Bridges Loc: Memphis, Charleston SC, now Nazareth PA

Sometimes there just isn't time to set up anything like a tripod, monopod, super griper, or anything else. Take a good bean bag you can drape over a door or window frame or lay flat on the hood or roof of a vehicle.

greymule Loc: Colorado

Thanks for your thoughtful reply. I have been reading all the posts carefully and all of references provided. After significant research reading reviews, my initial thoughts were to rent the 80-400, which a friend of mine owns and has used on a couple of our expeditions. It was he who recommended the 200-500, though he had never actually used one. His photography excellence swayed to to his opinion. Now I have read posts about great results with the 200-500 and great results with lighter gear with less reach, so I am still in a quandary.

The response to my request for guidance has been nothing less than spectacular; a usual result from the great and talented people populating this site. Great to have cyber friends. I still have time to think, consider and reconsider before deciding on my final rental choice of long lenses. Even though it would be expensive, I could rent both lenses for a day or so to test them with actual use. The caveat would be I wouldn't know under which conditions to test each one.

BTW- Thanks for your compliment about my landscapes. They're relatively easy- plenty of time to look, frame, feel, mull over and take multiple shots, since landscapes don't move, only the light changes. I am attaching a landscape image for your perusal, one that I hadn't processed before, and just completed recently. Please dowload.

(Download)

greymule Loc: Colorado

Thanks, Bridges. The vehicles have no doorframes, though. I am told by the safari people that bean bags are available and have been used. I think I will take the suggestion of an inflatable camping pillow to be sure I can get one.

greymule Loc: Colorado

I want to express my heartfelt thanks to everyone for responding to my cry for help. I have read everything posted and cited. Members of UHH can always be counted on, You photographers rock. One thing I found on my own was a tip to not just take closeups of the animals like one my see in a zoo catalogue. The tip emphasized taking photos that show the animals in their surrounding habitat as well as close ups.

I am posting this global thanks and response to save time and bandwidth. Thanks so much again to everyone who responded.

greymule/Rick

joecichjr Loc: Chicago S. Suburbs, Illinois, USA

A beauty of a shot ❤️💎❤️

johneb21945

While I don't have a Nikon camera, I can tell you as a Canon user I found having a polarizer & ND filter a blessing. For game drives, make sure you book a before sunrise, and near sunset tours / dark. It is during those times we found the most activity happening. Although I brought a tripod, I never used it, but keep in mind you do not want to use flash photography on game drives as it can spook the wildlife. The main lens I used was a Tamron 16-400 lens. I did bring two other Canon lenses, but just never had occasion to use them. Remember the clothing code also, do not wear bright contrasting colors, try to stick to solids as they will tell you most animals have adjusted to that. Also keep in mind, in the pre-dawn, and after dusk hours, it does get chilly, so a light windbreaker is recommended. Other than that the usual extra batteries, memory, and rain cover for your camera. I found my trip excellent and wish the same for you. JohnEB

greymule Loc: Colorado

Thanks, Joe. Much appreciated.

Bill_de Loc: US

How about something like a 24-70 or 70-200 on the D850. That camera offers a DX mode with still plenty of pixels on the subject, giving you some additional framing options.

For the long lens the 500PF on the D810. That lens is sharp and relatively small and light.
It is my go to lens over my 200-500, unless using a tripod.

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greymule Loc: Colorado

Your idea is very appealing. It would cut the weight WAY own both for handling and transport under the weight limitations.

Thanks so much. I'll check price differential now.

Rick

joecichjr Loc: Chicago S. Suburbs, Illinois, USA

Awe inspiring beauty 💜💜💜💜💜

DICK32

I use a D850 too. Do you use back button focus? It lets you get good focus fairly quick. Especially with a 500 lens. The trick is to set up where your shot is going to be in live view screen. then use the back button focus to focus on some thing that you want to be focused in the picture. Use the + button to zoom in on a small area in the frame. Then you can refocus on the magnified area with the back button and you'll know that your shot will be in focus.

Steve Perry(backcountrygallery.com) has a book that you can down load, Secrets to the Nikon Autofocus System. Try this before you go. It helps me to get sharp pics especially when I want to make sure that I have the important element covered. This works great for macro shots as well. Enjoy your trip.

tennis2618

I have been to Africa a couple of times for 2-3 weeks. I agree with the no tripod comments and the bean bag. But I strongly suggest some type of remote handheld trigger for fast, repetitive shooting as you want to minimize hand on camera while in those vehicles. A tethered trigger is fine. And yes protect from dust-a nightly cleaning of your gear is important. I used the 200-500 Nikkor lens on my last trip with the D850 and found myself using that combo for a large majority of shooting--especially for birds (which you seldom hear people talk about) and neat close ups of animals you are close to. My second body was the D800, normally with the 24-70 lens. Very satisfied with my choices.

Have fun and be careful of closeness to the residents in this COVID world. Get the third shot if you have time--you can get it now at most Walgreens simply by saying you have compromising conditions.

