The Best Books about South Africa and the Karoo
A vast country with a fascinating history and a variety of people and languages: it's no wonder plenty has been written about South Africa. Here are just some of the best books about South Africa and the Karoo, as picked by our team on the ground.
Long Walk to Freedom
By Nelson Mandela
This is perhaps the ultimate book for those wanting to learn about South Africa’s modern history. In his memoir – much of which was written during his 27 years of imprisonment on Robben Island – Nelson Mandela recounts a life of hardship, resilience and triumph.
Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood
By Trevor Noah
In his autobiography, comedian Trevor Noah reveals the difficulties of growing up mixed-race under apartheid. Heartfelt and funny throughout, Noah offers real insight into South Africa’s culture and history.
Recipes for Love and Murder
By Sally Andrew
Set in Ladismith, a town at the base of the Swartberg Mountains, journalist and prolific cook Tannie Maria becomes involved in an unexpected murder investigation. Through the pages of this cosy crime novel, Andrew brings the Karoo’s magic landscapes and delicious dishes to life.
Disgrace
By J.M. Coetzee
Winner of the Booker Prize, Coetzee’s novel is set in post-apartheid South Africa. The story follows a professor’s fall from grace and his complex relationships in a changing society.
Fiela's Child
By Dalene Matthee
One day a child wanders into Knysna forest and is taken in by Fiela. Nine years later, the government takes him away to return him to his ‘original’ family. This is a story of identity, race and belonging in 19th century South Africa.
Circles in a Forest
By Dalene Matthee
This classic novel set in Knysna forest is a coming-of-age story about Afrikaans woodcutter Saul Barnard. Matthee explores the themes of conservation and exploitation, as Saul fights back against the green of timber merchants and the destruction of ivory hunters
The Plains of Camdeboo: The Classic Book of the Karoo
By Eve Palmer
The Klein Karoo may initially appear desolate and unforgiving, but it is a land of secret beauty. Eve Palmer’s semi-autobiographical account of life on a Karoo farm captures the spirit of the Klein Karoo’s plants, landscapes and people, while acknowledging the challenges of farming in harsh desert.
Hidden Karoo
By Patricia Kramer
With photos taken by Alain Proust, Kramer writes about the mountains, valleys and scrub or the Karoo in a series of photo essays. She explores the movement of people from the countryside to the cities and the impact this has had on the Karoo.
Dreaming the Karoo: A People Called the /Xam
By Julia Blackburn
In the 19th century, the indigenous /Xam people were persecuted and driven off their ancestral lands in the Karoo. 150 years later, Julia Blackburn visited the region to explore the history and culture of the /Xam and unveil the brutality they endured.
Field Guide to Fynbos Fauna
By Cliff & Suretha Dorse
South Africa’s Western and Eastern Cape are renowned for their variety of fauna, with many species only found in these regions. This guide is perfect for those who want to learn more about South Africa’s fynbos - unique and colourful shrubland - and the creatures that live within.
If you've been inspired to explore the dusty roads, diverse wildlife and ancient history of the Karoo, find out more about our journeys to South Africa or enquire now.
