The Reptiles of the Kruger National Park

This 1983 softcover edition of The Reptiles of the Kruger National Park updates and expands upon earlier work to present a comprehensive survey of the reptiles inhabiting one of Africa’s greatest protected areas. By Uys de Villiers Pienaar, with contributions from herpetologists W. D. Haacke and N. H. G. Jacobsen, the book spans 236 pages and includes colour and black-and-white photographs, distribution maps, and detailed species descriptions. It is published by the National Parks Board of South Africa.

The text organizes species by taxonomic group and habitat, offering in-depth information on ecology, behaviour, and conservation status of snakes, lizards, terrapins and crocodiles found in Kruger. Pienaar and his co-authors discuss how reptiles adapt to the park’s diverse ecosystems — from floodplains and grasslands to rocky outcrops — and provide insights into reproduction, seasonal activity and the ecological roles of different species. Photographic documentation helps both amateur herpetologists and professional researchers identify species reliably in the field.

More than a field guide, this edition of The Reptiles of the Kruger National Park stands as a historical and ecological reference. Its thoroughness and clarity make it invaluable for conservationists, wildlife managers and those studying southern African biodiversity. For natural history collectors and herpetology enthusiasts, the book remains an authoritative resource on the reptilian fauna of one of the continent’s most important conservation areas.