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| South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland (Lonely Planet Country Guide) | 
 enlarge | Authors: Mary Fitzpatrick, Kate Armstrong, Becca Blond, Michael Kohn, Simon Richmond, Alistair Simmonds
Publisher: Lonely Planet Publications
Category: Book
List Price: £15.99
Buy New: £7.85
You Save: £8.14 (51%)
New (45) from £7.85
Avg. Customer Rating:  2 reviews
Sales Rank: 8707
Media: Paperback
Edition: 7Rev Ed
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 680
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.1
Dimensions (in): 7.7 x 5 x 1.2
ISBN: 1740599705
Dewey Decimal Number: 916
EAN: 9781740599702
ASIN: 1740599705
Publication Date: November 1, 2006
Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days
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| Customer Reviews:
 Useful guide but not the best June 2, 2008
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
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.
 Disappointing March 10, 2008
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
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.
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