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Spanning some 3,500 miles of the African continent, from Ethiopia in the north to Mozambique in the south, the Great Rift Valley is home to an astounding array of flora and fauna, including the highest concentration of grassland animals anywhere and three of the world's four great apes -- chimpanzees, bonobos, and gorillas. Nigel Pavitt, who has lived in the region for 45 years, has traveled this wild terrain across searing salt flats and up ice-capped mountains, and in this exciting addition to Abrams' list of best-selling books about Africa, he shows why this diverse region of outstanding natural beauty is a popular destination for travelers.

Covering evolution, indigenous cultures, and European exploration, Pavitt's text and stunning photographs make this the finest volume on the Valley ever published.

The Great Rift Valley encompasses eastern Africa from Ethiopia south to Mozambique and as far west as Rwanda and the borders of the Democratic Republic of Congo. A native of England, Pavitt has lived in Kenya for 45 years and has traveled through as much of the region as wartime conditions permitted. The more than 200 stunning color photographs presented here feature the region's dramatic volcanoes and valleys as well as its people. While he describes some of the surviving indigenous wildlife, his text emphasizes the history of Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, and Rwanda, including the great explorers who charted the unknown interior in the 19th century and the customs and traditions of the Maasai, Pokot, Konso, Batwa, and other tribes. The Rift Valley is an ancient land, a probable cradle of humankind, in many inaccessible areas still untouched, but it is also ever-changing owing to global warming, active volcanoes, war, and social disruptions. This is the only book in print on the valley for a general readership; an earlier book, Collin Willock's Africa's Rift Valley (o.p.), emphasized the region's natural history. Despite its price, this is an excellent choice for both public and academic libraries. Beth Clewis Crim, Prince William P.L., VA Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.

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The Great Rift Valley encompasses eastern Africa from Ethiopia south to Mozambique and as far west as Rwanda and the borders of the Democratic Republic of Congo. A native of England, Pavitt has lived in Kenya for 45 years and has traveled through as much of the region as wartime conditions permitted. The more than 200 stunning color photographs presented here feature the region's dramatic volcanoes and valleys as well as its people. While he describes some of the surviving indigenous wildlife, his text emphasizes the history of Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, and Rwanda, including the great explorers who charted the unknown interior in the 19th century and the customs and traditions of the Maasai, Pokot, Konso, Batwa, and other tribes. The Rift Valley is an ancient land, a probable cradle of humankind, in many inaccessible areas still untouched, but it is also ever-changing owing to global warming, active volcanoes, war, and social disruptions. This is the only book in print on the valley for a general readership; an earlier book, Collin Willock's Africa's Rift Valley (o.p.), emphasized the region's natural history. Despite its price, this is an excellent choice for both public and academic libraries.-Beth Clewis Crim, Prince William P.L., VA Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.