Comments on: How to Prepare for an African Photo Safari http://www.digital-photography-school.com/preparing-for-an-african-photo-safari Discover how to use your digital camera with our Digital Photography Tips. We are a community of photographers of all experience levels who come together to learn, share and grow in our understanding of photography. Tue, 14 Feb 2012 05:12:20 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: peter http://www.digital-photography-school.com/preparing-for-an-african-photo-safari/comment-page-1#comment-227215 peter Sun, 20 Nov 2011 07:03:24 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/?p=10100#comment-227215 I like the way you write. Thanks for making the effort on this, Guest Contributor. I like your site too, nice looking. Bookmarked your site, so I can check it out again, thanks. I like the way you write. Thanks for making the effort on this, Guest Contributor. I like your site too, nice looking. Bookmarked your site, so I can check it out again, thanks.

]]> By: African Safari Vacations http://www.digital-photography-school.com/preparing-for-an-african-photo-safari/comment-page-1#comment-83432 African Safari Vacations Fri, 08 Jan 2010 08:54:25 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/?p=10100#comment-83432 This is a great website.I am interested in photography but was never quite sure about its details.Thanks for providing such good tips. This is a great website.I am interested in photography but was never quite sure about its details.Thanks for providing such good tips.

]]> By: Maria http://www.digital-photography-school.com/preparing-for-an-african-photo-safari/comment-page-1#comment-72282 Maria Thu, 12 Nov 2009 20:04:02 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/?p=10100#comment-72282 Can anyone recommend a good place to rent a camera in Jburg? I am in the market for a new camera and thought it might be nice to test one out while in South Africa and on safari in Kruger. Any suggestions? Can anyone recommend a good place to rent a camera in Jburg? I am in the market for a new camera and thought it might be nice to test one out while in South Africa and on safari in Kruger. Any suggestions?

]]> By: andrea http://www.digital-photography-school.com/preparing-for-an-african-photo-safari/comment-page-1#comment-71983 andrea Tue, 10 Nov 2009 02:58:25 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/?p=10100#comment-71983 One thing to point out: Lithium batteries are supposed to be carried in your carry-on baggage, each in individual plastic baggies. The airlines are worried that if the terminals make contact, they could create a fire, etc. That might not be the case on all the airlines, but most that I've flown on request that. One thing to point out: Lithium batteries are supposed to be carried in your carry-on baggage, each in individual plastic baggies. The airlines are worried that if the terminals make contact, they could create a fire, etc. That might not be the case on all the airlines, but most that I’ve flown on request that.

]]> By: Laurie http://www.digital-photography-school.com/preparing-for-an-african-photo-safari/comment-page-1#comment-71749 Laurie Sat, 07 Nov 2009 13:55:27 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/?p=10100#comment-71749 Great article! I've wanted to go to Africa for many, many years on a photo safari. I hope to get there one day soon, and your article helped me immensly! Thanks so much! Great article! I’ve wanted to go to Africa for many, many years on a photo safari. I hope to get there one day soon, and your article helped me immensly! Thanks so much!

]]> By: Mike B http://www.digital-photography-school.com/preparing-for-an-african-photo-safari/comment-page-1#comment-71716 Mike B Sat, 07 Nov 2009 05:46:56 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/?p=10100#comment-71716 i just return from an african safari photo shoot and here are the results with an Rebel XSi and 70-300 mm lenses http://www.flickr.com/photos/de_mike/4082371110/in/set-72157622626830283/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/de_mike/4082369004/in/set-72157622626824865/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/de_mike/4081606207/sizes/o/in/set-72157622626818739/ i just return from an african safari photo shoot and here are the results with an Rebel XSi and 70-300 mm lenses

http://www.flickr.com/photos/de_mike/4082371110/in/set-72157622626830283/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/de_mike/4082369004/in/set-72157622626824865/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/de_mike/4081606207/sizes/o/in/set-72157622626818739/

]]> By: Curt Weidner http://www.digital-photography-school.com/preparing-for-an-african-photo-safari/comment-page-1#comment-71646 Curt Weidner Fri, 06 Nov 2009 19:53:32 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/?p=10100#comment-71646 Great article. I on my trip to Tanzania I found everything Robert said to be true especially the 2 camera bodies. Not only will 2 bodies save you from having from having to swap lens but if one body malfunctions as happened to me it will save your trip. Other tid bits I thought of include taking a photo vest ($30 fly fishing vest at Wal-mart) and cargo pants/shorts with lots of pockets were very handy while out all day on game drives. Small pocket packs of kleenex were a lot more functional than packing toilet paper rolls and had lots of uses. I also found dust to be the biggest issue. The suggestion about Op/Tech rain sleeves is great! To respond to Eric's question on shooting with truck vibrations, on my trip they did shut off the vehicle any time we had a really good photo op. Most of the suggestions and comments apply as well to any big photo trip i.e. Yellowstone. f8 and be there! Curt Great article. I on my trip to Tanzania I found everything Robert said to be true especially the 2 camera bodies. Not only will 2 bodies save you from having from having to swap lens but if one body malfunctions as happened to me it will save your trip. Other tid bits I thought of include taking a photo vest ($30 fly fishing vest at Wal-mart) and cargo pants/shorts with lots of pockets were very handy while out all day on game drives. Small pocket packs of kleenex were a lot more functional than packing toilet paper rolls and had lots of uses. I also found dust to be the biggest issue. The suggestion about Op/Tech rain sleeves is great! To respond to Eric’s question on shooting with truck vibrations, on my trip they did shut off the vehicle any time we had a really good photo op. Most of the suggestions and comments apply as well to any big photo trip i.e. Yellowstone. f8 and be there! Curt

