Once I was on a game drive in a reserve in the Free State, SA. We saw almost nothing, really almost nothing, so the ranger started telling us stories. All about african tales and for hours we sat listening to him. It all came from the books by Nick Greaves, illustrated by Rod Clement.
When Hippo was Hairy ISBN 186812-648-X
When Lion could Fly ISBN 1-86872-455-7
When Elephant as King ISBN 1-86872-454-9
Very good books if you want to know where zebra got it's stripes or how hippo lost his hair or scatters their dung, or why giraffe has a long neck 
