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We just got back from photographing in the Serengeti. And I have to say, there were so many things I learned from our African safari trip. I put together some tips based on what I learned and experienced. Whether you are a professional photographer or an amateur, I hope these following tips can help you in any way make your safari experience a successful one. Here are My Top 10 Tips for a Successful African Safari Photography Experience. Enjoy!
Tip #1: Make sure you get a good safari guide/driver
Capturing amazing safari photos is not about luck it’s about knowing where to go and when. And if you have a good guide, they can help you achieve that. When researching prior to your trip it is important to read their reviews on Google or Trip Advisor. Also ask around from other photographers who they used.
For us, we are lucky enough to have a really good one with Lorry from Pooja Travel and Tours. He is very knowledgeable about the animals and know where to find them. No matter how hard the drive is with all the bumpy roads he never complain. He always say – “Hakuna Matata”, no worries. Love his positive energy! I strongly recommend them. Not only they gave me a good safari guide, Hitesh, the owner, did a fantastic job arranging my itinerary to make sure we get to see a lot with the short amount of time we had. Plus, he worked hard to find me the best deals on lodges and activities. Click on their link here to check their availability for an unforgettable African Safari – Pooja Travel and Tours.
Tip #2: Bring the right camera equipments
If you want to achieve beautiful and crisp looking images, make sure you gear yourself up with a high megapixel camera and a good telephoto lens with the range of at least 300mm. I mentioned high megapixel, that way if you want to crop-into your subjects in your images you will still get decent quality and sharpness. For those of you who are amateur, I know it is a pretty pricey investment to get professional grade cameras for this one trip, but there are ways to do it without breaking the bank. One way is rent your gear from places like – LensRental.com. Or some lodges will have cameras and lenses for rent. Just check with them.
People have asked me what set of gears I brought with me in this trip, so here’s a little – “what’s in the bag” explanation of what I packed. I have included some links as well where to find these below (Click on each item to be connected to the link). Enjoy!
- Canon Mount Adapter EF – To use the 200-400mm with the Canon R5
- Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II – For my wide angle shots
- LensCoat Camouflage Camera Lens Support Bean Bag Platform – You will need this to rest your camera lenses
- Insta360 ONE R Twin Edition + Accessories
- DJI Pocket 2 – for my video travel blog
- IFOOTAGE Carbon Fiber Camera Monopod (Cobra 2-C180) – I use this when I’m shooting birds during a walking safari
- Neewer GM100 Professional Heavy Duty Carbon Fiber Gimbal Tripod Head
- Delkin Devices 2TB Power CFexpress Type B
- OFF! Deep Woods Mosquito and Insect Repellent Towelettes – to protect you from insect bites.
- Root’d Nausea Relief Acupressure Wristbands (2 Pairs) – for the bumpy roads especially if you suffer from motion sickness
- ProGrade Digital CFexpress Type B and SD UHS-II Dual-Slot Memory Card Reader
- Portable Charger 32000mAh,
- Fousam Sniper Veil,Camo Mesh Net Tactical Scarf
- 12×42 High Definition Binoculars
- Giottos AA1900 Rocket Air Blaster – Going on a safari can get very dusty, so you need to clean your lenses every after the shoot.
- ZEISS Pre-Moistened Lens Cleaning Wipes
- Tanzania Safari Guide Book
Tip # 3: “Patience is a virtue"
When shooting during a game drive, there are times when you have to wait for an hour or two for any animal “action” to happen. You have to be very patient, and you will be rewarded with amazing photos.
Tip # 4: Backup your files!
Make sure, when you come back to your lodge every after game drive, to back-up your files in two separate hard drives. Hide one of the hard drives in a safe if there’s any, and the other one maybe in your camera bag. This way you are covered in the event of a hard drive crash or a lost.
Tip # 5: Get up early!
While on a safari, make a little sacrifice to wake up before sunrise and go out and shoot. Wild animals usually go out on a hunt when it’s cooler out there. You will have a better chance to catch more action. And to make it even better, the lighting is going to be golden!
Tip # 6: Bean Bag is a Life-Saver
When shooting from inside a safari vehicle, you need something to rest your camera or lens, and a bean bag is a perfect accessory for this. It also allows you to move around fast with your telephoto lenses from one side of the vehicle to another when following the movement of animals.
You can get any brand out there but I love this particular one – LensCoat Camouflage Camera Lens Support Bean Bag Platform. You can also buy beans to stuff this bean bag at a local market in Arusha, Tanzania but I actually used my “travel pillow” and clean socks to fill it up. It worked!
Tip # 7: Respect the Wild Animals
When shooting try to be quiet and not make unnecessary noises to startle the animals. Remember, the wild is their home and you are just a visitor.
Tip # 8: Reality vs Expectations of a African Safari
Going on a safari, though could be very pricey, is not always luxury. Be prepared for the bumpy roads, dust, heat, and Tsetse flies. It’s all part of the experience of the wild.
Check my list on – Tip#2, on some of the things to bring to be prepared.
Tip # 9: Give Generous Tips
Many of these areas where the safari tours take place are some of the poor countries in Africa. Most of the workers come from local communities. And especially during the pandemic, many of them lost their jobs and income. Giving generous tips is one way of giving back to their communities and helping out their families. You will be surprised, everybody in Tanzania in the tourism service industry is top-notch when it comes to service. They truly deserved that extra tip.
Tip # 10: Enjoy Each Moment
Even when trying to get the right composition for that perfect shot, never forget to enjoy every moment of the experience. Then you will come home very fulfilled.
Thank you for checking out my blog on My Top 10 Tips for a Successful African Safari Photography Experience. Feel free to reach out to me if you have any questions.
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