Amaize

I travel to the Serengeti frequently — had 4 trips in 2022, usually at least for 2 weeks at a
time. Tripod not needed. Now, the bigger issues include best options to travel from US, time of year you will be there — there is a constant shift of activity/landscapes/safari business. Then there are different areas to visit. Also, would you set up your own safari or be with a group ? I work with a great guide who is always happy to help. If you are interested in details I can fill you in on plenty. I will probably be headed there in April-May. Last safari was last July. Feel free to email

amaizn_blu@yahoo.com

jtang2

Tripod is useless in the vehicle; you will be using bean bags. A lightweight tripod will be useful for night scapes.

Amaize

One other thought — I highly recommend watching Serengeti Show Live — YouTube 30 episodes. Best series on he Serengeti.

jg.pepper Loc: Southeast Florida

I've been to Tanzania, Botswana and South Africa multiple times, at least 6 trips in total. Carried a tripod once and never used it. Brought a monopod once and never used it either. If you are part of a group there is limited space in the trucks and setting up a tripod in particular can easily impinge on other's space - assuming you find a way to open the legs. The monopod held no advantage over using the beanbags provided in the trucks. If the truck is one without sides (often used in Botswana) the monopod might be helpful on occasion. I told quite a number of shots on each trip and never missed either the tripod or monopod on trips where I didn't bring one.

Pierre Bouillon Loc: Québec (QC), Canada

Hi Jeffy,
I did a safari in Tanzania in 2015. I did not bring a tripod, and, if I had to go there again, I would not bring one. You will probably "hunt" aboard a Land Cruiser. A tripod would not be practical. You can rest the camera on the roof or the edge of the vehicle. You can also rest the camera on a small bean bag. That said, should you want to cover your bets, bring a monopod. Have a nice trip!

Gallopingphotog

Save on space and weight by 1) making your own beanbag filled with rice hulls. Lighter and you can make it to whatever dimensions suit. 2) Instead of a tripod, take an I-bolt that mates with the threads in your camera's tripod mount. Tie a piece of rope or paracord to the bolt. Tie some kind of small weight (washer, another bolt, etc.) to the other end. To use, bolt the cord to the camera tripod mount, drop the other, weighted end to the ground, step on the weight and stretch the cord tight. Won't steady the camera as well as a tripod but will add some stability. You'll need to experiment to determine what length you want the cord. I found this very awkward to use at first but with practice it is helpful where tripod/monopod isn't useable. It lives in my camera bag now.

JFCoupe Loc: Kent, Washington

As mentioned in several posts above, today most of the safari vehicles provide bean bags. In Tanzania with African Nature Photography, they had bean bags on the sun roof area and also at the window seat level, so there was never a need for a tripod.

HRoss Loc: Longmont, CO

This is the best advice you can get!

stangage

I've been on 2 safaris in Botswana, Tanzania, Kenya. Took the tripod on the first, used it for 1 shot out of about 10,000. I didn't find a bean bag to be of any practical use. The damn animals were very uncooperative in terms of posing long enough for me to even consider using a bean bag and trying to scuttle from one side of the jeep to another. I used a Canon 70 D on the first trip and a 5D IV on the second mostly with a 100-400 zoom.
Recommendation - Use lenses with image stabilization, keep the shutter at a minimum of 1/1500 or 1/2000 and aperture f8 or better. Then switch to auto Iso if you don't want to be fiddling with exposure settings while your subject is doing something special and your fingers are anywhere other than the shutter release. Let the Iso go pretty high if needed and plan on using a good quality noise correction software like Topaz of others. High Iso just isn't a real problem anymore. Using an R5 with the 100 to 500 now. Very flexible and forgiving.
Believe what others have said about tripods in jeeps. Just totally impractical and most operators even shun the use of a mono pod. Plus even with a mono pod you'll end up trying to adapt the mono pod to the physical situation while you subject is laughing at you.
The real action shots are VERY transient time wise and often you really need to be ready to pop up and be shooting in less than a couple of seconds. Also make generous use of high frame rate continuous shooting.

DebAnn Loc: Toronto

No, in my experience, you shouldn't bring a tripod. You will be in a safari vehicle with other people and a tripod will get in the way of you and your fellow passengers. What I did find useful was a bean bag which could rest on the side of the vehicle - that is if it's an open air vehicle.

MadMikeOne Loc: So. NJ Shore - a bit west of Atlantic City

If you want to do night photography, then yes, bring your tripod. It's not needed for wildlife, since you are most likely shooting from inside a vehicle. Both times I went on safari - first time was not a photo safari, the second time was a photo safari - I did not bring a tripod, and most definitely did not miss it. None of the other 8 participants on our photo safari had a tripod, and none regretted the decision.

Beth (photolady2014) mentioned a panning plate. Definitely worth the investment. I balked at spending almost $200 for mine, but bit the bullet. Very glad I did. Most of us who had them were glad. Those who didn't - well let's just say those of us who had them kept a close eye on those who did not.

Check with your tour operator for their suggestions to be sure.

jeffy Loc: Albuquerque NM

Thank you so much for your insight!

Friendly

I went on safari in 2019. I did not need a tripod, I did not need a zoom lens greater than 300mm (actually 200mm) is perfect - the animals are that close. DO NOT CHANGE LENSES IN THE FIELD! Plan to have your gear professionally cleaned when you return.

OldSchool-WI Loc: Brandon, Wisconsin 53919

_______________________________(reply)
If you don't want to lug a tripod----of course use a lens with optical stabilization. Rather than taking a 600mm slow lens---take a fast 200 or 300mm zoom and a Sigma 5-eliment 1.4x times extender, losing one stop or their Sigma 2x 6element focal length extender losing 2 stops. And 600mm and slow sports lenses can cost two grand. But just in case bring---a clamp with quarter in tripod threads for car sides or windows. But the extenders will save the extreme weight and expense of a good 600mm max lens.-----ew

Terry in Indiana Loc: rural Indiana

I've been on many safaris and I too concur "No" to a regular tripod. Even if you could use it (probably not), it is not practical for the animals. But I did once take a small tabletop one to do some night photography and it was perfect for that...you might look into that option. I just put it on a small table or support outside our tent and it worked great, was very small and lightweight to transport. You will have luggage restrictions for the small planes to the reserves, so don't take things that are unnecessary.