Additional kit (lenses) for a trip to Kenya?

Hooblue

Hooblue

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My wife and I are off to Kenya next year as her best mate is getting married there. While we're there we are obviously planning on doing the whole safari thing. I was just wondering what additional kit I could get that would help me out, specifically if any new lenses would be helpful?

At the moment I've got a Nikon D5000 with the standard 18-55mm kit lens, as well as a Nikor 55-200mm VR. However I was wondering if a longer zoom would be helpful, maybe a 70-300mm?

The trouble is that my budget isn't huge to be honest, probably a max of £300ish. I've seen the following that I'm interested in:

Nikon AF-S VR 70-300 f/4.5-5.6G IF-ED

Sigma 70-300mm f4-5.6 DG OS

Sigma 70-300mm f4-5.6 APO DG Macro

Tamron AF 70-300mm F4-5.6 Di LD Macro

I've listed these in the order which I assume would be preferable, but is the Nikon worth paying the extra for over the Sigma's? How much of a difference would I see? I was chatting to a tog the other day and he mentioned getting a converter to use with my 55-200mm that would give me more range. Is it worth looking at these? Or maybe hiring a lens for the trip?

Also, would anyone recommend any other lenses (or accessories for that matter) that may be useful?
 
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Went there this summer.

You will def benefit from the 70-300 mm if you are out on safari because although you will get close to some animals, others will be too far away for a 200mm.

Where do you intend to go?
 
simonw said:
Where do you intend to go?
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To be honest I have no idea yet. We have actually only just returned from our honeymoon, only to discover that my wifes best mate has decided to get married in Kenya rather than here. Seeing as my wife is head bridesmaid, it means we have to go too, so no plans yet as to locations etc, although I think the hotel they are staying in is in Diani or something.
 
Hooblue said:
To be honest I have no idea yet. We have actually only just returned from our honeymoon, only to discover that my wifes best mate has decided to get married in Kenya rather than here. Seeing as my wife is head bridesmaid, it means we have to go too, so no plans yet as to locations etc, although I think the hotel they are staying in is in Diani or something.
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Diani is where the majority of the hotels are south of Mombassa, so very likely.

I will try and post some pictures taken with the 70-300mm later.
 
simonw said:
Diani is where the majority of the hotels are south of Mombassa, so very likely.

I will try and post some pictures taken with the 70-300mm later.
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Thanks!

So a 70-300mm is the way to go? If so which one, bearing in mind cost and IQ?
 
footman said:
We stayed in a Diani beach hotel after our safari 3 years ago. Superb hotel and lovely people. Just don't step outside the hotel.
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You will get hassled if you step onto the beach - but if you ignore them they will give up.
 
footman said:
We stayed in a Diani beach hotel after our safari 3 years ago. Superb hotel and lovely people. Just don't step outside the hotel.
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What utter rubbish! Kenya is a fantastic place to visit, why bother going if your going to stay inside your hotel?
 
if it is only for 2 weeks and you will not use the lens much afterwards.... why not rent one for £30/week or thereabouts?
 
Diani beach was my 2nd home for 11 years and know it well, loads of hotels and as advised stay to the beach if walking about and be prepeared to be pesterd by people hawking their wares.

I managed a safari in 2008 with the sigma 70-300 APO
see some pics in my gallery but i would love to go back armed with maybe the 100-400!

one word of advise - try not to change lenses very often the dust is very fine and just gets everywhere.
 
I'm going on safari to Kenya on the 28th - not long now! - and I opted to rent from lensesforhire.

My thought processes behind it was that I can try out some kit over a long period of time to see if I like it and can then make up my mind as to whether I'd have much use for the lenses I went and bought them.

Oh, I went for the 100-400 and 10-22.
 
CyBeRkId2002 said:
I went on Safari in Kenya and the longest zoom I had was 85mm but still got some decent shots, really depends on how close you want to get.

Theres a gallery here and I believe all safari shots are at 85mm: http://www.flickr.com/photos/captain_hotdog/sets/72157624642816425/
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Some animals are relatively "friendly" and you will get quite close - others are definiately not. So yes you can take a shorter lens and you will get some very good shots - but you may also miss a lot of opportunities which the 70-300 will allow you to capture.

I bought the Nikon version for the holiday - and for aircraft shots and to me it was money worth spent.
 
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Out of the lenses in the first post it has to be the Nikon....you can get them mint used off eBay for £300.
Neil
 
simonw said:
Some animlas are relatively "friendly" and you will get quite close - others are definiately not. So yes you can take a shorter lens and you will get some very good shots - but you may also miss a lot of opportunities which the 70-300 will allow you to capture.

I bought the Nikon version for the holiday - and for aircraft shots and to me it was money worth spent.
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yeah, completely agree and could have done with more reach on quite a few occasions however I personally feel that 200mm should be enough to capture 95% of shots the OP wanted. Ultimately (as with all photography) it depends how much you value that extra 5%.
 
