Photographic Safari

What camera to bring on safari

A body with quick autofocus and a long zoom does most of the work. Wildlife photographers usually shoot somewhere between 200 and 600 mm. A 100 to 400 mm or 100 to 500 mm zoom handles animals beside the vehicle and those out on the plain without a lens change; a 200 to 600 mm gives more reach for birds and shy cats. Add a wider lens for landscapes, ideally on a second body, so you are not swapping glass in the dust.

Leave the tripod at home. A beanbag over the window frame or roof edge steadies a long lens far better in a game-drive vehicle. Bring more batteries and memory cards than seems sensible: our Land Cruisers have charging points, but a long morning at a sighting fills cards fast.

Going for the calving season? Our calving season photography tips cover autofocus settings and predator action on the southern plains.