Safari kit list

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stu2fly2025

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Stuart
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Hello everyone,
Rejoined this forum after a long absence.
I’ve booked a holiday to South Africa in October so starting to look at my photography gear. I use Sony equipment.
What sort of gear would you all recommend I take? I’m thinking of treating myself to an upgrade on my A7ii
All advice greatfully accepted.
Stu
 
Not familiar with Sony gear but I take 2 canon bodies with 70-200 and 300 F2.8 with 1.4 and 2.0 converters
A zoom lens with a range of 100 to 500 on a full frame body should cover most sightings
Lens choice depends on the area you are going as some parks do not allow off road driving so will need longer lens
 
What lenses do you have and what’s your budget? As mentioned above having two bodies is a good idea for two reasons, to avoid changing between lenses in a dusty environment, and as a backup if something breaks.
 
Where are you going, and is a specific holiday like game?
 
stu2fly2025 said:
Hello everyone,
Rejoined this forum after a long absence.
I’ve booked a holiday to South Africa in October so starting to look at my photography gear. I use Sony equipment.
What sort of gear would you all recommend I take? I’m thinking of treating myself to an upgrade on my A7ii
All advice greatfully accepted.
Stu
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Without details of your current kit it’s impossible to recommend ‘upgrades’ that are the best bang for buck.
Also not all safari’s are the same. Where you going, what you planning to shoot?
At the moment there’s too many variables to get ‘advice’
 
I found a 300mm f4 with a tc on a Nikon D3 quite adequate. If you are doing safari, I think a lens in excess of 400mm overkill.

If you are going to get another body, suggest another Sony (a7iii or newer) then at least you won't have to learn a new camera system. I am not familiar with the system at all so I don't know what the lens options are.
 
stu2fly2025 said:
Hello everyone,
Rejoined this forum after a long absence.
I’ve booked a holiday to South Africa in October so starting to look at my photography gear. I use Sony equipment.
What sort of gear would you all recommend I take? I’m thinking of treating myself to an upgrade on my A7ii
All advice greatfully accepted.
Stu
Click to expand...
As above what’s your current gear? If money can stretch then a Sony A1 would be a great choice and upgrade. Insane AF, blackout free shooting, up to 30fps, and 50mp for cropping.

I’d take a decent Tele lens and something wider as you want to take advantage of capturing the animals in their surroundings. No point just getting ‘portrait’ photos imo as they look like they could’ve been taken anywhere and you can get those shots at a Wildlife park.
 
I don’t know Sony but 2 tips:
1 don’t expect to change lenses out on a drive unless you want your sensor covered in dust!
2 disposable shower caps are handy as lens covers, quick to remove but protect from dust

Enjoy your trip
 
Gold said:
What lenses do you have and what’s your budget? As mentioned above having two bodies is a good idea for two reasons, to avoid changing between lenses in a dusty environment, and as a backup if something breaks.
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I have a 100-400mm GM and the 24-70mm GM. I don’t have a massive budget, but I’m will to spend a max of £1000
 
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I’m
Phil V said:
Without details of your current kit it’s impossible to recommend ‘upgrades’ that are the best bang for buck.
Also not all safari’s are the same. Where you going, what you planning to shoot?
At the moment there’s too many variables to get ‘advice’
Click to expand...
Sorry, my kit is a Sony A7ii and I have the 100-400mm GM lens and the 24-70mm GM lens. As for the type of safari I’m not 100% sure at the moment, I’m still awaiting the details. I’d assume it’s a few early morning and evening 4x4 rides through the national park.
 
stu2fly2025 said:
I have a 100-400mm GM and the 24-70mm GM. I don’t have a massive budget, but I’m will to spend a max of £1000
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Unfortunately you're not going to get much of a choice on an upgrade for £1k, maybe a like new use A7III or a good condition A7R III. The A7R III might be a better option to allow you to crop.
 
stu2fly2025 said:
Initially we are going to the Victoria falls, then down to Johannesburg to go on a 3 day game safari. It’s a holiday.
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The 24-70 will probably do you fine for Vic falls (but have the long lens with you), there's Wankie just on the Zimbabwe side, which is one of the best reserves I have been to (admittedly a long time ago)
I haven't been to any reserves near JHB, only suggestion I could make is a 1.4X converter for your 100-400 if there is such a thing. Unless going out at dusk or dawn, you are not likely to be short of light by UK standards.
The details may change your ideas when you know them.
 
OP. As an alternative, which ignores your question, when I did a 6 week trip to New Zealand a few years back I didn't want to find myself lugging kit, changing lenses, etc. I wanted to enjoy the trip and bring back memories. I bought a top of the line Canon bridge camera to take, and whilst it wasn't without fault I haven't regretted it, then or now.

If you're a Sony shooter you might want to look at what they're offering in the way of bridge cameras? Flog it when you get back.
 
I think your current kit will serve you well enough. I took a Canon 7DII, 15-85 and 100-400 to Zambia and came away with shots I was happy with.

Other kit suggestions:
Extra batteries,
Extra memory cards,
Something to keep the dust off the camera and lens between locations,
Decent wide brimmed hat and sunglasses.
Good pair of binoculars,
Light walking boots
Swiss army knife
Insect repellent
Anti histamine cream
 
For just over that budget (or even at if you get lucky) you could get either a used A6700 or an A9. Both have radically better autofocus and should be used on your 100-400. Use the A7ii on the 24-70.
 
JohnX said:
OP. As an alternative, which ignores your question, when I did a 6 week trip to New Zealand a few years back I didn't want to find myself lugging kit, changing lenses, etc. I wanted to enjoy the trip and bring back memories. I bought a top of the line Canon bridge camera to take, and whilst it wasn't without fault I haven't regretted it, then or now.

If you're a Sony shooter you might want to look at what they're offering in the way of bridge cameras? Flog it when you
Click to expand...

Phil V said:
Rather than an upgrade; I’d be looking for a 2nd body so as to avoid lens swapping in the dust
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I am taking a high end compact that I also have.

2nd body could be a great idea
 
Gold said:
For just over that budget (or even at if you get lucky) you could get either a used A6700 or an A9. Both have radically better autofocus and should be used on your 100-400. Use the A7ii on the 24-70.
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The A9 is quite old. Is a second hand one still a better option than a newer A7 model?
 
It's a bargain for a stacked sensor (any other full frame stacked sensor is 3x the price). Blackout free, fast, silent shooting.

From an autofocus perspective you'll have to go up to an A7iv or A6700 to get comparable autofocus. On those cameras the subject detection modes are better (and very helpful) and more modern menus. But when tracking a subject the A9 + blackout free comes into its own. Others may have different opinions but I'd lean towards the A9 for how nice the blackout free shooting is.
 
stu2fly2025 said:
The A9 is quite old. Is a second hand one still a better option than a newer A7 model?
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I think so, the AF, frame rate and blackout free shooting of the A9 are all major plus points. The only thing it lacks compared to the latest A7 is the subject recognition.

With the A9 make sure it's got the latest update so it has real time eye AF tracking.
 
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