vanderhala Loc: Los Angeles, CA

Yes i have already read a number of threads. This will be our first safari, we had organized this twice before, but had to cancel once of back surgery of my wife and once for Covid. We hope third time is a charm.
1. I already know to take two cameras (D7200 and D3200), batteries and SD cards up the kazoo. Still undecided about monopod and type of camera support (window clamp, bean bag or forget it).
2. Taking my Tamron 100-400mm (4.5-6.3) and Tampon 18-400mm (3.5-6.3), have not decided which lens on which camera (question #1 : makes difference? : probably the 100-400 on the D7200)..
3. I do have 2 other lenses Sigma 30mm 1:1.4 and Meike 85mm 1.8 . (question #2 : would this be helpful if you go out early in the morning while it is still dark and the other lenses might simply not hack it in that little light, versus the extra hassle, weight and need to change lenses for which I have been warned).
4. and finally: I might have considered taking my Tokina for the wide views especially when we will be at Victoria Falls, but it was stolen on my last trip returning from Egypt (see my posts). I had not used it that much. Question #3: is my 18-400 wide enough or is a new Tokina too much money and weight to carry anyway ?
Looking forward to the responses.

User ID

Ooooooopz ... dammit, I reeeeally tried not to roll my eyes. Tried sooperdooper hard. Really, I did, I did !! Nothing useful will come of this unless you allow as useful the resulting great quantitative support for the sites advert rates.

Regardless, rotsa ruck on the next ten pages.

vanderhala Loc: Los Angeles, CA

Sorry about the typos. I edited. Thnx.

vanderhala Loc: Los Angeles, CA

and I looked up some of your previous postings: I did consider getting a Zfc but don't see the great advantage over what I already have except it is mirrorless.

User ID

Thaz great news. Now this thread just might escape the ravages of UHH Sacred Tradition.

User ID

Right. Nikon really ought to offer a camo finish version of the Zfc for safari use.

SHWeiss

The stars of the southern sky are amazing, get some milky way shots with a rokinon 14 mm

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

Call your tour provider, they will have specific information on what equipment is best for their specific trip.

ronichas Loc: Long Island

I have been to 3 different Africa countries for safaris. Here are my thoughts on your questions.

1~check with the company you are going with. Some provide window supports, if not we bought bags of rice used a plastic bag to cover & then gave the rice to some people when we left. I don't think you need a monopod, hard to use in a truck. Some trucks you can stand up if it is open on the top.

2~I don't think you need both the Tamron 100-400 and the Tamron 18-400. I think I would go with the 18-400 since sometimes the animals are very close. Don't bring more than you will need. You might consider using the long lens on one camera and the Sigma 30 on the other camera.

3~I think that covers it all. I would suggest bringing a towel to cover your cameras when you are not using them. It gets so dusty so protecting them is the best way to go.

4~Another thought is to think about the Samyang AF 14mm f/2.8 Lens for Nikon. This is great if you want to shoot the night sky & milky way.

Here is an image from I took to Kenya 4 years ago. We all had long lenses on and this beautiful leopard walked right under our window. All we could do at the time was just watch her. Our friends were in another truck and took the image.
The second image was at the Elephant bedroom camp. This huge guy, Obama, was so close we could have touched him. My friend was in the next tent and took this image. That is me with the blue shirt. There was a security guard nearby.

What country are you going to?

Jimmy T Loc: Virginia

Nice pics.
Yikes, it looks like "Bad Kitty" is cruising the all-you-can-eat buffet.
JimmyT Sends

jjanovy Loc: Lincoln, Nebraska

We’ve done two safaris, one to Botswana and one to Tanzania. The Botswana one involve severe luggage and weight restrictions, and a lot of small plane travel; the one to Tanzania had much more bus and van travel. In general, if I were going back, I’d maximize the flexibility and minimize the weight, understanding that I’d give up some image quality. My choice would be a Nikon P900 or something similar, that you could shoot video by looking through the viewfinder instead of having to do it with the screen. My backup would be something like a Canon SX740. I’d also take along a digital video recorder, one that allows you to download files with a USB connection when you get home. There will be a lot of sounds to capture. I’d take a bunch of SD cards, pre-labeled, and extra camera batteries, along with your chargers. The “tents” we stayed in all had 110V electricity. Enjoy.

mizzee Loc: Boston,Ma

I went on Safari this past September to Tanzania. We only got out of our truck for lunch. The safari trucks have roofs that raise up so that you can stand on the seats. Skip the monopod, it will be unwieldy and just get in the way. We used the beanbags our safari company provided and they worked perfectly. I think both of your Tamron lenses will be fine. Skip the primes unless you will be visiting villages or in a city — then bring the shorter prime. I did bring my 50 prime but that was because we were also going to Zanzibar after the safari. Otherwise, I didn’t touch it. I didn’t worry about low light as we were usually back in camp by dusk or nightfall. You will be blown away so remember to take some time away from your viewfinder to just appreciate where you are and what you see.

