KENYA READING LIST

Africa. Art Wolfe, 2001. A photographic exploration into the wildlife of Africa.

Africa Adorned. Angela Fisher, 1994. Beautiful book on tribal adornment practices.

Africa: A Biography of the Continent. John Reader, 1999. A masterful and comprehensive synthesis of the geological, climatological, and paleontological discoveries of the last decades in Africa.

The Africans. David Lamb, 1987. A thoroughly clear-sighted, honest book that provides a political and social survey of the African continent.

African Art. Frank Willett, 1993. This classic study reveals the astonishing variety and expressive power of the art of a continent that contains more distinct peoples and cultures than any other. The substantial aesthetic impact that their works have had on the development of twentieth-century Western art—on Picasso, Derain, Braque, and Modigliani, among others—continues to this day.

African Ceremonies. Carol Beckwith, Angela Fisher, 1999. Photographers Beckwith and Fisher capture traditional ceremonies and contemporary culture throughout the continent. The result is a respectful, magnificently produced, two-volume celebration of African diversity. With 850 color photographs. A condensed paperback version is also available, sold under the title "Passages"

African Silences. Peter Matthiessen, 1992. In this narrative of Equatorial Africa, Matthiessen recounts several trips to The Gambia, Senegal, Zaire, and the Congo Basin in search of endangered rhinos, elephants and other endangered wildlife

Beads and Beadwork of East and Southern Africa. Margaret Carey, 1986.

The Behavior Guide to African Animals. Richard D. Estes, 1992. An excellent source for behavioral descriptions and accounts of varying social systems of African animals.

Birds of Kenya and Northern Tanzania. Dale Zimmerman, 1996. An easier-to-use book than Stevenson’s because it covers a more limited region. If you are only visiting northern Tanzania, Serengeti, Tarangire and Ngorongoro this is the bird guide to carry.

Born Free: A Lioness of Two Worlds. Joy Adamson, 2000. A personal account of a lion cub in transition between the captivity in which she is raised and the fearsome wild to which she is returned captures the abilities of both humans and animals to cross the seemingly unbridgeable gap between their radically different worlds.

Darwin’s Dreampond, Drama in Lake Victoria. Tjis Goldschmidt, 1996. An interesting account of the greatest diversity of freshwater fish anywhere in the world and the decline of over 200 species due to the introduction of the Nile Perch in Lake Victoria

I Dreamed of Africa. Kuki Gallman, 1991. A highly personal account of tragedy and magic in Kenya. Italian-born Gallman tells of her move to Ol Ari Nyiro, a ranch set in the highland plain in the shadow of Mount Kenya. Wistful in tone and romantic, this is nonetheless a powerful book, vivid in its detail of life in Africa. It is now a major motion picture.

In the Dust of Kilimanjaro. David Western, 2001. Western, a conservationist who grew up in Africa, blends biographical details with a history of African wildlife conservation. His approach to global conservation balances the needs of people and wildlife and entails coexistence rather than segregation.

Elephant Memories, Thirteen Years in the Life of an Elephant Family. Cynthia Moss, 2000. By distinguishing each individual elephant by characteristics such as the shape of their ears, ear markings or the size and shape of the tusks, Moss identified and followed individuals learning much about elephant behavior.

The End of the Game, The Last Word from Paradise. Peter Beard, 2000. Originally published in 1965, this landmark book has contributed much to the general awareness of conservation in Africa. Beard documents, with dozens of paintings, and over 300 modern and historic photographs, the history of explorers, missionaries and big-game hunters in Africa.

Facing Mount Kenya, The Tribal Life of the Kikuyu. Jomo Kenyatta, 1965. Written by Kenya’s first president, this book is a central document of the highest distinction in anthropological literature, an invaluable key to the structure of African society and the nature of the African mind. It is not only a formal study of life and death, work and play, sex and the family in one of the greatest tribes of contemporary Africa, but a work of considerable literary merit.

Fantastic Invasion, Dispatches from Africa. Patrick Marnham, 1989. A hard hitting account of the present and future of Africa.

