Dossile

Berchman, ‘Aloha’ is far from obsolete. If you lived a little further west among more Pacific Islanders you’d better understand. It is a wonderful word emanating from a very friendly and warm culture and, it seems, might be a word carrying sentiments that would be well for you to adopt.

Retired CPO Loc: Travel full time in an RV

Fantastic!

berchman Loc: South Central PA

My comment was directed to the word "mahalo."

photoman43

One advantage of taking your two D810s is that batteries and chargers can be shared. The advantage of the D 7500 is the extra "reach" from its 1.5 crop factor and maybe some size and weight savings.

Regarding lenses take the 200-500mm as it seems to be the longest you have. I would also take the 1.4x tc as you may need the extra reach in Tanzania. Your second main lens could be your 80-200mm or the 18-200mm. If one is a f2.8 that might be helpful for early morning shooting if you are going out before sunrise or right at sunrise.

In Tanzania I took two Nikon D 300s cameras, a 500mm f4, a 70-200mm f2.8 , Nikon 1.4x tc and a smaller zoom. With the 500mm f4 the tc was on it about 50% of the time.

I used a bean bag for about 85% of my shots from both cameras and lenses. We stood up and shot from the roof opening with the bean bag resting on the roof. Your safari guide would be able to tell you what the land rovers will look like in each country so you can plan accordingly. My bean bag was the sabi sack from Tamrac/Gura gear. It was filled with buckwheat hulls--very light.

Two useful accessories I recommend for any photo safari: 1. a water proof (and dust proof) dry bag or stuff sack so you can cover your camera and lens when driving around; A camera strap like the Black Rapid Sport strap (across your body) with a Quick release clamp attached to your camera/lens lens plate to make sure it does not fall onto the floor or our of the land rover as you bounce around parts of Africa.

Joe

Jack 13088 Loc: Central NY

Perfect suggestion except isn’t the 18-200 a DX lens?

In 2010 we used the 70-200 2.8 with a 1.7x teleconverter on a DX D300s primarily. Feels like a 180-510 on your FX D810. And a 18-200 on a DX D70s feels like 27-300 on a FX camera. We had three shooters, my daughter, son in law, and me for two cameras. We never longed for a longer lens but often found the 180 to be too long. Camera passing for best shot worked well. We had five in our party. Add my wife and my son who is a wheelchair type. So we had a vehicle to ourselves and they put my son up front by the driver/guide because he was more comfortable in a bucket seat. In that case everybody had a good seat so we didn’t have to scramble around.

Someone mentioned a bean bag. They worked well on a earlier trip to East Africa where the custom is closed vehicles with an open roof where you stand up to shoot. They do not work at all well in Southern Africa where they use open vehicles and standing is strongly discouraged as it can upset animals with teeth. A tripod just doesn’t work at all. Just something to be tossed aside. On the other hand a monopod just might. They do always turn off the engine when you are taking pictures.

DesignOrc

I was in Botswana this past April. Safaris there are different because there just aren't as many people going there, so you generally get close to animals without 15 other safari vehicles jostling for position. I used only one lens the entire trip - my Canon EF 75-300 III. I can't think of a single shot I missed.

cvoleti

Such informative posts. Look forward to running in to you in Kruger Sark1q7.I live in Kauai, HI. And so the Aloha/Mahalo...

cambriaman Loc: Central CA Coast

All good advice given above. I did my safari with a Sigma 150-500 and a Tamron 18-270 on Nikon D200 and Nikon D5000. Good results. The tour leader bought a CD of my images from me for marketing use. Today, I have the Nikon 200-500 and 24-120, 70-300, 20mm, 16-35 (all Nikons). I wish I had them when I went on Safari. You will get great images. The guides do get you close, the animals are used to the Land Rovers and ignore them. Just don't stand up for a shot, it spooks the lions!(personal experience). I also took a wide angle lens and never took it out of the bag. Good shooting!

DebAnn Loc: Toronto

Maybe I'll see you in Kruger. I'll be there Oct 2-11. I use Canon and I'm taking a Tamron 18-400 on my crop sensor and a 24-105L on my full frame.

FredCM Loc: Central Illinois

A couple of quick comments. I can’t imagine needing a tripod, monopod, or any kind of pod. You’ll be in the safari vehicles, if you’re using a tripod the lions are thinking lunch. And... Hawaii to Cape Town or Jo-burg? How long is that trip? I think it’s 19 hours from Jo-burg to Atlanta, but you got to get to Atlanta first. What would be wild if there is a direct flight from Hawaii over the South Pole to Cape Town! For a preview, see if you can find access to or a copy of “The Gods Must Be Crazy.”

Sark17 Loc: Atlanta, GA

I’m flying the direct from Atlanta to Johannesburg. Would be funny if we were on the same flight! 😂

cbtsam Loc: Monkton, MD

Looks like a time you will never forget.

Howard5252 Loc: New York / Florida (now)

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klh

Lovely photos. I am planning a Tanzania trip next Sept. Who was your tour operator?

cvoleti

Excellent points. I’m flying from Honolulu to Dubai via Seoul and then on to Johannesburg.Never been to Dubai.Four days in Kruger National forest,Two days in Victoria falls and 9 days in Tanzania. Jacada is the tour operator.