azlynn Loc: Arizona

I just went on safari with my Tamron 18-400... it was enough... could have asked for a farther reach, but the 18mm was enough for wide angle. Don't bother with a tripod/monopod... there won't be room in the vehicle and if the motor is running you'll get vibrations... a beanbag wouldn't be a bad idea, but I can't see a need for it. We did not do early morning/late night game drives... I got some nice sunrise shots hand-held. I also got some beauty shots of Victoria Falls hand-held. Vic Falls (Zimbabwe side) is long and strung out... and you can get pretty wet, so be ready for that. If you want Milky Way shots (or Magellanic Clouds), well that's a different story regarding tripods... To my way of thinking, the Tamron 100-400 is redundent... can you put something else on the second camera body? Good luck and enjoy! I've been on two safaris & can't wait for my third (and fourth)!

Hip Coyote

1- Placing your sd cards in your kazoo is not recommended. It can cause pain and may damage the SD cards.


Get a hold of the tour operator and see what kind of vehicles you will be using. That will determine your camera support. And, find out if your safari locations allow off road viewing of the critters. This is KEY. Off road means you could be right up on the animals. Confined to a road means you will be viewing at a distance.

2- I have no idea.

3- For some reason people think an African trip is all about the animals. Then they discover there are people there too! Fascinating cultures and warm people. They saying goes, "one goes to Africa for the animals and returns for the people." I found that to be true. Going to see the Masai or other tribes? Be ready for great people photography. For example, we went to a grade school near Vic Falls. The kids were great.

When we go back to Africa, I have decided to take a few small, cheap point and shoot cameras. When we come across kids, I am going to hand 'em out and tell them to take pics and give me back the cameras. Hopefully I get them back! If not, no biggie... In any event, be ready for people photography. Meaning, you need a more normal lens unless you want to rely on the 18-400.

Low light? Maybe, depending on your location and provider of safari stuff.

4- Yep, I'd take a wide with me. Also, you will see vast expanses of landscape. Be ready.

I could type a lot here, but here are a few things I think are important.

- Don't ever be far from your camera. We were walking to dinner one night and some bush-babies were peeking out at me from a hole in a rotted tree. I had my camera and a flash. Typically flashes are not allowed on safari, but this was in camp and for once in my life, I was ready. I took maybe 20 pics of that critter and it remains one of my favorite photos. I know people cringe when other folks attach a photo, but in this case it does illustrate my point. It captured a nice memory for me.

Remember people photography.

Be as generous as you can. The Africans suffered through Covid like nothing we've experienced here it the US.

I took quite a lot of lens cleaning stuff and it was used. In desert enviorns, I covered my cameras with a nylon bag that was perfect. Each night I cleaned my gear thoroughly.

Unless you are taking astro pics I don't see a reason for a tripod. But it may be a consideration...and maybe the tour operator has a tripod for you to use.

I don't know your cameras, but if they have a custom saving feature, set one up for a potential animal chase..shutter priority, rapid fire, etc. If and when that happens, you want to be prepared by simply switching to C.

If Vic falls is really flowing, your camera is going to get wet. Really wet. Be prepared.

Some tour operators / guides are very accomplished photographers. See if that is true in your case.

Consider getting some photo practice at a zoo. I did't and should have.

zug55 Loc: Naivasha, Kenya, and Austin, Texas

Looks like you have done your homework. I would skip the monopod--it will be too unwieldy in this environment.

I live in Kenya mostly, and I always travel with two full-frame bodies (Sony A7III and A7RIII) and two full-frame lenses (24-105mm and 100-400mm.) I have plenty of primes, but they don't make the cut when I go on safari. I am happy with this kit, although occasionally I wish I had a little more reach. I have a 1.4x extender, but putting it on in the field won't always work. With your 100-400mm APS-C you should have enough reach.

Taking both the Tamron 100-400mm (4.5-6.3) and 18-400mm (3.5-6.3) seems like overkill. I do not know these lenses. I would take the one that gives you the better image quality in the 100-400mm range (this is definitely where IQ matters) and put that on the better of your cameras, definitely the D7200. You said yourself that you probably should put the 100-400 on the D7200, and this seems like the best option.

You don't mention a standard zoom--you might be able to pick up a good used one before your trip. You probably will not need an ultra-wide lens, but going to at least 24mm full-frame equivalent (16mm APS-C) would be nice. There will be ample opportunities to take great landscape shots, and often animals will be too close for a telephoto lens. In my D7100 days, I used a 18-140mm lens (although not for safaris); it was a decent lens but not outstanding.

Good luck, and enjoy your safari.