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Thread: Maps and Atlas

  1. #1
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    Default Maps and Atlas

    Hi everyone
    I am planning a few upcoming trips in Southern Africa and would like to know what are the best map books that are out there.
    Yes I know about Tracks4Africa, so please do not suggest this, but are there any others? I have a MapStudio one but that is quite old, not sure if they have an updated version?

  2. #2
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    Default Re: Maps and Atlas

    Quote Originally Posted by Free2 View Post
    Yes I know about Tracks4Africa, so please do not suggest this,
    Do you include the Slingby's maps under this statement? Apologies if yes.

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  4. #3
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    Default Re: Maps and Atlas

    Quote Originally Posted by PieterOos View Post
    Do you include the Slingby's maps under this statement? Apologies if yes.
    Thank you I will check them out.

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    Default Re: Maps and Atlas

    Quote Originally Posted by Free2 View Post
    Hi everyone
    I am planning a few upcoming trips in Southern Africa and would like to know what are the best map books that are out there.
    Yes I know about Tracks4Africa, so please do not suggest this, but are there any others? I have a MapStudio one but that is quite old, not sure if they have an updated version?
    What countries? The Nat Geo Adventure Atlas is good if you can find one. T4A map book is excellent. Reise Verlag, Nelles Verlag are excellent. Namibia roads dept map is essential. Etc etc.
    But different countries need different map publishers, like Shell maps for Botswana
    Tony Weaver
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    1983 Toyota HiLux 2l 4x4

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    Default Re: Maps and Atlas

    Quote Originally Posted by Tony Weaver View Post
    What countries? The Nat Geo Adventure Atlas is good if you can find one. T4A map book is excellent. Reise Verlag, Nelles Verlag are excellent. Namibia roads dept map is essential. Etc etc.
    But different countries need different map publishers, like Shell maps for Botswana
    Looking at SA, Moz, Zim, Bots, Nam mostly. If it can all be in the same book, that would be ideal.
    Thank you, I will have a look at your suggestions.

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    Default Re: Maps and Atlas

    For overall route planning, and general overviews, the National Geographic Africa Adventure Atlas is my go-to map book, covers the whole continent and is very accurate. I know you said you don't want to hear about T4A, but I'll go there anyway because they deserve mentioning - for southern Africa, the Tracks4Africa paper map book has excellent detail, and then their country maps are brilliant.
    That's where I would start - then if you want country specifics, look at Reise Verlag for Botswana and Zambia, Hupe Verlag for Zambia (yes, German publishers), and as mentioned the Shell maps (the late Veronica Roodt's mapping) for Botswana.
    Avoid the Info Maps, they are full of inaccuracies.
    Tony Weaver
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  11. #7
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    Default Re: Maps and Atlas

    Quote Originally Posted by Tony Weaver View Post
    For overall route planning, and general overviews, the National Geographic Africa Adventure Atlas is my go-to map book, covers the whole continent and is very accurate. I know you said you don't want to hear about T4A, but I'll go there anyway because they deserve mentioning - for southern Africa, the Tracks4Africa paper map book has excellent detail, and then their country maps are brilliant.
    That's where I would start - then if you want country specifics, look at Reise Verlag for Botswana and Zambia, Hupe Verlag for Zambia (yes, German publishers), and as mentioned the Shell maps (the late Veronica Roodt's mapping) for Botswana.
    Avoid the Info Maps, they are full of inaccuracies.
    Thank you Tony for the detailed information.

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  13. #8
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    Default Re: Maps and Atlas

    Quote Originally Posted by Tony Weaver View Post
    For overall route planning, and general overviews, the National Geographic Africa Adventure Atlas is my go-to map book, covers the whole continent and is very accurate. I know you said you don't want to hear about T4A, but I'll go there anyway because they deserve mentioning - for southern Africa, the Tracks4Africa paper map book has excellent detail, and then their country maps are brilliant.
    That's where I would start - then if you want country specifics, look at Reise Verlag for Botswana and Zambia, Hupe Verlag for Zambia (yes, German publishers), and as mentioned the Shell maps (the late Veronica Roodt's mapping) for Botswana.
    Avoid the Info Maps, they are full of inaccuracies.
    I see Outdoor warehouse have them in stock......thanks

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    Default Re: Maps and Atlas

    Quote Originally Posted by Tony Weaver View Post
    What countries? The Nat Geo Adventure Atlas is good if you can find one. T4A map book is excellent. Reise Verlag, Nelles Verlag are excellent. Namibia roads dept map is essential. Etc etc.
    But different countries need different map publishers, like Shell maps for Botswana
    Tony Weaver for Nam - where does one get the Namibia Roads Department map please?
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    Default Re: Maps and Atlas

    Quote Originally Posted by walkabout View Post
    Tony Weaver for Nam - where does one get the Namibia Roads Department map please?
    They are free at fuel stations etc in Namibia. Looking in my map case, I see the older versions were Dept of Transport, newer ones are Nam Tourism Board. They show the labels on all the C and D routes etc.
    Tony Weaver
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  17. #11
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    Default Re: Maps and Atlas

    Quote Originally Posted by PieterOos View Post
    Do you include the Slingby's maps under this statement? Apologies if yes.
    Slingsby maps are the best, but besides the Wild Coast, are Western Cape only.
    Tony Weaver
    2010 Mitsubishi Pajero Sport 3.2l diesel
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    1983 Toyota HiLux 2l 4x4

  18. #12
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    Default Re: Maps and Atlas

    Quote Originally Posted by Tony Weaver View Post
    They are free at fuel stations etc in Namibia. Looking in my map case, I see the older versions were Dept of Transport, newer ones are Nam Tourism Board. They show the labels on all the C and D routes etc.
    Thank you.
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    Default Re: Maps and Atlas

    Quote Originally Posted by walkabout View Post
    Thank you.
    We do a lot of overloading in Africa.
    We use a combination of T4A paper and GPS maps.


    Aswell as Gaia GPS with their offline map capabilities. They have an “Overlanding” map version in Gaia GPS that we downloaded beforehand.


    What is very helpful is the tracking as you drive if you need to backtrack.
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