South Africa safari tour (Page 2): Add on to submission of a bit ago. DIL called me to say that Daisy had left and Camille of SouthernDestinations.com was handling their South Africa...

APSHEPPARD

Add on to submission of a bit ago. DIL called me to say that Daisy had left and Camille of SouthernDestinations.com was handling their South Africa arrangements now. Either agency should be able to assist you.

Carl S

You might consider Zimanga as a possible destination. It is a private reserve with a number of photographic hides set up specifically for photographers. They have two overnight hides that are lit to the level of a full moon, located over watering holes. My wife and I have images taken within fifteen feet of giraffes, lions, Cape buffaloes drinking right in front of you. They also have a scavenger hide in which they take table scrapes, attracking a variety of scavenger birds as well as jackals. Accommodations and food are excellent, and they provide day drives, and even night drives, if you want. The owner is an avid photographer. Otherwise, Grant Atkins tours will never disappoint!

gunflint Loc: Rocky Mountain High, Colorado

In 2008, our first trip to South Africa my wife and I spent 4 days at www.londolozi.com. They are expensive but we saw many of all the cats as well as everything else. That lodge is just outside Kruger. Then we spent 2 weeks on our own driving throughout Kruger, while staying outside the park. There are several places you can stay inside the park also. There is no problem doing Kruger on you own, the roads are great, no safety concerns at least in 2008. The wildlife is great in Kruger...

We have been back to several other countries in Africa that we used guides for but not in S. Africa.

Have a great trip!

ft Loc: New York, USA

uniqueharm wrote:

Looking for names of current South Africa safari tour companies…

I can highly recommend www.idubephotosafaris.com. Kevin Dooley is an accomplished, well-renowned professional photographer and certified guide, who with his wife Tricia (who is from South Africa) will set you up for photographic success with once-in-a-lifetime experiences.

My go-to camera/lens combination for my safari was a 7Dii with a 100-400 lens. I also had a 5Div with a 24-105 which was essential for the many landscape opportunities and for the times when the animals were up close. Your 18-400 lens looks like it would cover all the bases.

Whoever you choose, just go — you’ll love it!

Hip Coyote

uniqueharm wrote:

Looking for names of current South Africa safari tour companies. Also for those who have been to South Africa what would be the best time of year to go and would a 7d Markll, 18-400mm lens be suffice ?

Thank you.

That’s a lot of info you requested. We
Did a trip with a small boutique travel company. BUT…we travel quite a bit with Overseas Adventure Travel. OAT has tours there. People on our current trip (Greece) said it was excellent. So consider OAT.

Lens selection would probably work.

dbjazz Loc: Long Island, NY

uniqueharm wrote:

Looking for names of current South Africa safari tour companies. Also for those who have been to South Africa what would be the best time of year to go and would a 7d Markll, 18-400mm lens be suffice ?

Thank you.

I used Rhino Africa. They were professional and thorough, arranging not just our safari but our entire South African experience. I went in April, the equivalent of autumn in the northern hemisphere. The weather was great (only one day of rain in two weeks).

Walkabout08

We stayed at Tangala Safari Camp, wonderful experience. A 100-400 is ideal for everything except birds. In 3 days on Safari we saw all the large animals. Highly recommended.

kybob Loc: Versailles, Kentucky

I am surprised that nobody has mentioned Pangolin Photo Safaris. Has anybody taken a tour with them? We are scheduled to go in late August to early September to Victoria Falls, Chobe, and then the Masa.

2buckskin Loc: Wyoming

kybob wrote:

I am surprised that nobody has mentioned Pangolin Photo Safaris. Has anybody taken a tour with them? We are scheduled to go in late August to early September to Victoria Falls, Chobe, and then the Masa.

Let us know how your trip turns out, I'm thinking about doing one of their photo safaris too.

ricardo00

kybob wrote:

I am surprised that nobody has mentioned Pangolin Photo Safaris. Has anybody taken a tour with them? We are scheduled to go in late August to early September to Victoria Falls, Chobe, and then the Masa.

I have heard good things about Pangolin but haven't gone with them. There are lots of groups/travel agents that lead or arrange trips to Africa. In fact, there are more people that arrange trips and/or lead them than there are lodges that you can go to!

barrisster Loc: Palm Springs

A few years ago we did the Arethusa Lodge/Resort in Sabi Sands. It was fantastic. We were able to see the big five close up.
I recommend visiting the Addo Elephant Park if you can. There hundreds of elephants are to be found. The park is just north of Port Elizabeth. I took my 200 with a 1.4x and was able to get some fantastic shots. I was able to get this shot.

kybob Loc: Versailles, Kentucky

2buckskin wrote:

Let us know how your trip turns out, I'm thinking about doing one of their photo safaris too.

I will and hopefully post some great shots. I am really excited about going, this will be my first really big trip going to several different countries with non US airlines including the safari planes and trucks requiring soft sided luggage and weight restrictions all on the same trip. The other issue is with camera gear I have found that TSA and airlines in other countries are way different than ours. So it is going to be an adventure.

2buckskin Loc: Wyoming

kybob wrote:

I will and hopefully post some great shots. I am really excited about going, this will be my first really big trip going to several different countries with non US airlines including the safari planes and trucks requiring soft sided luggage and weight restrictions all on the same trip. The other issue is with camera gear I have found that TSA and airlines in other countries are way different than ours. So it is going to be an adventure.

DebAnn Loc: Toronto

uniqueharm wrote:

Looking for names of current South Africa safari tour companies. Also for those who have been to South Africa what would be the best time of year to go and would a 7d Markll, 18-400mm lens be suffice ?

Thank you.

I highly recommend Bearded Heron Safaris which was recently awarded a Travel & Tourism Award for Best Family Small Group Safari Experience - Kruger National Park, South Africa.

I had the best experience of my life - Neil Heron is a great safari guide. I mostly used my Canon 90D with an 18-400 lens.

kpsk_sony

OOOH! take me with you! I'm a good cook and promise not to whine much about the bugs!