Mama Bear984 Loc: Langley, BC Canada

We are in the research stage of trip to Africa. Wanting to to East Africa. Just wondering if anyone has done a trip to there? I also will just have to buy a new lens of course. I have a Nikon 5100 & was thinking of the new Sigma 150-500 to take when we do the game drives. What do you think? And do you have any safari companies that you used?

lorvey Loc: Lincoln, Nebraska

I suggest Gate1.com. We've been to South Africa with them, Kenya and Tanzania on a second trip, and going to Botswana and Zimbabwe with them in May, 2013. We've also used them for a Mediterranean trip. Never been disappointed, and we feel the price has been reasonable.

Haven't used the lens you mentioned, but a friend of mine has it on a Canon and likes it. The 500mm will be nice for a trip to Africa. You can never have too much reach.

asimodulex Loc: Atlanta, GA

We have been to Tanzania and used The Thomson Safaris (http://www.thomsonsafaris.com). Very Very good....
Have been to South Aftica about four years back but can not remember the Travel Company that we used. This was also an extra ordinary experience. Have been to Kenya and used Suntrek Safaris (http://www.suntreksafaris.com). Also very very good. Took my Canon 100-400L lens and it worked perfectly.
I am sure you will enjoy it very much.

Major Photo Loc: Jeffersonville, Indiana

Regards the 150-500 Sigma, definately a fine lens.

My niece has one, I have used it. is quality glass!

Major

Gerylee Loc: Ontario, Canada

Does this company have tours specifically for photographers, a photo safari?

lorvey Loc: Lincoln, Nebraska

No, I don't think so. They are tourist tours, but my experience was still positive from a standpoint of photo ops, especially the Kenya-Tanzania trip. Four to six people in a vehicle with the roof open. The guides are very knowledgeable about where the wildlife are, and are in constant communication with other guides via cell phone or radio. Our guides also did a good job of positioning the vehicle for the best photo shots.

I do not have experience with a trip hosted by a professional photographer. There are numerous trips available, but I think you have to pay a premium. Here is one with a significant premium. ( http://www.worldwinesafaris.com/upcoming_travel/once-in-a-lifetime-exclusive-offer-africa-with-jane-goodall/ ) There are others for less. Just google "Photo Tours Kenya" or "Photo Tours Tanzania".

Hope this helps. Regardless of how you tour in Africa, you will not be disappointed.

mcveed Loc: Kelowna, British Columbia (between trips)

First of all, if you want a "photo tour" hosted by a professional photographer with coaching and critiques etc, be prepared to pay well for it. If you are a fairly confident photographer and just want to be placed in the right place for some amazing photographs, you can save a lot of money. There are dozens of companies that host 'safaris' to East Africa, and the range of service ranges from 8 people crammed into an 8 passenger mini-van spending most of their time looking through the windows and following a rigid timetable, to custom tours designed to take you where you want to go. There are lots of U.S. based companies that 'arrange' things for you and then hand it over to an African based contractor to take you on your safari. Then there are African based companies, run by Africans who know the country and probably provide the best and most flexible alternative. I took my two teen-aged grandsons on a two week safari in Kenya last December. After much research I elected to go with an African company. The three of us had the Toyota van and an extremely competent driver to ourselves for two weeks. It was the trip of a lifetime. The driver was experienced in driving for photographers and very capable at finding animals and putting us in the best position for photography. Because we three were the only passengers, we (i.e. I) decided when we would move on or stay and watch. This can be an issue if you are in a vehicle with strangers and you really want to stay put and wait for the animals to do something, while someone else wants to move on. I would highly recommend the company I went with. Their website has a number of safari itineraries but they can modify and adjust to your wishes. We did their 11 day 'Big Five' safari with three days added so we spent at least two nights at each camp. Fred, the owner and organizer, is extremely prompt in responding to questions and inquiries. He made the planning process very easy. They are highly rated on Trip Advisor. Their website is http://www.adventure-eastafrica.com

Canonuser Loc: UK and South Africa

This lens looks fine. Where do you plan to go? I've done Safaris across a number of countries including Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa and Botswana. Accommodation has ranged from extortionate at Mala Mala in the Kruger to more modest in Kenya and Tanzania. By far my most favourite was with Capricon Safaris in Botswana, where the animal count was amazing. This type of trip though requires the ability to get back to nature and can go for days without seeing anyone other than those in your group. You will camp out amongst the animals, shower with a bucket shower in a shower tent and the toilet will also be fitted over a hole in the ground in another tent. You even get to sleep outside one night on an Okavango island. All meals are in a mess tent with a camp fire nearby. There is just nothing to stop animals coming into your camp apart from your fires. In one location hyenas raided our camp, but got chased off by staff. Dick Hedges has been running this type if safari for many years and are experts in what they do. Off all the safaris I have done, the one with Capricorn far outweighs all the others. However if you are not prepared to go back to basics and party members want to dress for dinner and lipstick and pearls are involved, this type if safari may not be for you. Choose what you think suits your style and you are unlikely to be disappointed. Good luck.

Dolphin001

If used to live there (Uganda), and worked for a Safari company which covered Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania. Now, 40 years later, I'm still in the travel biz and organize individual tours to Africa. PM me if you're interested in getting a quote.

Gerylee Loc: Ontario, Canada

Thanks. I will look it up.

Gerylee Loc: Ontario, Canada

Good info. I will check it out.

mcveed Loc: Kelowna, British Columbia (between trips)

Of course it depends on how serious you are about the photography aspect of your safari, but I would recommend taking a second camera. I took a D7000 with a nikon 80-400 lens and a D700 with a 24 - 120 lens. I never changed lenses during the trip. The dust is a major issue so I kept my cameras in a camera bag inside a larger bag on the floor of the vehicle with the larger bag closed to keep out the dust. When the vehicle stopped bouncing around and came to a stop I would throw my bean bag up onto the roof and get out the camera. With just three of us in the vehicle we could all get our heads out through the pop-up roof to see and take pictures. My grandson had a fly-weight Lumix Z28 around his neck all the time and he got many shots that I missed while dragging my gear into use. Also take a good pair of binoculars and spend as much time looking through them as through your viewfinder. And, have fun.

Bob55 Loc: Valhalla NY

My wife and i celebrated our 50th anniversary on a Micato Safari to Kenya and Tanzania. They are rated best in Africa and I recommend them if you can afford the cost. I used a Canon 7D with a Canon EFS15 to 85mm lens and a EF70 to 300mm lens. I don't think you need anything longer because the animals come amazingly close to the vans. They pay no attention to them as they don't perceive them as a threat. Enjoy the trip

mcveed Loc: Kelowna, British Columbia (between trips)

Rated best in Africa by whom? I've read that they are ridiculously expensive and, although they have 'silver' rated guides, they use the same camps and lodges as everybody else. East Africa Adventures is an African owned and operated company that is rated by Trip Advisor as #2 in the Maasai Mara. The link to the Trip Advisor review is here: http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g294209-d1912053-Reviews-East_Adventure_Tours_and_Safaris-Maasai_Mara_National_Reserve_Rift_Valley_Provinc.html

Gerylee Loc: Ontario, Canada

Thank you for your input. I hadn't known the animals would come so close. Good to know when figuring out what lenses to take. Thanks for the good wishes for the trip.