Field Guide to the Birds of East Africa: Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi. Terry Stevenson, 2001. A comprehensive guide to East African birds.

Field Guide to the National Parks of East Africa. John G. Williams and N. Arlott, 1981

The Flame Trees of Thika. Elspeth Huxley. 1987. This is an account of the author’s childhood on a Kenya farm at the turn of the century.

The Great Migration. Jonathan Scott, 1988. A story of the Serengeti ecosystem and wildebeest migration. Dramatic photographs.

A Guide to the Wildflowers of Kenya. Michael Blundell, 1982.

How It Was With Dooms, A True Story from Africa. Xan Hopcraft, 2000. An account of the author’s life growing up with his pet cheetah Dooms. A children’s book.

In the Lions Den. Mitsuaki Iwago, 1996. Perhaps one of the most patient and therefore most rewarded photographers in Africa.

Island Africa, The Evolution of Africa’s Rare Animals and Plants. Jonathan Kingdon, 1990. A fascinating book that describes the evolutionary history of the African continent and helps to explain why there is such great biological diversity in this part of the world.

Kingdom of Lions. Jonathan Scott, 1985.

The Kingdon Field Guide to African Mammals. Jonathan Kingdon, 1997. Simply the best field guide to African mammals that exists. Wonderful art quality and descriptions of almost every mammal on the continent.

The Lunatic Express. Charles Miller, 1971. The magnificent saga of how the white man changed Africa/The pioneers, visionaries and politicians – and their crazy railway. Please note that this book is out of print but you are able to find it on Amazon under used books.

Maasai. Tepilit Ole Saitoti, 1980. Written by a Maasai, this intelligent and informative book contains superb photography.

The Man-Eaters of Tsavo. John Henry Patterson, 1986. The classic man-eating story of the lions that halted construction of a railway line and reportedly killed one hundred people, told by the man who risked his life to successfully shoot them.

Mara-Serengeti: A Photographers Paradise. Jonathan and Angela Scott, 2001. A beautiful photographic journal of the Mara/Serengeti Ecosystem.

The Marsh Lions: The Story of an African Pride. Brian Jackman (with photographs by Jonathan Scott), 1982.

Mountains of the Moon William Harrison, 1990. A marvelous novel about the brilliant explorer and writer Richard Burton and his young protégé John Hanning Speke and there ill-fated attempt to locate the source of the White Nile in the East African highlands.

National Audubon Society field Guide to African Wildlife. Peter Alden and Richard D. Estes, 1995. A photographic field guide for African wildlife.

Nine Faces of Kenya. Elspeth Huxley, 1992. Drawing on her knowledge of Kenya and its literature, Huxley presents a fully rounded portrait of a nation, its peoples and wildlife, history and landscape, and the men and women who made their mark upon it. Isak Dinesen, Ernest Hemingway, the Leakeys, Beryl Markham, Winston Churchill, Evelyn Waugh, and Theodore Roosevelt are among the many writers in this classic anthology.

No Picnic on Mt. Kenya. Felice Benuzzi, 1999. Held at a British prisoner of war camp at the foot of Mount Kenya in 1943, the author escapes and climbs the mountain -- and then sneaks back into prison. Among the many pleasures of this book are Benuzzi’s accounts of the landscapes, animals and habitats on the way to the top.

Origins Reconsidered – In Search of What Makes Us Human. Richard Leakey and Roger Lewin, 1993. Leakey returns to his earlier work, especially his 1977 book Origins - to poke holes in his previous beliefs, but more importantly to reassess how we became "human," and what, after all, being human really means.

Out of Africa and Shadow on the Grass. Isak Dinesen, 1972. The famous tale of a naive young woman who leaves Denmark for East Africa. First published in 1937 and now a perennial bestseller, Out of Africa draws us into life on a struggling coffee plantation with its lyrical tone. Profoundly introspective and romantic in tone, it's a moving tale inspired by affection for Kenya and its people.

