IT'S WORTH A TRIP TO TIMBUKTU.

Byline: Rich Martin Special to the Daily News

Had a rough river trip? It likely won't compare to the one Mark Jenkins took, as described in ``To Timbuktu: A Journey Down the Niger'' (William Morrow and Co.; $25).

Answering their own special call for adventure, Jenkins and three buddies rode the Niger River in West Africa from its source to Timbuktu. Yes, the real Timbuktu, not just a mythical place far away from everything, though it is that as well.

Sure, your float was bold. But were you forced to submerge into crocodile-infested waters to escape killer bees? Or to cope with the threat of hippos - considered more dangerous than lions and leopards - and poisonous snakes? Or to communicate via drums in primitive villages?

The Wyoming author has managed to combine an interesting river-running book with a more standard travel book that centers on cross-cultural encounters. He succeeds on both scores, inserting wry, even philosophical commentary with thrilling accounts of his experiences on a truly wild river. (On travel: ``What you come for and what you get are almost always irreconcilable.'')

The 224-page title meanders and takes many side trips, seemingly with no aim other than to enjoy the trip. Unfortunately, the philosophy of taking delight in the journey and not worrying about where you're going can create problems for writers. There are just too many such doodlings - from an earlier sojourn to Africa (in which Jenkins and a pal found all their stuff stolen and never made their destination of the Niger) to his experiences on the high school swim team.

Some of these tangents are useful, such as the description of historic treks to the Niger. But too frequently they are jarring and interrupt the flow of the river narrative.

Nevertheless, it's a worthy book to be sure. For someone stressed out by modern life - and that probably includes almost all of us - it can help recall an adventurous spirit of bygone years. Our rating: 4 stars

Sierra Club Books has set high standards in both writing and photography. Some of its books are classics in the field. ``Still Wild, Always Wild: A Journey Into the Desert Wilderness of California'' (Sierra Club Books; $35) does not scale these lofty heights.

Author Susan Zwinger lacks the lyricism found in her colleague's works; likewise, few of the photos are so awesome they take your breath away.

The problem is the topic. The 132 pages center on the travels of the Washington author in areas covered by the Desert Protection Act, and stresses locales not nearly as well known as Death Valley and Joshua Tree - now national parks, thanks to the act.

All fine and good. But many spots just don't compare to those two scenic sites. Few of the photos are inspiring; the best of the bunch are of wind-created caves. The narrative could have been livened up with more history.

Zwinger occasionally hits her stride: ``In these dunes, the mechanics of wind are diagrammed in the lyricism of sand.''

However, this is not a captivating book. It's as barren of interest as deserts are of water, with only an occasional oasis of fascination. Too often the author preaches to the environmentally converted about how all of the book's highlighted spots rank right up there with Death Valley and Joshua Tree. Sorry, I'm not buying it. Next January, I'll be spending time in Death Valley, not the Whipple Mountains or any of the other minor protected areas described here. Our rating: 2 stars

``Wild Neighbors: The Humane Approach to Dealing With Wildlife'' (Fulcrum; $16.95), a Humane Society edition that argues rationally for alternatives to killing wildlife when they come into conflict with humans, might be expected to be preachy. Happily, it isn't.

The 256 pages edited by John Hadidian, Guy R. Hodge and John W. Grandy start off with a reasonable approach: Identify the problems and dangers posed by wildlife first, rather than automatically reaching for the shotgun.

It is fairly brimming with useful information and would make us seriously consider options to deadly force.

The most helpful part of `Wild Neighbors'' is a short chapter on each animal that creates havoc for humans and ways to resolve the dilemmas. The tips are excellent. In the case of coyotes, for example, the authors urge that pet owners keep their animals inside at night, as well as all pet food and trash cans that can be easily opened. Fencing can keep those varmints outside. A ``cat post'' can be built to give pets a chance against coyotes.

The authors even discuss the possibility of relocating animals in worst-case scenarios, although, not surprisingly, the Humane Society opposes that option in almost every instance. Our rating: 3 stars

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Photo: (color) Books about a river-rafting adventure and alternatives to killing wildlife when they come into conflict with humans are worth the time, a third focusing on California deserts isn't.

Evan Yee / Daily News