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rent that way you can have the best quality without the wallet thumping. thats my plan for safari andyway as I wouldn't use anything over 200mm much in my normal shooting.
 
Nikon 70-300 is such a versatile lens you'll find yourself using it for many other things once you're back form Kenya. I love mine to bits and along with a a couple of wide primes it's all I ever need on my D300. Cracking sharpness, fast AF, excellent VR and lightweight. Just be carefull with it on Safari, it's not built like a tokina tank ;) I got mine new after a nasty ebay second hand surprise and think it was about £400... worth every penny!
 
tintin said:
Oh and maybe get a beanbag to rest the lens/camera on if you're in a jeep all day?
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Cheers guys. I'm tempted to hire one of the Nikons before I go to see what it's like, and if I think I'll use it again in everyday shooting then it'll be money well spent. If not then I can hire it again just for the trip.

I was chatting to a tog called Barry Mead the other day (http://www.barrymead-photography.com/) and he mentioned a bean bag too. He said he actually takes an empty bag and then when he arrives just buys some rice and fills it up as it saves weight on the trip. Gives the rice to the locals when he's done. Good tip I thought!
 
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CyBeRkId2002 said:
What utter rubbish! Kenya is a fantastic place to visit, why bother going if your going to stay inside your hotel?
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Utter rubbish eh? Tell that to the 2 folk in our group who went for a stroll early one evening.They spent the rest of the evening with the police and at a clinic. We were specifically warned not to onto the street outside. The beach was fine.

I obviously didn't mean on group tours etc. The villagers we met on our tours were great people.
 
One thing I learnt about safaris is don't forget to put the camera down once in a while and just take the view in with your eyes. I got some lovely pictures but my best memories of the wild animals are actually in my head (does that make sense?).

Lens-wise I think 300mm on a crop camera is fine. The drivers are very skilled at getting close to the action :)
 
If it were me I would go for hiring a lens maybe along the lines of a 200-400. If it is a trip that you are not going to repeat then I would not want to be let down by my kit. Obviously weight might be an issue, either that or fast 300 or 400 prime as your current lenses cover up to 300.

I don't know how much time you will be spending on safari but if you do either dawn or dusk shots a fast lens will come into its own
 
I don't leave the house without a prime lens so I'd certainly be taking at least one - guess the 35/1.8 or 50/1.4 AFS's for your camera - there's going to be a lot to photograph other than animals a long way off.
 
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i used a 70-300 and got some cracking shots. like "thepielander" said, don't forget to put the camera down once in a while.

One thing to think about is the size of the lens.... my 70-300 just fit in the room safe, you dont want to be leaving 1000 worth of hire lens in your room when you at the pool.

if your looking for cheap safari drop me a pm, i have some contacts of the guys we used, and they were very good, local and didnt have a website, but very good all the same... did an overnighter to the masi mara by plane and stayed in a super lodge for the same price as a british tour operator wanted for a long day driving..... and no hotel in a closer park.

some photos i took
 
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stokes said:
i used a 70-300 and got some cracking shots. like "thepielander" said, don't forget to put the camera down once in a while.

One thing to think about is the size of the lens.... my 70-300 just fit in the room safe, you dont want to be leaving 1000 worth of hire lens in your room when you at the pool.

if your looking for cheap safari drop me a pm, i have some contacts of the guys we used, and they were very good, local and didnt have a website, but very good all the same... did an overnighter to the masi mara by plane and stayed in a super lodge for the same price as a british tour operator wanted for a long day driving..... and no hotel in a closer park.

some photos i took
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Cheers! :thumbs: I'll certainly be doing that once we've got accomodation etc sorted. I don't fancy paying tour operator prices and get to drive around in big crowds!
 
adrian5127 said:
If it were me I would go for hiring a lens maybe along the lines of a 200-400.
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Definitely hire a good lens (or buy one second-hand and sell it for the same price when you return, you may even make a profit). And, if I were a Nikonian, I'd really like to get the 200-400. If that's a bit heavy then the 300 f2.8 would be very good, especially with some TCs (it's what I use on my Canon).
 
A bean bag is dependant on the vehicle you use. Traditionally its a transit size van with a raiseable roof for you to stand up and take in the scenery. This is where you want a bean bag as you have something to rest it on, otherwise it might be a landrover/landcruiser with the top cut off from below the windows and a canvas top. No where to put the bean bag.

The guides are good and will wait for you to get your pictures. It is also worth actually considering asking permission if you are taking pics of people in the villages as some may not like it. (however tokens of appreciation go down well). I would advised fly to the Mara as aposed to driving, the roads arnt that great and will leave you sore However if i remeber correctly you do go through the rift valley which have some nice vistas.

If you can do it. try a walking safari, it takes most part of the day but you can really learn alot from the guides and almost get closer to nature.

Whatever you do, have fun remember to put the camera down once in a while. Enjoy the roar of the lions in the dead of night!
 
when i went back in '08 It was totally open just had a roll cage and a canvas top on. Its generally the smaller camps that operate these.

such as this one
n557555559_920736_4490.jpg
 
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