Description:
Lonely Planet's ninth edition of Africa on a Shoestring (written by no less than 14 intrepid souls) begins with an extensive nuts-and-bolts chapter: visa requirements, vaccination information, how to score the cheapest airfares (couriers, charters, consolidators), suggested itineraries, medical checklists, safety precautions, etc. The countries themselves (48 in all) are listed alphabetically (Algeria to Zimbabwe), with major ones (Egypt, Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa) getting the most space--lesser-known ones such as Angola and Liberia register fewer than 10 pages. As its name suggests, the book is chock-a-block with dirt-cheap suggestions on where to stay (from campsites to hotels), eat (street stalls to restaurants), as well as places to view wildlife (Masai Mara, Serengeti), tour ancient Casbahs (Morocco, Tunisia), or unwind on a tropical beach (the islands of Mozambique, Egypt's Red Sea resorts). The appendix is loaded with practical stuff like basic phrases in numerous languages (including Arabic and Swahili) and a glossary of common terms (medina, baksheesh, dhow). After reading Africa on a Shoestring, you'll definitely want to pack your knapsack and go. --Jill Fergus
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