Red Strangers. Elspeth Huxley, 2002. A multi-generational tale set among the Kikuyu people and colonial settlers of highland Kenya, home turf of Huxley and setting for her memoir "The Flame Trees of Thika."

Safari Chic. Bibi Jordan, 2000. A beautiful collection of photographs and stories of homes and lodges in Africa.

The Safari Companion, A Guide to Watching African Mammals. Richard D. Estes, 1999.

Safari Style. Tim Beddows and Natasha Burns, 1998. A great look at many of the wonderfully designed lodges and camps found in East Africa.

The Scramble for Africa. Thomas Pakenham, 1992. A dramatic telling of the imperialist struggle over Africa, a quick and violent grab for territory in which Britain, France, Germany, Belgium, and Italy vied for power and markets. In a mere 34 years the European powers carved up an entire continent. Pakenham offers an engrossing--and appalling--narrative of panoramic scope.

The Shadow of Kilimanjaro: On Foot Across East Africa. Rick Ridgeway, 1999. The author recounts his walk from Mount Kilimanjaro across Tsavo National Park to the Indian Ocean. It's a perceptive overview of Kenya, its wildlife and conservation by an appreciative observer. He weaves history, philosophy and thoughtful observation into this marvelous account.

The Shadow of the Sun. Ryszard Kapuscinski, 2002. This book helps greatly in sorting out the issues, politics and history of Africa. A brilliant writer and, more importantly, a brilliant story teller who has spent more than 30 years working as a journalist in Africa.

Silent Thunder, In the Presence of Elephants. Katy Payne, 1998. A researcher’s account of studying elephants in Kenya, Zimbabwe and Namibia and her discovery of the low frequency communication system that elephants use. A must read for anyone interested in elephants and their behavior.

The Sixth Extinction. Roger Lewin and Richard Leakey, 1996. A brilliant explanation and celebration of "biodiversity”, informed by the personal and first-hand experience of the world-famous scientist Richard Leakey.

Straight on Till Morning. Mary Lovell. A biography of Beryl Markham.

Swahili Phrase Book. Lonely Planet 1998.

The Tree Where Man Was Born. Peter Matthiessen, 1972. A vivid portrait of East Africa. This book enthralls us with its masterful detail on nature and daily life. Matthiessen ranges through prehistory up to modern Kenya, circa 1961, deftly combining the finest of nature writing and sensitive commentary on social and political history. In this far-ranging book, we travel with him to Maasailand, Ngorongoro Crater in Tanzania, the Kenyan Highlands and out in the bush to witness the animals.

West with the Night. Beryl Markham. 1983. A direct, stylish and engrossing story of a marvelous life well lived. Markham describes her childhood in Kenya and her experiences as a bush pilot in the 1930s -- evoking the landscapes, people and wildlife in rich detail.

Wildlife Wars: My Fight to Save Africa’s Natural Treasures. Richard Leakey, Virginia Morell, 2002. This book chronicles Leakey’s struggle to balance the needs of Kenya’s human population with the task of maintaining the world-famous parks that are its major source of revenue. As candid and controversial as its author, this memoir is testimony to one man's commitment to save African wildlife and to serve his country.

All things considered, there are two kinds of people in the world: Those who stay at home and those who do not. The second are most interesting." - Rudyard Kipling

TANZANIA READING LIST

Africa. Art Wolfe, 2001. A photographic exploration into the wildlife of Africa.

Africa: A Biography of the Continent. John Reader, 1999. A masterly and comprehensive synthesis of the geological, climatological, and paleontological discoveries of the last decades in Africa.

Africa Adorned. Angela Fisher, 1994. Beautiful book on tribal adornment practices.

African Art. Frank Willett, 1993.

Africa, The Serengeti. 1994. A great IMAX film available in VHS or DVD.

The Africans. David Lamb, 1987. A thoroughly clear-sighted, honest book that provides a political and social survey of the African continent.

