The South African Survival Manual
Cover of The South African Survival Manual: a dark golden landscape with a swirling dust devil

The South African Survival Manual

A practical, plain-English guide for the day the power or water stops and help is slow. Written for South African families.

  • PDF, instant download
  • About 1,260 pages
  • Bonus book included
  • 30-day money back
Opening soon: get the free booklet firstR149 the full manual plus a bonus plants book

R149 in total. We are not a registered VAT vendor, so no VAT is added. The price shown is the full price you pay. Secure payment by Yoco.

The manual opens for orders very soon. Get the free booklet now. Tick the box on that page and we will email you once, on the day the manual opens.

Who it is for

Who it is not for

What is inside, in honest numbers

~1,260pages in 23 chapters
~700plant photographs
409illustrations
12one-page quick cards

It also has province-by-province tables that show where plants grow, a plant index, and a list of sources. The quick cards are for the moments you cannot read a whole chapter: water, fire, cold, heat, bleeding and more. Each card tells you when to call for help.

Written from published sources (listed in the book) and fact-checked with AI tools. It has not been reviewed by a doctor or botanist. Traditional plant uses are described by the strength of the evidence. Nothing here is offered as a cure.

Look inside: sample pages

These are real pages from the book. Tap one to see it bigger.

Quick card 1: Water. Clean it in order, boil it, bleach doses.
Quick card 1: Water. Clean it in order, boil it, bleach doses.
Quick card 2: Fire. Three ways to light it and how to put it out.
Quick card 2: Fire. Three ways to light it and how to put it out.
Quick card 4: Heat. How to tell heat exhaustion from heat stroke.
Quick card 4: Heat. How to tell heat exhaustion from heat stroke.
Contents: 23 chapters in six parts.
Contents: 23 chapters in six parts.
Water chapter: a table and a picture of the order to clean water.
Water chapter: a table and a picture of the order to clean water.
Plants that hurt: a photo, where it grows, and a warning.
Plants that hurt: a photo, where it grows, and a warning.
First aid chapter: photographs of snakes found in South Africa.
First aid chapter: photographs of snakes found in South Africa.

Bonus book, included at no extra cost

Cover of the book The Other Plants

The Other Plants (127 pages)

A companion book about the other useful plants of South Africa: dyes, fibres, soaps, insect repellents, bee plants and more. It covers plants that are not in the main book. You get it with your purchase, and you can download it from the same page.

Try a free taste first

Not sure yet? Get The First 72 Hours, a free 37-page booklet: what to do, in order, when the power or water fails. It is yours for an email address, and there is no catch.

Send me the free booklet

30-day money-back guarantee

If you are not happy for any reason, email us within 30 days of buying. We refund the full price. No questions asked. You do not have to explain.

Your rights under the Consumer Protection Act and other law stay in place. Read the full Refund Policy.

How it works

  1. Tap the button and fill in your name and email.
  2. Check your order. Pay securely on Yoco.
  3. Your download link shows on the screen and arrives by email within minutes.
  4. Save the PDF on your phone. Print the pages you want.

Questions people ask

Is it a printed book?

No. It is a PDF file. You read it on a phone, tablet or computer, or you print pages for your own home. Nothing is posted to you.

How big is the file?

About 104 MB because it has many pictures. Download it on Wi-Fi if you can. Once it is saved on your phone you can read it with no signal and no power from the grid.

What do I get after I pay?

An email with your receipt and a download link, within minutes. The link also shows on the screen after you pay. You get the main book and the bonus book, The Other Plants, at no extra cost.

Has a doctor checked it?

No. No doctor has checked it. It was written from published sources (listed in the book) and fact-checked with AI tools. It has not been reviewed by a doctor, a nurse, a botanist or any official body, and it may contain mistakes. It is educational information, not medical advice. If you can reach a clinic or call 112, do that.

Does it say plants can cure diseases?

No. Traditional uses are described by the strength of the evidence. Nothing in the book is offered as a cure or treatment for any disease. You must identify every plant yourself, and if you are not sure, do not eat or use it.

What if I do not like it?

Email us within 30 days and we refund the full price. No questions asked. Your rights under South African consumer law also stay in place. See the Refund Policy.

How do I pay?

You pay through Yoco, an online payment company. Yoco shows the ways you can pay on its own secure page. We never see or keep your card number.

Can I share it or print it?

You may keep it on your own devices and print it for your own household. Please do not share the file or the link. See the Terms of Sale.

Can I buy from outside South Africa?

Not at launch. The price is in Rand and we sell to buyers in South Africa only for now.

Where do the pictures come from?

The plant, animal and fungus photographs were taken by other people and are used under licences that let us use them. Each one is credited in the book. The illustrations were made with AI tools and every one was reviewed. They help you understand a method, but they cannot identify a plant for you.

Get the South African Survival Manual

The South African Survival Manual: a 1,267-page PDF with a bonus book. R149 once. Instant download. 30-day money back.

Opening soon: get the free booklet first

The manual opens for orders very soon. Get the free booklet now. Tick the box on that page and we will email you once, on the day the manual opens.

R149 in total. We are not a registered VAT vendor, so no VAT is added. You review your order before you pay. Not included: a printed copy, a course, or personal advice.

This is an educational book, not medical advice. It does not replace a doctor, a first-aid course or the emergency services (112 / 10177). You must identify every plant yourself. Doses are for healthy adults. Plant remedies are not cures. Read the safety warnings in the book first. 30-day money-back guarantee.
R149 PDF + bonusFree booklet