]]> By: Wanda http://www.digital-photography-school.com/preparing-for-an-african-photo-safari/comment-page-1#comment-71519 Wanda Fri, 06 Nov 2009 11:17:40 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/?p=10100#comment-71519 South-Africa has some of the best game reserves in the world and there are game drivers that will take you on guided tours to help you spot some of the animals. Escpecially the Kruger and the Kgalagadi parks are great. It is a great opurtunity for photographing the big 5, but don't get overhelmed by the lions and elephants there are small gems in our game parks that make for great photographic oppurtunities and you can enjoy it with even the smallest cheapest camera. Happy trails Wanda Bloemfontein - South Africa South-Africa has some of the best game reserves in the world and there are game drivers that will take you on guided tours to help you spot some of the animals.
Escpecially the Kruger and the Kgalagadi parks are great. It is a great opurtunity for photographing the big 5, but don’t get overhelmed by the lions and elephants there are small gems in our game parks that make for great photographic oppurtunities and you can enjoy it with even the smallest cheapest camera.

Happy trails
Wanda
Bloemfontein – South Africa

]]> By: Pio Danilo P. Cuadra http://www.digital-photography-school.com/preparing-for-an-african-photo-safari/comment-page-1#comment-71514 Pio Danilo P. Cuadra Fri, 06 Nov 2009 09:48:55 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/?p=10100#comment-71514 How about using a Lowepro Fastpack 350? It can accomodate a sigma 50-500 ex , a canon 70-200 2.8L and a 24-70 2.8 plus two(2) flash guns , a variety of accesssories and a 17" laptop computer . Budget airlines are usually very strict on luggage limit but on regular carriers( ie., the established ones mostly flag carriers) they will allow you to handcarry your backpack inside the plane. On my flight from Manila to Beijing (and vice versa) , China Southern Airlines allowed me to hand carry the above backpack/gear without additional charges. How about using a Lowepro Fastpack 350? It can accomodate a sigma 50-500 ex , a canon 70-200 2.8L and a 24-70 2.8 plus two(2) flash guns , a variety of accesssories and a 17″ laptop computer . Budget airlines are usually very strict on luggage limit but on regular carriers( ie., the established ones mostly flag carriers) they will allow you to handcarry your backpack inside the plane. On my flight from Manila to Beijing (and vice versa) , China Southern Airlines allowed me to hand carry the above backpack/gear without additional charges.

]]> By: Susan http://www.digital-photography-school.com/preparing-for-an-african-photo-safari/comment-page-1#comment-71508 Susan Fri, 06 Nov 2009 08:32:51 +0000 http://digital-photography-school.com/?p=10100#comment-71508 Good article! I live in Kenya and go on safari every chance I get. Was so glad to see one of the previous commenters took the opportunity to squeeze in a couple of hours at Nairobi National Park, it really is lovely, esp. at dusk, and has some great game. I would mention that some care and sensitivity is appreciated when it comes to taking street shots and photos of people generally. In my three years here I have noticed increasing hostility towards photographers, which I think is understandable. There you are in a poor country with a lot of expensive gear, and many people believe that you will be making money selling the pictures you take, even though that is not usually the case. I've had some really interesting discussions with local people about this, and often am then allowed to shoot, but sometimes not. I do not recommend being aggressive about this or just going ahead and shooting anyway -- rude, and possibly dangerous! Good article! I live in Kenya and go on safari every chance I get. Was so glad to see one of the previous commenters took the opportunity to squeeze in a couple of hours at Nairobi National Park, it really is lovely, esp. at dusk, and has some great game.

I would mention that some care and sensitivity is appreciated when it comes to taking street shots and photos of people generally. In my three years here I have noticed increasing hostility towards photographers, which I think is understandable. There you are in a poor country with a lot of expensive gear, and many people believe that you will be making money selling the pictures you take, even though that is not usually the case. I’ve had some really interesting discussions with local people about this, and often am then allowed to shoot, but sometimes not. I do not recommend being aggressive about this or just going ahead and shooting anyway — rude, and possibly dangerous!

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