The African Wild Dog: Behavior, Ecology, and Conservation. Scott Creel and Nancy Marusha Creel, 2002. With only 5,000 surviving, the African wild dog (Lycaon pictus) is one of the world's most endangered large carnivores--and one of the most remarkable. Incorporates previously scattered information with new findings from a six-year study in Tanzania's Selous Game Reserve, Africa's largest protected area.

Beads and Beadwork of East and Southern Africa. Margaret Carey, 1986.

The Behavior Guide to African Animals. Richard D. Estes, 1992. An excellent source for behavioral descriptions and accounts of varying social systems of African animals.

Birds of Kenya and Northern Tanzania. Dale Zimmerman, 1996. An easier to use book than Stevenson’s because it covers a more limited region. If you are only visiting Northern Tanzania, Serengeti, Tarangire and Ngorongoro this is the bird guide to carry.

The Chimpanzees I Love. Jane Goodall, 2001. A good book for young children about chimps and Jane’s research with them.

Darwin’s Dreampond, Drama in Lake Victoria. Tjis Goldschmidt, 1996. An interesting account of the greatest diversity of freshwater fish anywhere in the world and the decline of over 200 species due to the introduction of the Nile Perch in Lake Victoria

Elephant Memories, Thirteen Years in the Life of an Elephant Family. Cynthia Moss, 2000. By distinguishing each individual elephant by characteristics such as the shape of their ears, ear markings or the size and shape of the tusks, Moss identified and followed individuals learning much about elephant behavior.

Fantastic Invasion, Dispatches from Africa. Patrick Marnham, 1989. A hard hitting account of the present and future of Africa.

George Adamson:Lord of the Lions. Sandy Gall, 1993.

Golden Shadows, Flying Hooves. George B. Schaller, 1973. Personal account of the author’s famous study of the lions of the Serengeti.

The Great Migration. Jonathan Scott, 1988. A story of the Serengeti ecosystem and wildebeest migration. Dramatic photographs.

A Guide to the Wildflowers of Tanzania. Michael Blundell, 1982.

The Kingdon Field Guide to African Mammals. Jonathan Kingdon, 1997. Simply the best field guide to African mammals that exists. Wonderful art quality and descriptions of almost every mammal on the continent.

Field Guide to the Birds of East Africa: Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi. Terry Stevenson, 2001. A comprehensive guide to East African birds.

In the Lions Den. Mitsuaki Iwago, 1996. Perhaps one of the most patient and therefore most rewarded photographers in Africa.

In the Shadow of Man. Jane Goodall, 2000. Few people remember that Jane Goodall was the first person to document without a doubt that chimpanzees use tools and display many complex behaviors that betray significant cognitive abilities

Into Africa. Craig Packer, 1996. Insight into the world of a wildlife researcher studying lions in the Serengeti.

Island Africa, The Evolution of Africa’s Rare Animals and Plants. Jonathan Kingdon, 1990. A fascinating book that describes the evolutionary history of the African continent and helps to explain why there is such great biological diversity in this part of the world.

Kilimanjaro, Journey to the Roof of Africa. Audrey Salkeld, David Breashears, 2002. The accompanying book to the 2002 IMAX film of climbing Kili.

The Language of the Land, Living Among the Hadzabe in Africa. James Stephenson 2000. At the age of 27, Stephenson spent the year living among the Hadzabe, living their life, hunting what they hunted, eating what they ate, participating in their dances and ceremonies, and consulting with their medicine men.

Mara-Serengeti: A Photographers Paradise. Jonathan and Angela Scott, 2001. A beautiful photographic journal of the Mara/Serengeti Ecosystem.

Mountains of the Moon William Harrison, 1990. A marvelous novel about the brilliant explorer and writer Richard Burton and his young protégé John Hanning Speke and there ill-fated attempt to locate the source of the White Nile in the east African highlands.

My Life with Chimpanzees. Jane Goodall, 1996. An account of Jane Goodall’s life with chimps.

My Serengeti Years: The memoirs of an African game warden. Myles Turner.

National Audubon Society field Guide to African Wildlife. Peter Alden and Richard D. Estes, 1995. A photographic field guide for African wildlife.