Amaize

Just returned from 14 days in Serengeti. Here are some basics. We took Abbott Binax home Test for travel — be sure it is for travel — about $60. You can test yourself a day or 2 before return thru NAVICA app. I would print some material in case customs when you depart are not aware of this test. We had just a bit of snag at Kili airport, but then all was fine. I usually take a few packs of azithromycin antibiotic packs in case of some infection. I choose to take Cipro 250mg once daily to prevent travelers diarrhea. Has done well in many Af trips. It has been many years since I’ve been that far south, but I take Malarone - start 2-3 days before departing and then one tab daily for Malaria prevention.

Don’t forget masks — I usually have a bunch of surgical masks and prefer to double mask. One thing I found is that I would slip on the mask when vehicles were coming by — was great to avoid some of the dust !

What we did is have box breakfast/lunch — would be on the road about half hour or more before sunrise — and then out till dusk. Of course action often occurs early in day and toward evening — but you never know. I will be heading back in Oct for more of the migration. Enjoy your trip ! Any Q’s, don’t hesitate.

Amaize

Sounds like you will have open side vehicle — that is a bit unfortunate — if any chance to get open top Land Cruisers — that is the best for photography. I have D850 with prime 500 5.6 lens — love it. For what you have, would be good to carry 70-200, as you will also see animals right close by. Hopefully your driver does not push to get too close to animals — if they have space, it is just better for the animals plus the experience. I use my lens hood and stand camera on the the hood on the seat — with a bean bag to keep it snug. Then it is ready at moments notice. I shoot back button focus — set the joy stick to spot and AF-ON button usually to Dynam 9, but depending on circumstance may open that up more, for tracking bird in flight or more action situations. Mostly we just look for cats — cats hunt — which is something pretty special to see. You will see everything else anyway.

Hopefully you will have only 2 or maybe 3 in the vehicle. I strongly suggest do not do a random group — where you have 6 in the 4X4. If you want to get the most of your photography, make it YOUR vehicle. And let the guide know what you want to do. Have the guide stop/back up at any whim you have of s’thing you what to shoot. Tell him/her what you are looking for, etc.

By the way, for the D850 I used a CFExpress card 256GB and then the fastest 64GB cards — shot RAW and backup. When the 64 cards got filled, I had a special place to keep them, plus then also had a 2nd copy with the CFEx card. I went thru 2 of the 256’s in 14 days. If you are out on the schedule we keep, about all you have time for at end of day is shower, supper and crash. Not sure on temperature, but I found very light weight “safari” shits at Columbia — it can be nice to have sleeves rolled down for bugs and sun. I also wear pants that zip off to be shorts — North Face and Columbia have them. Sweatshirt for early am. Get a weather app and keep eye on temps where you’re going.

Jack 13088 Loc: Central NY

The camps you described are all located in the Okavango Delta oasis in the Kalahari Desert.

I believe I can give you some helpful insight even though I have traveled there only once. We booked our African trips with A&K one of the oldest and largest companies. They were featured in a 1990s Visa "And they don't take American Express" ad. They use contract guides in addition to some that are direct employees. On the trip to Botswana and Kruger we were lucky to have Trevor Carnaby https://www.beataboutthebush.co.za/about.html as our guide. He is not only a great guide but he trains and certifies guides and consults in the design of camps and programs. We learned a lot about the business during after dinner chats.

On the other hand it has been 12 years and we were there in June when the water is the highest and you are going when the water is at its lowest. But here goes my take.

Do to the flood cycles the Delta is a lush area with an ample supply of water to attract a variety of wildlife. And Botswana has aggressively sought to eliminate poachers and protect wild life. Elephants are more plentiful in Botswana and the only cat missing was the cheetah. I was told they're disappearing all over Africa. Sad, they are the only cat that hunts in the middle of the day.

During high water season the roads are flooded so the photo below was taken on the main road between the air strip and the camp. So much for too much dust in Africa. But don't put your camera bag on the floor! And don't hesitate to raise your feet. This is typical of the vehicle use throughout South Africa. Some were Toyota Land Cruisers and others were Land Rovers. Brand depends on closest dealer with a diesel mechanic. In East Africa the common vehicles were closed with a "sun roof" which makes a better shooting platform with a bean bag. Our family party was myself, my wife. daughter, son in law and my son who is in a wheel chair. Since our guide was trusted to drive in most locations my son sat in the front seat where it was easy for him to get in. Actually, a driver would just pick him up an put him in there. So everybody had a window seat in back. We had two cameras, my D70s with an 18-200 lens always mounted in the bush and my daughters D300s with a borrowed 70-200 f/2.8 and a borrowed 1.7X telextender (different lenders). With three shooters and two cameras we just passed the cameras around to whoever had the best angle. Although the 70-200 looks like a 180-510 f/4.8 with the Dx and 1.7x multiplier I would have been happy with the larger 2.8 aperture since the animals are most active at dawn and dusk.

We would be awakened by a tent boy with coffee and biscuits (AKA cookies) in time to get out to the vehicles by 7:00AM (earliest allowed starting time) game drive. I agree with the observation that in a desert it is too cold without jacket of sweater until the sun warms things up.

I am jealous.

Driving on the road in the Okavango Delta