised at the negative feedback here. As a consistent user of Lonely Planet guides, I have to say that this ranked as one of the more useful country guides i have come across. Writing guidebooks must be a very tricky business - it is necessary to include such a vast quantity of information, while trying simultaneously to capture the feel and mood of a country in such a way that people know what to expect back home. This particular guide does an excellent job in this respect.
I spent one month travelling from Pretoria to Cape Town, taking a winding route through Swaziland and Lesotho. I had no schedule and went where I wanted when I wanted. And perhaps it is for this kind of travelling that this guide is most suitable - it doesn't necessarily tell you how best to combine two or 3 attractions for a short holiday, which is a travel agent's job, but rather it gives a very involved lowdown on most places of consequence in which you might find yourself.
The information was detailed and correct, with pleasingly accurate (both on facts and on less tangible factors - atmosphere, attitude, etc.) descriptions of places and accommodations, and some fantastic recommendations for restaurants, especially in and around Cape Town.
I can't imagine which towns the other reviewers are referring to when they talk about misplaced or underdone praise. I felt that the passion with which the authors wrote the book was well apportioned.
I spent one month travelling from Pretoria to Cape Town, taking a winding route through Swaziland and Lesotho. I had no schedule and went where I wanted when I wanted. And perhaps it is for this kind of travelling that this guide is most suitable - it doesn't necessarily tell you how best to combine two or 3 attractions for a short holiday, which is a travel agent's job, but rather it gives a very involved lowdown on most places of consequence in which you might find yourself.
The information was detailed and correct, with pleasingly accurate (both on facts and on less tangible factors - atmosphere, attitude, etc.) descriptions of places and accommodations, and some fantastic recommendations for restaurants, especially in and around Cape Town.
I can't imagine which towns the other reviewers are referring to when they talk about misplaced or underdone praise. I felt that the passion with which the authors wrote the book was well apportioned.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
As Lonely Planet guides go, I must admit this one was a little disappointing. Certainly the usual details of history, maps, accomodation, sites and restaurants are included. But somehow the guide doesn't really pick up on what South Africa's about... The details of game reserves was very disappointing and certainly much of the area that I visited was not covered in as much detail as I'd have liked. For a country with the scenery of the Drakensburg, the beauty of Cape Town and the wonder of the game reserves that's really rather surprising.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Extremely useful and up-to-date
I bought this book to accompany me on my 3-month trip to South Africa. The book packs in a lot of information, and I didn't come accross anything that seemed out-of-date or no... Read more
Published 18 months ago by S. E. Hartley
Good read - whets your appetite for travel
Lonely planet books are okay and this does a good job. We made a decent holiday plan from this and another book but were able to leave enough space in our itinerary to wing some... Read more
Published on 28 Nov 2009 by D. Richards
Fantastic guide
This guide book has almost everything you could want, small town maps, suggested accomodation at various prices and lots of helpful hints and ideas of what to see in the area. Read more
Published on 9 July 2009 by Kirsty
not up to standard
This guidebook is useful enough if people are intending to stick to the popular tourist routes when visiting South Africa. Read more
Published on 16 May 2009 by Poison Ivy
seriously flawed
I suspect the brief of the SA LP authors was the following: do the least amount possible to fill a couple of 100 pages and make sure that on each page, completely redundant... Read more
Published on 27 July 2008 by spiderboy
A great series of books.
As me and a friend are planning a round the world trip this series of books has been a great help.
In picking places where to go it's helpful to know whats there! Read more
In picking places where to go it's helpful to know whats there! Read more
Published on 3 Jan 2004 by J. C. Eames
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