Origins Reconsidered – In Search of What Makes Us Human. Richard Leakey and Roger Lewin, 1993. Leakey returns to his earlier work, especially his 1977 book Origins - to poke holes in his previous beliefs, but more importantly to reassess how we became "human," and what, after all, being human really means.

Safari Chic. Bibi Jordan, 2000. A beautiful collection of photographs and stories of homes and lodges in Africa.

Safari Style. Tim Beddows and Natasha Burns, 1998. A great look at many of the wonderfully designed lodges and camps found in East Africa.

Sand Rivers. Peter Matthiessen, 1988. An account of one of the last great expeditions in Africa. Accompanying Peter were Richard Bonham and Robin pope – two well known safari guides with their own camps.

Serengeti: Natural Order on the African Plain. Mitsuaki Iwago, 1987. A beautiful collection of photographs of the Serengeti and the abundant wildlife.

The Shadow of the Sun. Ryszard Kapuscinski, 2002. This book helps greatly in sorting out the issues, politics and history of Africa. A brilliant writer and, more importantly, a brilliant story teller who has spent more than 30 years working as a journalist in Africa.

The Serengeti Shall Not Die. Bernhard Grzimek, 1974. An interesting account of one of the first scientist that fought to save the wildlife on the Serengeti.

Silent Thunder, In the Presence of Elephants. Katy Payne, 1998. A researcher’s account of studying elephants in Kenya, Zimbabwe and Namibia and her discovery of the low frequency communication system that elephants use. A must read for anyone interested in elephants and their behavior.

The Sixth Extinction. Roger Lewin and Richard Leakey, 1996. A Brilliant explanation and celebration of "biodiversity”, informed by the personal and first-hand experience of the world-famous scientist Richard Leakey.

Swahili Phrase Book. Lonely Planet 1998.

The Tree Where Man Was Born. Peter Matthiessen, 1972. He skillfully portrays the daily lives of herdsmen and hunter-gatherers; the drama of the predator kills; the hundreds of exotic animals; the breathtaking landscapes; and the area's turbulent natural, political, and social histories.

All things considered, there are two kinds of people in the world: Those who stay at home and those who do not. The second are most interesting." - Rudyard Kipling

Abyssinian Chronicles  • Moses Isegawa • LITERATURE  •  A riveting coming-of-age novel, set in Uganda during the terrible regime of Ida Amin.

Africa  • Phyllis Martin • Patrick O'Meara • CULTURAL PORTRAIT  •  A comprehensive account of African culture, history, art, economics and politics.

Africa's Great Rift Valley  • Nigel Pavitt • NATURAL HISTORY  •  A photographic portrait of one of the world's most striking geological regions.

Africa’s Mountains of the Moon by Guy Yeoman.

African Obsession, The Life and Legacy of Carl Akeley  • Penelope Bodry-Sanders • BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR • HARD TO FIND  •  A biography of Carl Akeley that follows his expeditions throughout East and Central Africa.

In the Arms of Africa, The Life of Colin M.Turnbull  • Roy Richard Drinker • BIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR  •  A sympathetic, powerful biography of the author of "The Forest People."

The Baganda at Homeby CW Hattersley, Published by the Religious Tract Society, London.

Behind God’s Back (1940), by Negley Farson, Published by Victor Gollanz, London.

Birds of East Africa (1995), by Ber Van Perlo, Published by Collins, London.    

Birds of Eastern Africa, Princeton Illustrated Checklists  • Ber Van Perlo • FIELD GUIDE  •  A compact guide for quick identification in the field.

Bradt Guide Rwanda • Philip Briggs and Janice Booth  •  GUIDEBOOK   •  2004
For travelers headed to Rwanda, this practical guide is indispensable. It's a detailed overview of the African nation's nature (especially gorillas), history and culture.

Bradt Guide Uganda • Philip Briggs GUIDEBOOK  • 2003 
A comprehensive guide in the growing series by Bradt, noteworthy for its focus on culture, nature and responsible travel. The author includes sights and activities throughout the country.

