Looking for advice tips as a first time African Safari photographer

[ndwgolf]

Hi
I have planned and booked an African Safari (Tanzania) staring on the 17th Jan through the 26th Jan. This will be my first time on an African Safari but not my first time as a foreign traveler.

The safari starts in Arusha (Tanzania) and ends at the same place......below are some of the highlights of the tour.

First of all its a private tour so it will be just me and the Driver/Guide in the vehicle for the 9 days.

This is the vehicle

First night is staying in Arusha
Second day we go to Lake Manyara and shoot whatever we see on the way and spend two nights in Lake Manyara Kirurumu Lodge with morning and afternoon game drives
Forth day we are off to the Serengeti and stay there for two nights with two private game drives each day.
Sixth day we are off to Ngorongoro Crater and stay there for two days with daily game drives inside the crater
Eighth day we are off to Tarangire Balloon Camp and spend one night there (I will also get to go up in a balloon as well...............cant wait for that
Ninth day back to Arusha, then straight from there back to Nigeria for a month on an Oil Rig

So that's the Safari, so what I would like is any tips on what to do/see and what not to do/see while on Safari. I think/hope I have got all the equipment issues sorted from another thread.

Oh forgot to mention that I will be traveling alone as my wife doesn't fancy going to Africa.....................

 

[Kodiak Qc]

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Your probable worst problem and photo-safari trip barker will be dust.

 

[ndwgolf]

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Your probable worst problem and photo-safari trip barker will be dust.

I'm planning not to change lenses in the field if I can really help it

 

[Kodiak Qc]

…if I can really help it

•
Right! …but that's not all.
Dust sneaking in your bag, between the lens rings, etc. …a real pest.

 

[ndwgolf]

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Right! …but that's not all.
Dust sneaking in your bag, between the lens rings, etc. …a real pest.

Ah I see....I never thought of that. I guess I could always pop the extra lenses in freezer bags or something like that so that they will stay dust free for as long as possible.

 

[hollis_f]

The Serengeti will be the worst place for dust. But it's not as bad as some places I've been. I just kept most of my gear in a bag. The two cameras/lenses I was using I kept under a fleece on my lap. It's really only when you pass another vehicle that the dust gets bad. The rest of the time it's less dusty than most big cities.

My biggest bit of advice is to trust your driver/guide. You're not allowed to go off-track in most places, and they're very busy. We arrived at one spot to see a group of about 10 vehicles already there - watching two cheetah brothers. The rule is that you're not allowed to park up between the people who arrived earlier and the game. Luckily, our guide had spotted something that the others had missed - an antelope wandering around on the other side of the mass of vehicles. And that the cheetahs were using the cars to hide behind. So he parked us up behind everybody else - which soon turned into front-row seats as the brothers walked through the lines and started the hunt...

 

[Kodiak Qc]

…freezer bags…

•
You're the man! Clear bags with rubber bands at each end and then, keep away from the sun!

Do they make a freezer bag that may protect your new 600?

 

[ndwgolf]

•
You're the man! Clear bags with rubber bands at each end and then, keep away from the sun!

Do they make a freezer bag that may protect your new 600?

I doubt it.....in any case it will be attached to my D4s all the time. The shop contacted me yesterday and said that my lens will be with them on Thursday

 

[Diving Pete]

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You're the man! Clear bags with rubber bands at each end and then, keep away from the sun!

Do they make a freezer bag that may protect your new 600?

Of course they do - it's called a vacuum pack bag - you get them in all sizes

 

[Box Brownie]

The Serengeti will be the worst place for dust. But it's not as bad as some places I've been. I just kept most of my gear in a bag. The two cameras/lenses I was using I kept under a fleece on my lap. It's really only when you pass another vehicle that the dust gets bad. The rest of the time it's less dusty that most big cities.

My biggest bit of advice is to trust your driver/guide. You're not allowed to go off-track in most places, and they're very busy. We arrived at one spot to see a group of about 10 vehicles already there - watching two cheetah brothers. The rule is that you're not allowed to park up between the people who arrived earlier and the game. Luckily, our guide had spotted something that the others had missed - an antelope wandering around on the other side of the mass of vehicles. And that the cheetahs were using the cars to hide behind. So he parked us up behind everybody else - which soon turned into front-row seats as the brothers walked through the lines and started the hunt...

Sounds like what all guides should 'offer'.........good fieldcraft and local knowledge. Must have been quite a sight seeing the cheetah pair go into hunt mode. Did they succeed or fail?

 

[hollis_f]

Sounds like what all guides should 'offer'.........good fieldcraft and local knowledge. Must have been quite a sight seeing the cheetah pair go into hunt mode. Did they succeed or fail?

We assume they succeeded. The antelope disappeared behind a large clump of grass, followed by the cheetahs. Nothing appeared on the other side of the clump.

We got two cheetah hunts that day. The second was further away with 6 vehicles already there watching another two cheetahs lounging around in the grass. After a while the other vehicles left, but out guide told us that there was a young antelope walking towards the brothers. So we waited, and waited. Unfortunately I'd put the camera down when everything exploded into action, so I just watched it through the bins.