Meserani Publishing

Highly acclaimed BBC Wildlife Presenter Chris Packham has written the forward to our three African Wildlife Guides, written and published by two trustees of The Meserani Project,  which have received rave reviews in the U.K., and achieved maximum ratings on Amazon.
All proceeds go to The Meserani Project

In late 2012 the trustees of The Meserani Project set up a publishing company – Meserani Publishing – with the sole aim of publishing books to raise funds for the project. The first book ‘An Essential Companion When On Safari In Kenya And Tanzania’, written by Diane & Peter Swan, was published in 2013 and is available to buy on Amazon in paperback and e-book formats. This book took five years of research, and the foreword was written by Chris. Packham, the BBC Wildlife Presenter. Further endorsements came from other television celebrities, wildlife experts, an M.P., and a Whitbread Legend Award winner.

A second book, ‘Tanzania Wildlife and Safari Guide’ was published in 2021, with the Foreword being written by Chris Packham, and further reviews from national figures such as Rt Hon Rishi Sunak and the Minister of Tourism for Tanzania.
All proceeds go to The Meserani Project

A third book, ‘Kenya Wildlife and Safari Guide’ was published in 2024, with the Foreword being written by Chris Packham, and further reviews from national figures such as Rt Hon Rishi Sunak.
All proceeds go to The Meserani Project

All three books can be found at www.amazon.co.uk – Just type Diane and Peter Swan into the search box.

Some of the reviews for this series of books are below:

This guide provides the perfect introduction to the most frequently encountered creatures and supplements everything about their behaviour and ecologies that you have forgotten from your armchair TV safaris, with a useful overview of their biology. It’s accessible, easy to use, concise and had plenty of little nuggets of interest and importance.

So take this book on safari, learn a lot about the exciting animals you find and be comforted by the fact that as well as taking great memories home from Africa you are putting a little back too, a little that will mean a lot to people with next to nothing. Chris Packham, BBC Wildlife Presenter.

The Tanzania Wildlife and Safari Guide by Diane and Peter Swan provides an important contribution to our knowledge of wildlife resources in Tanzania and to tourism development. This guide is an invaluable resource to visitors to Tanzania particularly those visiting our wildlife protected areas. I would like to thank Diane and Peter Swan for promoting Tanzania’s tourism industry through this guide. Ambassador Dr. Pindi H. Chana. Minister for Natural Resources and Tourism.

I have often said that “Africa needs lions”, but Africa also needs authors like Peter & Diane who are clearly passionate about East African wildlife, and have shared their knowledge with us through this book. It explores the most popular animals, birds and reptiles found in East Africa using key headings:- identification, lifespan, habitat, behaviour, diet, communication, reproduction, predators and “trivia”. As such, it is full of facts and insights you would never find in a conventional guidebook, and balances comprehensiveness of information with readability. An added bonus is the knowledge that the authors are donating all proceeds from the book to The Meserani Project – an organisation that educates underprivileged children in Tanzania. David Youlden – Television personality and author of ‘Lion Country’.  

A comprehensive guide to the wildlife of Tanzania, full of interesting facts, wonderful pictures, and so easy to read. The Rt. Hon Rishi Sunak.

Speaking as someone who has never ventured into the southern hemisphere, let alone on Safari, I am struck by the author’s passion and enthusiasm for what seems like their vocation in life. At one point their thorough understanding and knowledge of the wildlife meant I truly likened myself to the Hyrax – a small rotund creature with a muscular body and short, stubby legs which relies on basking in the sun and huddling together to generate warmth.

I feel part of their untapped ‘wider audience’ with so much to learn and enjoy should the opportunity arise but ever mindful of the variability of the weather in East Africa with two wet seasons and an ongoing danger of devastating droughts. To my mind the visitor should consider the lushness of the countryside after weeks of rain have ended or perhaps the end of a dry period when more places are accessible than when the rain arrives in anger. Whenever it is you are assured a worthwhile literary companion. John Kettley, BBC Weather Presenter.

The sections on snakes and reptiles, like all sections in this book, are informative, detailed and highly descriptive. This book would be of interest to anyone wanting to know more about our misunderstood reptiles, and the important role they play in preserving our eco-system. The Trivia sections are particularly entertaining. Loth Naparana, Senior Herpatologist, Meserani Snakepark, Tanzania.

Although I visited Uganda on behalf of Costa Coffee, for the Costa Foundation, I had never visited Tanzania until after having read the authors’ first book – their Safari Guide for Kenya and Tanzania. During my eventual visit to Tanzania, I was fortunate to witness the wildlife in the Ngorongoro Crater and Tarangire National Park – two iconic Tanzania safari locations, and this guide to the wildlife of Tanzania brings back so many amazing memories for me. It is not just the wealth of factual information that impressed me (and so easy to read and understand) it is the inspirational way that the authors talk about the wildlife, about their experiences, and about the effect that Africa can have on you. The fact that the authors and publishers are donating all their profits to a charity that works with underprivileged children in Tanzania is amazing – this simply doesn’t happen nowadays, so I take my hat off to them. This book does truly portray how beautiful the wildlife of Tanzania is, and the focus on endangered species – highlighted throughout by the authors – provides a wake-up call for us all. The 200+ pictures – all taken by the authors – add so much to the content of the book. Clare Peacock – Costa Foundation and Whitbread Legend Award Winner.

Having filmed wildlife programmes on many occasions, I wish this book had been around at the time, it would have been the perfect point of reference. Mike Riley – BBC Sound Recordist.

A useful guide that is borne of the personal experiences of the authors, who clearly have a passion for Kenya and Tanzania and a clear understanding of its terrain and wildlife. Extensively illustrated this has clearly been a labour of love, which makes it an enjoyable “must have” I am happy to endorse.  Lord Wharton.

This is an excellent guide for those lucky enough to be going to Africa and for those who are not so fortunate, the quality of the photographs and decriptions make you feel that you have been there and experienced the wonders of this country. This guide also has the bonus of the proceeds going to help the project set up by the authors and the students of Acklam Grange School. This project supports the education of students in Africa and also in educating our students in the realisation of how fortunate we are and how much we take for granted. Hazel Pearson. O.B.E. (Deceased)