By the Waters of Africa (1917), by Norma Lorimer, Published by Robert Scot, London.

Changing Uganda (1991), published by James Currey, Oxford.
The Chiga of Uganda (2nd edition 1996), by May M Edel, published by Transaction.     

Conflict in Uganda by E Kumar Rupesinghe, Published by James Currey, Oxford.

Designs on the Land (1992), by JMA Opio-Odongo.

Developing Uganda (1997), Edited by Holger Bernt Hansen & Micheal Twaddle, published by James Currey, Oxford

An English Boy’s Life and Adventure in Uganda (1912), by CW Hattersley, published by the Religious Tract Society, London.                       

Exploration of Africa, From Cairo to the Cape  • Ann Hugon • EXPLORATION  •  A concise, colorful resource that chronicles the 19th century exploration of Africa.

Field Guide to the Birds of East Africa  • Terry Stevenson • John Fanshawe • FIELD GUIDE  •  A comprehensive guide to East African birds featuring 287 color plates.

Field Guide to the Birds of East Africa (1985), by JG Williams and N Arlott, published by Collins London.

Field Guide to the Mammals of Africa (1988), by Theodor Halternorth and Helmut Diller, published by Collins, London.          

From Chaos to Order (1995), edited by Holger Bernt Hansen & Michael Twaddle, published by James Currey, Oxford.

Citizen & Subject (1996), by Mahmood Mamdani, Published by James Currey, Oxford

Gorillas in the Mist  •  Dian Fossey NATURAL HISTORY  • 2000 •  PAPER 
Fossey's highly personal, detailed account of the ecology and behavior of the mountain gorilla based on her 13 years among "the greatest of the great apes." She describes habituating her study group. Having named the animals, she follows the life history, diet and sex life of each, offering insight into both the study animals and researcher. Originally published in 1983.

Gorilla: Struggle for Survival in the Virungas  • Michael Nichols • George Schaller • NATURAL HISTORY  •  The gorillas of the Virunga mountains and the efforts of conservationists to save them.

Guide to Uganda (1994), by Philip Briggs, published by Bradt Publications, Chalfont St Peter, Bucks, England.

Horn of my Love (1974), by Okot p’Bitek, published by Heinemann.

The Impenetrable Forest  • Thor Hanson • NATURAL HISTORY  •  An account of the human and natural history of Uganda's Bwindi Impenetrable Forest.

Imperialism and Fascism in Uganda, by Mahmood Mamdani, published by James Currey, Oxford.

Insight Guide East African Wildlife
Insight Guides • GUIDEBOOK  •  A guide to East Africa and its wildlife featuring color photography, essays and maps.

Kakungulu and the Creation of Uganda, 1868 - 1928 (1993), by Micheal Twaddle, published by James Currey, Oxford.

Kampala Women Getting By (1996), by Sandra Wallman, published by James Currey, Oxford.

In the Kingdom of Gorillas: Fragile Species in a Dangerous Land • Bill Weber • Amy Vedder • NATURAL HISTORY • A gripping account of conservation, ecology and politics in Rwanda's Virunga Mountains.

The Kingdon Field Guide to African Mammals  • Jonathan Kingdon • FIELD GUIDE  •  A stunningly illustrated, comprehensive field guide to African mammals.

Kingship and State, The Buganda Dynasty, by Christopher Wrigley, published by Cambridge University Press.

The Last King of Scotland  • Giles Foden • LITERATURE  •  A novel based on the last desperate days of the rule of Idi Amin.

The Mountain People (1994), by Colin Turnbull, Published by Pimlico.

The Myth of Wild Africa  • Jonathan Adams • Thomas McShane • NATURAL HISTORY  •  A no-holds-barred attack on old style conservation.

National Audubon Society Field Guide to African Wildlife  • Peter Alden • FIELD GUIDE  •  A portable guide to the landforms, wild areas, mammals, birds, reptiles and insects of Africa.

Obote: A Political Biography (1994), by Kenneth Ingham, published by Routledge.

