Rupert is a prolific author who has been creating engaging literature since 2002.

His diverse and huge body of work spans various genres, showcasing his versatility and passion for his subjects.

Rupert Wilkey
Author - Herpetologist - Conservationist

Rupert Wilkey

Writing on herpetology and historical biographies

Growing up in the vibrant landscapes of Kenya and Malawi, I was immersed in rich experiences that shaped my love for the continent and its nature.

My childhood was filled with encounters with fascinating wildlife, but it was reptiles that sparked a lifelong passion for these incredible creatures. From watching chameleons changing colour to observing snake behaviour, these moments instilled in me a deep appreciation for biodiversity and the importance of conservation.

Since becoming an author in 2002, I have dedicated my work to sharing these experiences and advocating for snake conservation rather than indiscriminate extermination.

I am a staunch campaigner against habitat destruction and wildlife trafficking.

Rupert and 'Ubuntu'

The African philosophy of 'ubuntu' is a concept in which your sense of self is shaped by your relationships with other people. It’s a way of living that begins with the premise that “I am” only because “we are.”

“In Africa, there is a concept known as ‘ubuntu’ – the profound sense that we are human only through the humanity of others; that if we are to accomplish anything in this world, it will in equal measure be due to the work and achievement of others.”

Nelson Mandela

Southern African Herpetologists

Hermit Publishing
(South Africa)

Rupert established Southern African Herpetologists in 2024 to bring together herpetologists from around the world to share a greater understanding of Southern Africa's reptile and amphibian species.

Our aims are :

To educate people on the role snakes play in maintaining the delicate balance in the ecosystem. Snakes also play an important part in the control of rodents, which have a significant impact on crop harvests if left unchecked.
To promote conservation practices and help reduce both the indiscriminate killing of snake species and the illegal removal of species from the wild for the pet trade.

The illegal trade in wild animals is bringing many species to the brink of extinction in the wild.

SAH is therefore committed to wildlife protection by:

Not engaging in, supporting, or condoning the illegal trade or the collection of any wildlife species (endangered or not) from its natural habitat.
Adopting a zero-tolerance policy towards the illegal trade and anyone found to be buying, collecting, selling, or participating in illegal wildlife.

Many traders will openly state that they are ‘saving the species’by supplying animals to the pet trade to justify their cruel predation on wild specimens.

The truth is their actions are purely financial and have no thought for the damage to fragile species populations in the wild. SAH believes that we all have a moral obligation to protect the planet's wildlife.

Launched in 2025, Hermit Publishing was founded to fill a gap in the South African book market for concise, informative, convenient, and affordable pocket guides on the flora & fauna of Southern Africa.

We pride ourselves on only using South African companies in our book production process, from printing to distribution.

Hermit is here to shake up the publishing industry

As an independent publisher, Hermit can do things differently, shaking up an industry that for too long has treated authors as a commodity that is simply there to increase the profits of the publishing company.

We put the author first, allowing them to retain one hundred per cent of royalties for their books - a first in the industry.

Hermit supports South Africa and its people

We support the Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) policy.

My Books

Books

Field Guide to the Snakes of Malawi

By Rupert Wilkey & Sarah Nann

Publishing date: late 2026

The Field Guide to the Snakes of Malawi is the second book in the Nguni Series. It describes all 67 snake species recorded in Malawi.
This field guide supersedes all previous publications and describes 67 recorded snake species in Malawi. All are beautifully presented with detailed descriptions, 67 accurate distribution maps and over 250 photographs. This book hopes to provide the reader with an easy-to-use identification guide.

Pages: +/- 300

Published by Pelagic Publishing

Field Guide to the Snakes of Eswatini

By Rupert Wilkey & Sarah Nann

The first dedicated book describing all the snake species found in Eswatini.

Over 300 colour images to enable easy identification.

Contains precise distribution maps based on over 6,000 location records from the past thirty years.

The Field Guide to the Snakes of Eswatini offers a complete account of all 63 snake species recorded in the Kingdom of Eswatini (formerly known as Swaziland). Each species is illustrated with stunning photographs, over 300 images in all. The species are described in detail, including size, colouration, habits and diet. Species are presented in colour-coded groups based on the severity of their bite and venom: highly venomous, venomous, venomous but not dangerous, and non-venomous. This system enables the reader to quickly assess the treatment required following a bite and to seek appropriate first aid.
Each species is contained in a double-page spread, making it easy for the reader to see all information on that particular snake, and also facilitating easy comparison by flicking between species. Dedicated sections also consider similar-looking species side by side, while there is also a wide-ranging discussion of snake behaviour, Eswatini’s habitats and a host of other fascinating and useful information.
The authors each bring nearly 50 years of fieldwork and research experience together in this groundbreaking guide. It will appeal to the experienced herpetologist as well as amateur naturalists, hikers and tourists.

