The guidebook is unique as the identification keys are based on coloured photographs, which enable users to make positive identification, minimize time and effort in identifying the plants as well as enjoyment from using the guide. Plants are identified by local names, Kiswahili (the national language), English, Latin names; also furnished with glossaries of botanical terms, with illustrations of leaf types, shapes, phyllotaxis, types of inflorescence, types of fruits etc. The author of this field guidebook holds a Master of Science in Climate Change and Sustainable Management from the University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania and a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Disaster Management from the University of Dodoma, Tanzania. He also studied Wildlife Management Courses. Mr. Makunga is currently pursuing a PhD in Disaster Risk Management at Ardhi University, Tanzania, with specializations in Social-ecological Resilience to Wildfire Risk and Modeling.
The author is an experienced wildlife conservationist and enthusiastic in Botany studies. Mr. Makunga has taught Plants Ecology at Pasiansi Wildlife Training Institute (under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism) for a number of years. He has also been involved in a number of plant-related research assignments and has several publications.