A Political History of Uganda (1980), by SR Karugira, published by Heinemann Educational Books, Nairobi. 

The Safari Companion, A Guide to Watching African Mammals  •  Richard Estes
FIELD GUIDE  • 1999 
An encyclopedic guide to the behavior of Africa's mammals by a noted scientist. Estes describes 100 large African mammals: their diet, habitats -- and what they do with their time. Written with the typical safari-goer in mind, the book interprets what the animals are doing. Newly revised, there's no other field guide like it.

The Shadow of the Sun by Ryszard Kapuscinski  •  Klara Glowczewska (Translator)
HISTORY •  2002 
A collection of intelligent and wide-ranging essays by the veteran author and war correspondent. He addresses important themes with insight, including the devastating impact of AIDS and recent political disasters in Ghana, Nigeria, Tanzania and Rwanda. He's a wonderful, personal writer -- and the essays have the drama, shape and emotion of good fiction.

Sunday at the Pool in Kigali by Gil Courtemanche • FICTION
A novel based on real life characters and a sequence of events leading to, during, and after the massacre in Rwanda in 1994. The novel is centered on the lives of the Rwandese elite and European expatriates as well as prostitutes at the Mille-Collines Hotel in Kigali. As the bonds of love become stronger so is the onslaught of civil anarchy and rumours of war.

Uganda, A Century of Existence (1995), edited by PG Okoth, M Muranga, and EO Ogwang, published by Fountain Kampala.

Uganda Now, Between Decay and Development (1988), edited by Holger Bernt Hansen & Micheal Twaddle, published by James Currey, Oxford.

Uganda, The Pearl of Africa (1995), by Paul Joynson-Hicks, published by Cimino Publishing.

Uganda by Pen and Camera (1907), by CW Hattersley, published by the Religious Tract Society, London.

We Wish to Inform You that Tomorrow We will be Killed with Our Families, Stories from Rwanda by Philip Gourevitch HISTORY •  1999
The gut-wrenching story of Hutus and Tutsis in Rwanda looking backward from the horrific genocide of 1994 to deep-seeded historical causes (and Western inaction). Gourevitch, a staff writer for the New Yorker, offers both an insightful chronicle and extraordinary stories in this award-winning report.

The White Nile  • Alan Moorehead • EXPLORATION  •  A lively history of the Victorian search for the source of the Nile, 1885-1900.

Wildlife of East Africa  • Martin B. Withers • David Hosking • FIELD GUIDE  •  A concise, compact guide to commonly encountered birds, mammals, reptiles, insects and plants of Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda featuring 475 color photographs.

Woman in the Mist by Farley Mowat.

The Year of the Gorilla  •  George Schaller  • NATURAL HISTORY  • 1997 
A vividly written tale of adventures among the gorillas. This book is a wonderful, accessible account of field work under difficult and sometimes dangerous circumstances by one of the great wildlife biologists. In this classic, Schaller tells of the gorillas, the excitement of tracking animals in the jungle bureaucratic pitfalls and very real trouble with poachers. Illustrated with photographs and line drawings by the author.

Land of a Thousand Hills: My Life in Rwanda by Rosamund Halsey Carr and Ann Howard Halsey - Amazon.com
If you enjoyed Out of Africa and West with the Night, here's another amazing woman's story of her adventurous African life. Rosamond Halsey Carr left her job as a young New York City fashion illustrator in the 1940s to join her hunter-explorer husband in the Belgian Congo; after their divorce, she decided to stay on in neighboring Rwanda as the manager of a flower plantation. For the next 50 years she lived an extraordinary life, witnessing the fall of colonialism, the loss of her friend Dian Fossey, and the relentless clashes between the Hutus and the Tutsis. Although this book includes a poignant insider's account of the events surrounding the horrific 1994 genocide, it also provides a beautiful portrait of the Rwanda that was--and still is. After being evacuated during the genocide, Carr returned to Rwanda and, at age 82, rebuilt her home from the ground up, intent on opening a home for some 100 orphaned children.