rochephoto

I think you'll quite a few Fros in Africa without bringing any equipment.

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

If you call your tour director he will be able to help you selecting what you need for their trips.
When I used to go I either took a Nikon 200-400 f4 or my Nikon 200-500, both worked fine. Sometimes you are very close.

TallTree

Maybe skip the tripod and substitute a clamping type tripod. What type of vehicle will be used?

Jerry Coupe Loc: Kent, WA

For my 2019 trip to Tanzania I took two Oympus EM1 MK II bodies and my 12-100 (24-200 equivalent) and my P/L 100-400 (200-800) and this covered 99.5% of my images. I did also have a 7-14 that I used for a few sunrise and sunset images.
With your FF gear I would recommend taking the 24-105 and 100-400 and if you have a 1.6 or 2.0 TC to use with the 100-400 you will be covered just fine. I would recommend two bodies so you don't have to change lenses.

Sassie sue Loc: Tulsa, OK

I and a friend took a trip to Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea two years ago. Did some backpacking, mostly traveled by motorcycle or 'taxi'. Their version of a taxi is how many people can get squeezed in a compact car. Four in the back and three in front, yes over the shifter console! It is not an easy place to get around in, be prepared to wait a lot. The roads are rough and very rutted. vehicles break down in unexpected places. People can be very friendly and helpful or guarded if they don't understand why you are there.

take good walking shoes (something that will hold up to water, not leather). water purification items, collapsible cup. a lightweight blanket, it does cool off at night.
Snacks, a secure money belt, a credit card for dire emergencies, cash to exchange into their currency at the borders, possibly for bribes also. at least one change of clothes, no more than 3. An adaptor for European electric power and a solar charger, opt. Mosquito net, 100% Deet liquid, blow up pillow and mattress, tarp or tent.

Food can be purchased for real cheap but not necessarily healthy. Rice with greens is what we had a lot of times. Sometimes there was fish mixed in, with or without bones.

this was our 'trip of a lifetime' we have a lot of memories and now can laugh at some of the situations we got into. Take a small notebook and pencil for journaling.

Be sure to get all the required shots well ahead of time and make copies of everything, leave copies home and take a set along in case you loose the originals. buy travel insurance. Get visa's on a timely basis, some expire sooner than others.

ORpilot Loc: Prineville, Or

I would skip all that stuff since you are not on assignment from National Geo. I would just take a Bridge Camera. Like Sony HX400, RX10, Canon SX70, or one of the Nikons or Panasonic long zoom cameras. Then You have a lot less weight, Don't have to worry about dust on the sensor. You will always have the right lens on your camera. Remember , Your are on vacation, enjoy it.

Stan Wieg Loc: Fair Oaks, CA

Sounds Wonderful!
I traveled in the same areas for about a month last year with a Sony A77 body, a Tamron 18-270 and a Tamron 150-600 and felt adequately equipped. I ran low on memory cards, but not on opportunities! I carry all my stuff in a backpack and don't check anything I care about.
Consider a polarized filter. I'd also take a second charger that will work in the car and can replace one left in the last hotel.
Leave the tripod; if you want a beanbag, buy a kilo of rice (or beans!) and put them in an empty stuff sack. Beware that you will need adaptor plugs for your chargers and maybe a voltage converter for 240 volts.

Bring a head net ($5 on Amazon); it is really spectacular how many flies are attracted by the end product of a million wildebeests and zebra, and one in a hundred of them bites. Repellant doesn't work and getting bitten on the ear can really spoil your focus on that great shot.
Whoever suggested a dust cover or a bag was right on - it will be dusty! I used a blower at every change, but fortunately you will almost always have the long lens on in the car.
Also, consider bringing binoculars, as that long lens gets pretty heavy by the end of the day. My wife and I carry Lifestraw filtered water bottles - there's lots of waterborne bugs that would like to come home with you and they are the gift that keeps on giving.

Good Luck! Stan

stangage

Bob
For your photography are you going to be on foot or wildlife jeep safaris? By and large on the jeep safaris you're not allowed to exit the jeep except at selected short rest stops AWAY from most wildlife. A tripod is useless in a jeep even as a monopod and some safari outfits won't permit a tripod. Unless you have the jeep all to yourself and maybe one other person. And beanbags to rest the camera on the window sill. NOT! The action is all around you and more than likely you'll be standing up doing a 360 regularly. As another suggested I'd keep the lens count to just 2 or 3. The 100-400 and the 16-35 to shoot an occasional broad view of wildlife everywhere. Most of your wildlife is going to be pretty small in the viewfinder even at 400mm. As to the 2x converter ??? as far as I know the 5D IV won't autofocus with the 100-400 + 2x so get the 1.4x. Probably 90% of my shots on 2 saris trips were with the 100-400 combined with the 1.4. And you do need autofocus.Things happen at warp speed in many cases. If you're fumbling around trying manual focus on a moving animal you're probably going to miss the real action. Just go to AI Auto backbutton focus and shoot shoot shoot. For a 3rd lens stick with the trusty 24-105 for the shots around the camp. Bring along a few large memory cards. Preferably the 128 GB. I'd take up too 1K shots per day and I can assure you that you'll often be a thousand miles from the closest replacement memory card if you get some failures. You might consider a good high power flash. Particularly in camping but also in some of the wildlife refuge camps there will be wildlife around you at night. Again it will be moving so you're not going to be able to use long exposure. I've at times had to use multiple flash shots just to locate where an animal is and then set a proper shot. Makes for some pretty dramatic photos.
With the reduced kit and a good wheeled backup I'm able to keep the load at less than 11Kg.

