Safari knowledge.

[RaglanSurf]

Thinking of heading to the Kruger Park next year and I’m looking for a little advice.

In terms of cameras/lenses we pretty much know what we’re taking.

X-T5 with 70-300mm + 1.4tc & 16-80mm
and my partners Nikon Digital crop sensor DSLR with a Sigma 100-400mm and a wide zoom.

But my question is more about those things that you don’t realise you need until you’re crammed into the back of a land rover wishing you’d brought something that everyone else appears to have.

Do I need a monopod, a beanbag, a mosquito hat? Etc etc etc.

What would you take?

 

[whyone]

OK....I would say 'no' to a monopod, maybe a bean-bag (though many of the better safari operators provide these, maybe ask before you travel?), though in many, many thousands of shots taken on safari, I can only think of 3 or 4 occasions where I have used a bean bag.

Most definitely take a hat - ideally with a wide-ish brim to cover your ears...but not interfere with your camera (front brims of caps can do this for example). It is also a good plan to have a neck-strap on your hat so if it blows off, it stays with you! . Similarly sun glasses - a neck strap is a good plan. Mosquito hat, I assume you mean something with a mesh to cover your face? I've never used one, nor have I seen other use.

Do take a cloth of some sort to cover your camera when moving from a - b. I can be very dusty in safari vehicles. Something like a pillow case will work.

Keep all your colours muted...greens / earth tones....but don't wear black or dark blue - if there are tsetse flies about., they are attracted to these colours and they are horrid! Dont wear bright colours - especially white.

Try to minimise lens changing in the bush...again dust!

Try to use an operator who doesn't 'cram you in the back of a Land Rover'...max 4 (or if 3 rows of seats, 6) people in a vehicle so everyone has a 'window' seat. Ideally the back of the vehicle will be open, with just a canvas canopy roof to provide some sun protection.

Plenty of batteries (though be aware, airlines don't like this - read your airlines policies on batteries).

I always keep a bin bag in my photo bag, just in case of a downpour (it does happen and it is quick and easy to stick everything in a bin bag). If you dont use it (as you most likely wont) it takes precious little space and weighs nearly nothing.

Enjoy!

 

[RaglanSurf]

@whyone That’s all really useful, thanks