When we (Africa Deluxe Tours) use this term we are referring to a travel guidebook. When you travel in a country or region that is unknown to you such a guidebook contains information and pointers to help you make the best of your available time. It will normally provide a summary on a destination, recommend certain attractions and warn against others, provide telephone numbers and give indications of cost. Travel guides have various styles which appeal to different people.

We recommend buying a reputable travel guide to anyone planning a visit to Southern and/or Eastern Africa. Whether you travel with a group or by yourself it will definitely add value to your travels. Our favourite travel guides, which are available globally, are The Lonely Planet and Rough Guide series. You can buy books from both series either covering a large city (e.g. Johannesburg), a country (e.g. Kenya) or a region (e.g. Southern Africa). Both series also provides some (limited) information from their travel guides, free of charge, online (see www links below). However to have the very reasonably priced complete printed copies in your day pack when traveling is worthwhile. Africa Deluxe Tours use both guides extensively in our own research travels in Southern Africa.
...also see tourist guide.