Ehoort

I was a professional photographer back in the b&w days. Retired and decided to get back into photography. Leave Tuesday for my first safari. Any advice welcome.

PAR4DCR Loc: A Sunny Place

Welcome to UHH Ehoort, glad you joined us. Have never been on safari so don't have any good tips for you except don't change lens in the field, way to dusty. Sure you will get many other tips from members that have had a safari experience.
You might want to list your equipment so that members can offer suggestions on what to bring with you. Post some of your images on your return.
Have fun, learn and enjoy the forum.

Don

Ehoort

Nikon P900 so I have major telephoto w/o changing lenses and a D7500 w 18-55 and 28?-400

srt101fan

Check out John Gerlach's posts and website. John is a UHH member (go to the UHH User List) and safari photo guide.

Nancysc

The smaller your group in a van or 4x4, the better your chances of getting good shots. If you are in a group where most are not professional photogs, you will have some frustration. In any case, don't let your driver rush animals with the vehicle to stir them up. Make it clear his end of day tip is based not on how many animals you see and photograph, but how safely he drives, how respectful of animals he is, and how well his vehicle is maintained. I have horror stories from Kenya and Tanzania.

bikerguy

Ehoot we did a photo safari about 4 years ago. My most important advice: spend some time just looking and not taking images. As far as camera gear I used a Canon APC with 70-300 and 17-85. Mostly the 70-300. Do not change lenses while in the vehicle. If it is an open vehicle sit in the last row. In the vehicles we were in the third row only held 2 people and was up somewhat higher so it was easier to shoot over other passengers.

PaulB Loc: Alabama

Take extra batteries and a backup camera. There are no camera stores out in the bush! A bean bag would be helpful to steady you camera on the safari wagon roof.

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

I strongly recommend you contact your tour provider and go over THEIR recommendations on photo equipment and shooting conditions.

Buckeye73

Buy a Buff. It is a t-shirt like piece of material in a round configuration that you can wear around your neck and bring up to cover your nose in a dusty location.

Take 2 cameras and a monopod. Have your long lens( 400mm or higher) on the monopod and have your other lens over your shoulder. On my 2 African safaris I used a 100 - 400 mm lens and a 24 - 70mm.


Wear a wide rim hat,take sun screen. Take extra batteries and memory cards. Take your battery charger.


Have a great time.


Jonesy

wireloose

No need to duplicate the many good suggestions, keep in mind the majority of your shots are likely to be in low light in early morning and evening. Kenyan safaris can be very dusty sometimes.

LXK0930 Loc: Souh Jersey

Most advice you are getting is good. I have done several safaris (Kenya/Tansania, Southern Africa), so here a few other tips:
(1) Make sure the driver turns off the engine when you are not moving, to avoid vibration.
(2) Bring a long sock that you can fill with beans, rice, or similar. Makes a good bean bag, and travels easily.
(3) Animals move or disappear quickly. Bring a second camera that you can leave on "AUTO" for your first quick shot. Then use your main camera to compose, etc.
(4) Lots of advice about dust danger to your gear. Think about your lungs too. Bring disposable dust-filtering face masks.
(5) They tell you never to leave your vehicle. That advice is just for wimps! Just go with someone who is slower than you. (JUST KIDDING).

ENJOY THE TRIP.

Rhinophoto Loc: Davis, CA

Welcome to UHH and have a great trip. There is a "Search" feature on UHH which you will find helpful, since this topic is discussed on a recurring basis, most recently about 3 weeks ago. Opinions vary greatly, probably because of different vehicles, guides, fellow travelers, goals, past experiences, etc. Everyone agrees that dust is an issue in the dry season. On my recent trip, I found that a Nikor 80-400 on a D7200 was generally quite adequate; I had an 18-200 on a D7100 for city-type use and to have a back-up camera. I would have found a monopod to be unnecessary and in the way inside the vehicle.

mikegreenwald Loc: Illinois

I've had several such trips. I carried two cameras every time, both Canon FF, always with a long lens zoom on one and a 50mm on the other, but able to change lenses if I'd had a camera problem (I didn't). I'd take the same next time.
The bean bag is a good idea, though all I took was a large sock for light weight and no bulk. I filled it with gravel when it was time to use it.
I have a lot of panoramas from post-processing as well. Tripods are difficult and clumsy when you're moving around a lot with a group, but hand holding is easy with a little practice. Just keep the horizon at the same place in the viewfinder.
Dust was only occasionally a problem. I hired my own driver and Land Rover, making stops discretional and opportunistic. It paid big dividends - lots of salable shots, and wonderful close-appearing photos of wildlife that were suitable for big prints and framing.
Selection of a good tour operator is critical. Most of them are very cognizant of wildlife, and know how to get you into good locations and behave responsibly. If you're in the back of a truck or bus, you'll have a problem with people keeping score, shooting quickly, and wanting to move on without taking time to just watch, both for the ambiance and for opportunities to develop while you wait.
Best wishes for a great trip!

Kingman

Does going on a safari versus "photo" safari make any difference in being able to get the best position on a vehicle for shots. One might suppose that a "photo" safari would have more long lenses competing for the best spot on a vehicle than if there were fewer people with long lenses. Or are "photo" safaris able to accommodate all the folks with all the long pieces of glass and more willing to stop and set up for the best locations than just to see an animal.

CWGordon

Wow! All great advice. I went to Kenya last year. Greatest experience photographing ever. We had a private guide. Just my wife and I in a Land Rover. Bean bags provided. Guide was great. Did have to ask him to turn engine off quite frequently. Private tour was best idea ever. Took a hot-air balloon ride that was awesome. Stayed in luxury tents which really were. Kichwa Tembo (spelling?) was a great camp with great food, service, security, and friendliness. Guide skipped lunch for us so we could travel further w/o having to return to Base for lunch whenever we asked or he offerred and we accepted. Saw every animal we wanted and then some.
Advice: Don’t wander off in the tall grass to take a leak!
We went to several Parks. All were great, btw, and we ended trip with a few days in Zanzibar, at the beach. Awesome differences in culture there with great photo ops.