markngolf Loc: Bridgewater, NJ

That's what I did for a Danube River Cruise in 2018 with a monopod. Best decision for me. I enjoyed the trip and did not miss one shot. I've not picked up either of my two DSLR's since. It's a remarkable camera with 24 - 600 mm range.
Mark

slcarn Loc: Draper, Utah USA

Buy a empty commercial (small) sandbag and grab a couple of one gallon ziplock bags. When you get there, go to the store and buy enough beans or grain to fill the sandbag. When finished dump the beans or grain into the ziplock bags and give them to your guide as a tip.
They do appreciate it.
Steve

SouthShooter Loc: Southern USA

DeanS Loc: Capital City area of North Carolina

Drop the 70-200, 24-105, and the 50, and the t/c. You have all that covereage from 16 to 400 with other lens.

Amaize

Certainly I agree with downsizing. I travel quite a bit there, mainly to Tanzania. The Serengeti is really the ultimate game reserve. It is vast. S Af and Zimb will offer more restrictive areas, with fencing. I would take 2 bodies and have tele (longest you have) on one and your wide angle/intermed on the other. I would ditch the camera bag. I use a simple nylon backpack bag of heavier cloth. You can use clothes to protect you equipment. Travel with lens unattached. If there will be 2 of you shooting, maybe a shorter teleph as well. You can easily change lenses inside the bag when on safari. No tripod. Strongly recommend open top Toyota jeeps - not open side ! Open top, you easily can use sand bag to steady camera on the roof. Since you are making a big trip, I strongly recommend limited people in jeep — like maybe one. If you are in an open top you can easily move about. In that situation, you are in control. The guide will have ideas but you have final say. Usually I have 2 choices of speed - and tell the guide 20km/hr or 35 - depending on your terrain. Always be ready to stop and go back if you see photos YOU want — the guide will not know what catches YOUR attention. Always remember to get in knees and shoot thru open windows for lower perspective — often a much better look. I recommend 7-10 days in Serengeti — that gives you a great chance for great wildlife. Kenya has very little to offer in comparison. Masai Mara is just a tip of the Serengeti, which is in western Tanz. Kenya has far fewer restrictions on jeeps, so they can go crazy chasing animals — which is a shame for the animals. You can see the 2 remaining N White rhino north of Nairobi in a small reserve. My one “trick” especially if I am alone in the jeep — which is what I always do (well, daughter who works in Kenya is usually with me) — is ONLY to look for cats ! You will see everything, but the cats are the hunters and the most interesting to follow. I have sat for 2 hours or more in a sleeping cat waiting for action. If you want, I can give you the name of a excellent guide — you could talk to him over next few months in preparation. Send me a private message. Being the only one in the jeep may be critical re:Covid. You are gonna run into many travelers from Europe — who knows the vacc status by August. Remember, Aug will be a busy month. There are some safari tours which specialize in photography — kind of a course in wildlife shooting. Yes, plenty of sD cards though I also recommend Samsung T7 ext hardrives — 2 TB. Elect — keep in mind jeeps will have outlets, and you will probably have enough at camp as well. Computer — questionable use. One big recommendation — get a Charles Schwab acct and debit card. Money machines are very accessible, and with Schwab card they will cover all the bank charges. Great way to limit money issues/cash — ATMs are everywhere. Feel free to message me if you have other questions. I can be reached at
amaizn_blu@yahoo.com
Ken

barrisster Loc: Palm Springs

[For my trip I made a sand bag that I could fill with local dirt, rocks, etc. I didn't use my tripod, but could have used a monopod (less weight). I would take the 100-400, a wide angle and a 50 mm prime. I wish I had taken my 150-600mm, but left it at home because of weight. Although we managed to get within 25 yards of the big 5, I could have used the 150-600 for birds, of which there are many.

Except for landscapes, you will find that the big lenses will stay on the camera. If need a 70-200 it took an F4. It is 1/2 the weight of a 2.8. The African sun combined with the relatively barren ground is very bright.

Properframe Loc: US Virginia

You have plenty of advice already so I am hesitant to add more.
The ranger/guide is very important. Get the best available at the time and preferably a photographer wannabe. Exhibit your enthusiasm and they will show you the best of what their area offers. The vehicle location will determine your composition and angles - you want it to be right and not going back and forth and shooting down on subjects.
Take a clamp not a tripod or monopod. Clamp it on the rail in front of you in the vehicle and attach a gimbal. More than half your shots will be tripod steady from here. Others you will have to release the foot and handhold/sandbag on side rail. Make certain you pay extra for limited seating in the vehicle (ie private vehicle) - no more than one person in each row. Even leave a row empty if you can. This lets you move to the subject side and not shoot past someone else. Attempt to only have another photographer in the vehicle or they will be moving and shifting around vibrating the vehicle. Let alone "When is dinner?" when the sky is glowing orange and pink as dusk settles in.