Pages: 288

Published by Pelagic Publishing

Pocket Guide to the Snakes of Eswatini

By Rupert Wilkey & Sarah Nann

187 species images + 13 additional images.

This pocket guide describes all 63 recorded snake species found in Eswatini.
Of those 63 species, only 7 are capable of inflicting a fatal bite on humans. Despite this, many of the remaining species are needlessly killed, either due to misidentification or fear.
This book hopes to provide a quick and easy-to-use identification guide for anyone visiting Eswatini.

Pages: 191

Published by Hermit Books (SA)

Pocket Guide to the Snakes of Lesotho

By Rupert Wilkey & Sarah Nann

81 species images + 12 additional images

This pocket guide is the first book to describe all 21 recorded snake species found in Lesotho.
Of those 21 species, only 3 are capable of inflicting a fatal bite on humans. Despite this, many of the remaining species are needlessly killed, either due to misidentification or fear.
This book hopes to provide a quick and easy-to-use identification guide for anyone visiting this mountain kingdom.

Pages: 109

Published by Hermit Books (SA)

There is a lake called Nyassa

By Rupert Wilkey.

A short biography of the sixteen men who played a part in Malawi's early history.

Written by Rupert Wilkey

When Dr David Livingstone set foot in what is now Malawi, he played his part in the “Struggle for Africa”. A flood of missionaries and settlers would flock to this small, landlocked country in Southern Africa for the next hundred years. Some would come to spread the word of God, others would see this as the land of opportunity, where a man could make his fortune.
In There is a Lake Called Nyassa, Rupert Wilkey brings the sixteen most important men to shape Malawi’s history. Some names like Livingstone, Rankin, Mackenzie, Maples, Laws, Stewart and Henderson arrived to spread Christianity through their churches and missions. Some, like Buchanan, Bruce, Sharrer and Moir were here to make their fortune. Others like Young, Rhodes, Thornton, Johnston and Sharpe found their lives complicated by the actions of others. This book shows how intertwined many of these early sixteen men were, either to each other or that the actions of one had impacted on the life and indeed the death of another, sometimes decades later. There was intrigue, theft, lies, cover-ups, deception and even murder.
In Malawi, even today, many of the names of these people are still visible on roads, buildings and schools, yet many of us don’t know who they were or what they contributed to warrant being immortalised around the country. Some, like Mackenzie and Thornton, gave their own lives for the good and safety of the people. Others like Buchanan and Sharrer used this new emerging country to create great wealth for themselves and their actions are still felt today in modern Malawi. Indeed, their actions ultimately brought about the 1915 uprising, which then led to Malawi gaining independence from Britain in 1964.
The reader will be left to make up their mind on who were saints and who were villains and what their contribution really was.

Pages: 180

Published by Njoka Books

The Khonde Trilogy

By Rupert Wilkey

Malawi, with its vast freshwater lake that covers an area of 29,600 km², and high mountains, like the 3,000 m Mt Mulanje, this small African paradise is a wonderful place to grow up.
Rupert Wilkey was lucky enough to spend 13 years in Malawi, completing his secondary school education there, before going on to work in the agricultural sector, finally leaving the “Warm Heart of Africa” in 1988.
During his time in Malawi, Rupert kept a detailed diary of his experiences, and this formed the basis of his autobiography, A Fish Eagle Calls. Following the success of that book, Rupert was asked to write more memories of what life was like living in Malawi between 1975 and 1988.
He then decided to release the very popular Khonde series of books - Stories from my Khonde, More stories from my Khonde and Even more stories from my Khonde - which are now available in a single edition for the first time in The Khonde Trilogy.

Pages: 126

Published by Njoka Books

Reptiles of Malawi

Out of Print.

By Gary Brown & Rupert Wilkey.

This is the first time there has been a guide covering all of Malawi’s 145 reptiles. There have been numerous Southern African and East African guides, but due to Malawi’s geographical position, you needed both to see what species occur in Malawi. We are at the meeting place where central, eastern, and southern species merge, making it a very specific place.

Pages: 299

Published by Njoka Books

A Fish Eagle Calls

By Rupert Wilkey.

A Fish Eagle Calls tells the story of the first twenty-five years of Rupert’s life growing up in Kenya before his family then moved to Malawi in 1975. It was there that his passion for reptiles and amphibians started. This book not only describes how he caught his first snake at twelve years old and swam in rivers with crocodiles and hippos, but it also tells of his feelings of loneliness and isolation with a very dysfunctional family. The story ends with Rupert finding his real father and finally finding out who he really was. It is a heart-wrenching story that will have you crying and laughing in equal measure.

Pages: 504

Published by Njoka Books

Snakes of Malawi

Out of print.

By Rupert Wilkey .

