Nick Norman has an MSc in geology from the University of Natal. He has worked in mineral exploration in a range of countries, has served as honorary secretary to the Geological Society of South Africa, and currently works as a consulting geologist. He co-authored Geological Journeys – A traveller’s guide to South Africa’s rocks and landforms and authored The Extraordinary World of Diamonds.

  • Box of Rocks: Begin Guide to SA Geology

    Well-known geologist Nick Norman leads young readers into the absorbing world of geology. Budding rockcollectors will find out all about the rocks that they’llencounter in southern Africa, with a view to buildingtheir own rock collections.

    Box of Rocks is packed withfascinating information about:

    – how rocks form
    – how to identify the different rock types
    – what rocks are made of
    – what different rocks are used for
    – where to go to collect each rock type.

    Readers will also learn about Stone Age tools, fossils and some of our best-known geological sites.

    R150.00
  • Geology Off The Beaten Track

    Geology off the beaten track follows on the success of author Nick Norman’s earlier Geological Journeys (co-authored with Gavin Whitfield), which has sold more than 20 000 copies in the last 6 years.

    This new book helps readers understand and interpret the geology along SA’s regional and other less-travelled roads. It features 13 detailed routes across the country, taking in geologically interesting areas such as the Richtersveld, Cape winelands and the Valley of Desolation near Graaff-Reinet. The text is richly illustrated with photos and explanatory diagrams, making it suitable for armchair travellers too. Maps for all the routes indicate key geosites, with GPS readings to pinpoint their location.

    This is a must-have handbook for travellers in the region, or for anyone wanting to know more about our rocks and landforms.

    R360.00
  • Field Guide to Battlefields of Southern Africa

    Expert battlefields guide Nicki von der Heyde presents 71 battles covering three wars and a series of conflicts that shaped the course of South Africa’s history – from the colonial clashes that characterised the 18th and 19th centuries to the 2nd Anglo-Boer War of 1899–1902.

    Informative and lively accounts of the engagements are provided, with special attention given to the context, action, outcomes and principal combatants involved. Arranged in provincial and regional order, the Field Guide to the Battlefields of South Africa includes an array of special features that allow for an enthralling and multi-layered account of the battles: 580 images;  80 illustrated timelines; 60 fact and feature boxes; 16 annotated battle maps; 10 regional locator maps; Detailed directions to each site; GPS co-ordinates for inaccessible locations.

    Comprehensive, compelling and vividly illustrated, the Field Guide to the Battlefields of South Africa is an indispensable tool for professional and amateur military historians as well as anyone interested in exploring South Africa’s fascinating history.

    CLICK HERE to view the contents page for Field Guide to the Battlefields of South Africa

    R480.00
  • Geological Journeys South Africa

    Geological journeys – a traveller’s guide to South Africa’s rocks and landforms is an essential companion for car journeys. For those who wonder about the jaunty tilt of a mountain ahead, the unusual patterns of a road cutting, the colour and texture of the roadside soil, or the purpose of a distant minehead, this volume offers answers and explanations about features along all the major routes across South Africa, and some of the lesser, but geologically interesting, routes too.

    Also included are the three main metropolitan areas – Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban – so that city residents can understand the geological features surrounding them. Using familiar landmarks to pinpoint sites and subtle phenomena, the authors bring to light our rich geological heritage, its likely roots and often tumultuous history.

    Along the way, they also discuss the historical background, personalities and stories that relate to the landscape.

    R450.00