Tracker Manual: A Practical Guide to Animal Tracking in Southern Africa

A revised second edition developed by Southern African traditional trackers that includes new additions of species and photographs.

Tracker Manual is a revised and expanded edition of a bestselling guide to animal tracking in southern Africa. This practical book has been developed by some of southern Africa’s few remaining traditional trackers and draws on centuries-old wisdom acquired in the wild.

This second edition includes an extra 26 species, some 200 new photographs, and new track drawings throughout. Simple bulleted text highlights key features of the tracks of some 200 animals – from predators and large mammals to birds and insects – and, where applicable, their habits, diet, droppings and territorial behavior. Multiple photographs – many annotated – of the animals, their tracks, dung, middens and scrapes, show what signs to look for. Additional features include a handy table of bird track sizes and a table for comparing footprints of animal species that are easily confused. An instructive and wide-ranging introduction covers the latest in track morphology, animal gaits, track age recognition, and the skills and mindset required for successful identification.

This detailed and richly illustrated manual to the region’s animal tracks and signs will prove invaluable in the field and for visitors interested in accurately interpreting the most obvious – and not so obvious – signs of the wild.

Alex van den Heever is a founder member and general manager of the Tracker Academy. He has spent the last 20 years working as an environmental manager, guide and trainer and assessor of trackers in South Africa. He has travelled to many of the world’s most remote regions to learn traditional tracking skills from expert trackers.

Karel ‘Pokkie’ Benadie spent 33 years as a tracker and field ranger in the Karoo National Park. Using tracking-based evidence, he has contributed to the collection of data for scientific research on the habits of black rhino. A founder member of the Tracker Academy, he is currently the Academy’s principal trainer and is based at Samara Game Reserve.

Renias Mhlongo was born in what is today the greater Kruger National Park. He was a member of the team of trackers who successfully habituated the now-famous leopards of Londolozi in the 1980s, where he has lived for 32 years. A founder member of Tracker Academy, he is the head Academy trainer based at Londolozi Game Reserve.