151 colour photos, 134 b/w line drawings, 66 colour distribution maps.
Snakes of Malawi has taken over 40 years of field research to complete and is the most up-to-date snake guide on the country's snakes in more than half a century. This 330-page book contains 66 distribution maps, 151 colour photographs and 134 head scale drawings that together accurately describe all of the 65 recorded species found in Malawi. Malawi has quite a selection of species for such a small land area, but out of the 65 only 12 have the potential to kill a human. That means that over 80% of all recorded species are non-fatal to humans. In fact 43% are completely harmless and carry no venom at all. This guide will provide easy and fast identification of all species, together with bite symptoms and treatment.

Pages: 329

Published by Njoka Books

Venomous Snakes of Malawi

Out of print

By Rupert Wilkey.

An identification guide for the 20 species of snake considered venomous to humans.
20 colour photos, 51 b/w illustrations, 20 colour distribution maps.

Malawi has its fair share of snakes; they often come into contact with people. Although 69% of the snakes found in Malawi are harmless, the majority of the venomous species usually cause a fatal bite due to lack of prompt medical attention. Often, the snake is not identified, and the doctor is left with the unenviable task of making a guess. This book hopes to aid in the correct identification of the snake and therefore, the administration of the correct treatment, thus increasing the chance of survival for the victim.

Pages: 175

Published by Njoka Books

The Claws of Africa

By Rupert Wilkey.

In Kenya, Richard Prickett, known widely as 'Dick', is best remembered as the professional hunter at Treetops hotel, where Princess Elizabeth became Queen of England, after the sudden demise of her father King George VI in 1952. Dick always said she went into the tree a princess but descended as a Queen.
When the Queen of England and the Duke of Edinburgh returned to Treetops in 1983, It was Dick Prickett was at hand to show her the remains of the tree, now long since killed by fire, where she had spent that life-changing night.
The Claws of Africa is Dick's story, as told to his grandson, Rupert Wilkey. Rupert is a great storyteller and he paints a vivid picture of Dick's early life as a happy-go-lucky lad, who spent the bulk of his time collecting bird eggs and fishing. Rupert relates Dick's early adventures and his marriage to Gertrude Annie in the most hilarious style. Dick's happy-go-lucky life changed drastically when he was drafted and eventually found himself in Africa. Hunting big game and fishing in the cool rivers flowing from the tallest mountain in Kenya became exciting pastimes for the young soldier and the claws of Africa dug deep into his soul. Dick subsequently found his way back to Kenya as a forest officer and things seemed to go well for him until after Kenya gained independence, the adjustment took its toll on the previously happy-go-lucky settler community. He found himself back in England but life was simply unbearable and after another round of painful goodbyes, he was back in Kenya where he stayed with his beloved Gertrude Annie until his death.
This book makes an important contribution to the history of conservation in Kenya. Dick's story is the story of many men and women who left their home countries and landed in Africa expecting to be on a short-term adventure, only to find that the allure of Africa is as strong as it is enduring. In those years, the abundant wildlife, the large empty spaces and dense forests, the hunting expeditions and trophy hunting were irresistible pursuits.

Pages: 146

Published by Njoka Books

Projects

Some call me a prolific writer, but whether this is true or not, I can't say. I do know have a lot of projects on the go at any one time.

Forthcoming Titles

The complete reference book to the snakes of Malawi

Never before has a book of this magnitude been written on Malawi's snakes. Co-written with Andy Martin, this book will contain historical records never published before.

The Masters of Magdalene College

A historical biography of the Masters of Magdalene College in Cambridge between 1542 to 2020. Foreword by the late Professor Ronald Hyam - Emeritus Fellow, Emeritus Archivist, and former President of Magdalene College.

The complete reference book to the snakes of Morocco

Two more Nguni Series field Guides for Southern Africa

This book will be another first and is co-written with Professor Tahar Slimani from the Cadi Ayyad University in Marrakech.

Work is well underway to complete the two remaining field guides that form the rest of the four-book Nguni Series with Sarah Nann (Pelagic Publishing (UK).

Malawi's Endemic Species

There are over 300 endemic species of flora and fauna in Malawi. This publication will describe them in detail, including their current status, as many are critically endangered due to habitat destruction.

In the press

In The Spotlight

Field Guide to the Snakes of Eswatini

Here is a volume dedicated solely to the 63 species of snake known from Eswatini. And what a super book it is. The maps are clear, the text succinct, up-to-date and accurate, the photographs are simply stunning. It’s an indispensable guide for all naturalists, educators and conservationists in the region, useful both in the field and on the desk.

STEPHEN SPAWLS

Author, herpetologist, and conservationist

Events

Book signings - South Africa

Rupert will be in South Africa in 2026 launching the Nguni Series of Field Guides.

Rupert Wilkey Author - Herpetologist - Conservationist