The landscape / Matthew Field -- Early travellers and sightings / Richard Liversidge -- National parks, nature reserves and other conservation areas / Hennie Erasmus -- Sites of special interest / Mark Anderson -- Minerals of antiquity / Ludi von Besing -- Water- a scarce but valuable resource / Mark Anderson -- Archaeology / David Morris -- Vegetation types / Tania Anderson -- The natural history of the Sandveld / Tania Anderson -- The natural history of the Thornveld / Tania Anderson -- The natural history of the Shrubveld / Tania Anderson -- The natural history of the Mountain veld / Tania Anderson -- The natural history of the Karoo / Tania Anderson -- The natural history of the Pans and Panveld / Tania Anderson -- Bird checklist / Corné Anderson -- Mammal checklist / Hennie Erasmus -- Reptile checklist / Beryl Wilson -- Amphibian checklist / Corné Anderson -- Plant checklist / Tania Anderson.