TerrySkaggs

Hi all, we're going to Tanzania this coming January and need some advice.....we have Nikon D7200 and D7000 and appropriate lens for photos but thinking about a Nikon P900 for the extra lens length...also considering
a Sony AX-100 in addition to my GoPro 3 Black for video......thoughts and advice would be greatly appreciated. I know I can do video on both my DSLRS but unwieldy
and not great for run and gun type video action. Thanks Terry

Hip Coyote

I have not been there but have been planning a trip there. One thing I did read is that there is a weight limit for luggage for the short hops between countries. Check to see if that pertains to you.

TerrySkaggs

For sure there are weight limits one reason I am thinking of not taking heavy lens...we're duffle bagging all our stuff for 12 nights.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

A recent post -

http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-473761-1.html

whwiden

I would inquire about how close you will get to the animals. I would certainly get some sort of bridge super zoom. I used a Nikon B700 on a recent Africa trip. With a bridge super zoom you might even consider not getting an 18-300mm, if you already have, say, an 18-140mm, but not the longer zoom.

Lorendn Loc: Jackson, WY

I just returned from 8 weeks in South Africa. I took 3 bodies and 6 lenses from 8mm to 400mm. Looking over my shots, I found that I shot 85% with a 100-400mm zoom on a crop sensor body. Almost all of the rest were shots with a 24-70mm on a full frame sensor. At least 2 bodies are necessary so you don't have to change lenses in dusty conditions. You will need a laptop with an external hard drive (or 2) to back up your images and lots of memory cards to save the originals until you are back home.

Have a great time - Africa will grip you forever.

tkmp8

I too had the opportunity to go to Tanzania in late May and early June of this year and it was unbelievable. On the advice of someone who has been there twice I purchased a Tamron 150-600 lense. Not because of the brand necessarily but because of the many benefits with shooting long shots. It was worth every penny. We were in the middle of the "great migration" so the lense was an invaluable tool. Long shots came in crystal clear and the vibration control was wonderful especially when your vehicle was moving and you wanted 'the shot'. To this wanna be pro the Tamron for the money is well worth it. Although the lense weighs in at over four pounds I was still able to maneuver it while riding over the pockmarked dirt roads of the bush. Most outfitters provide bean bags for photo rests so I never felt the need for a monopod or tripod. Trust me here on this one. Having a long lense made the trip worthwhile. You just won't see lions, leopards, hyenas, and especially the birds clamoring to get close to your vehicle. The only thing I will do differently for the next trip will be to carry two camera bodies. There are some great shots to be had with your other lenses and changing lenses on the move isn't easy in the bush. It's a beautiful country with wonderful people!MMO

tkmp8

PS on the weight issues. Your outfitter may set weight restrictions if you are flying into the bush on a small aircraft as most bush flights are into dirt airfields on small prop planes like Cessnas and dehavellinds (sp).

whwiden

I second the Tamron 150-600mm G2. If you have the space/weight, a very solid choice.

Bultaco Loc: Aiken, SC

We've been on two Tauck tours, no wieght restrictions. I took a D7100 with 2 lens, Nikor 28-300 & Tamron 150-600, my wife took her SX50. As far a dust concern it depends on the vehicle, Toyota Land Cuisers were used on both tours, no dust, they have hard sides with open top which is great for lens support. I took several SD cards as I use burst mode often when shooting wildlife. It's a truely amazing country. Just have fun.

DJD Loc: Seal Beach, CA

I recently returned from Tanzania (Serengeti) and Kenya (Masai Mara) and fearful of weight restrictions took one main camera, Nikon D500 and two lenses, both Nikons, 18-200 and 80-400. At the airports our check-in luggage was weighed as a group (allowed 44lbs each) and my carry-on was never weighed. In the small planes that we took, I carried my D500 w/18-200 lens as some good arial shots can be had. During game drives I exclusively used my 80-400 and I'm glad I did. With a few exceptions, most of the animals were at a distance where that longer lens really came in handy. As a backup, I carried a fairly decent point and shoot. That worked well for close in animals and landscape shots. The point and shoot worked well for video's too. I feel if you don't have a long lens, you'll regret it. Also, dust is a major issue. I'd recommend a dry sack bag to carry your camera in during game drives. Just have it on your lap ready to go when the vehicle stops. If interested here's a quick video I put on Youtube of the lions encountered on my trip: https://youtu.be/WoMwmeNzjj4 Enjoy your trip. Tanzania is a very beautiful country and the people are very warm and welcoming.

jaycoffman Loc: San Diego

Yes, it's a great trip. I second everyone who said the longer zooms were the way to go. One word of caution on using a bridge camera or other point-and-shoot is their warm-up time. I had the Nikon P600 and I missed many shots waiting for it to be ready to shoot. A lot of the good shots happen instantly--a cheetah suddenly breaking from the bush and chasing something, a bird landing in an amazing place, etc. With my DSLR I would have at least had a chance of getting those shots. That's why I rely on my superzoom (Tamron 16-300) now even though it may be a little soft at the extremes--it lets me shoot almost instantly.

Jim Bob

Man, I wish I could go there and to Alaska.

ronf78155 Loc: Seguin Texas

On my bucket list is a trip to Alaska and Denali ...any recommendations on a photography trip or guide would be much appreciated.
I know there are tons of trips in the magazines but I want a recommendation from someone who has actually been there.....I spoke with one person whose guide would not let them even get out of the van to photograph.
I wanna shoot the bears harvesting Salmon, Elk, mountains.........

mikegreenwald Loc: Illinois

Add one more voice for the long lens. It's essential!
However there will also be close in opportunities - in my case, a lioness lying on the roadside, only a few feet from our Land Rover. A great many of the larger birds will sometimes be close as well, and once we had a Leopard walk by directly under the balcony of our second floor room in a permanent Masai Mara camp. We were also pretty close to a crocodile on one occasion, as it was being fed by the camp operator. Rhinos in Nagorongoro crater let you approach to the point that you can touch them.
I suggest two cameras, each with a zoom in a spread range. My preference today would be a 24-105 and a 100-400. There was occasional use for a wider lens, but I opted for multiple shots for merging, which worked out well. I needed my own bean bag, which I carried empty and filled with roadside gravel when the opportunity arose.