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40 Safari Photography Tips For Stunning Wildlife Photos

Written by BELLA FALK

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So you’ve booked your dream African safari , and you’re ready to go! 

I imagine you’re excited for the adventures, the landscapes, the amazing food and the friendly people, but mostly for all that incredible wildlife you’re going to see – and photograph.

But you don’t want to spend all that money and go all that way, only to come back with rubbish photos! You want to make the most of the opportunities that are about to unfold in front of you, and come home with stellar safari images to post on Instagram and put up on your wall. 

If that’s why you’re here – you’ve come to the right place!

Welcome to my top 40 African safari photography tips , to help you bring home wildlife photos you’ll treasure for years to come. 

About my safari photography experience

Hello! In case we haven’t met, I’m Bella, and I’m an award-winning travel and wildlife photographer . 

I’ve photographed wildlife on all seven continents , from penguins in Antarctica to puffins in the UK and from whales in Sri Lanka to sloths in Costa Rica . 

In 2020 I won Travel Photographer of the Year at the UK Travel Media Awards (and was a finalist in 2019 and 2023 too).

My wildlife images have been shortlisted five times in the world-famous Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition. I’ve written and photographed for National Geographic Traveller, BBC Wildlife Magazine and Travel Africa among others, and I’ve led workshops and written guides to travel photography and wildlife photography .

Read more: 60+ Awesome Antarctica Photography Tips

But most importantly, I love safari photography!

I’ve worked with safari companies in Botswana and Kenya to shoot images for national publications , and I’ve also photographed safaris in South Africa, Ghana, Tanzania and Uganda (where I lived for three months). 

Throughout all of that I’ve learned a few things about how to make the most of your safari photography tour, and I’d like to share some of that knowledge with you now. 

I’ve tried to write this for beginners and intermediate shooters so I’ve kept it fairly simple, but hopefully there are tips and inspiration in here for more advanced photographers as well. 

Let’s get started! 

Wildlife photography for beginners: some troubleshooting

If you’ve come here looking for Africa safari photography advice, that probably means you’re currently a bit dissatisfied with your wildlife photography.

So first up, I want to discuss some of the reasons why you might be finding your photos disappointing, and what you can do to deal with some of those issues. 

The animals are too far away

If you’re annoyed because the wildlife in your photos appears too small, you need to get closer! You can do that in one of three ways: 

• Ask your driver to move closer (if it’s possible without breaking any rules or disturbing the animal).
• Wait and hope the animal comes closer to you.
• Zoom in. If you’re already fully zoomed in, then you’re gonna need to buy a bigger lens or a better camera. You could also crop the image later, but how much you can get away with depends on the resolution of your camera.

The photos are blurry

Blurred images happen for one of three reasons:

• Camera shake. Use a faster shutter speed to counteract things like bumpy roads or shaky hands.
• The animal is moving too quickly. Again, you need a faster shutter speed to freeze the animal’s motion (unless you’re going for an artistic slow shutter speed effect).
• Your image is not in focus. Modern cameras have extremely advanced autofocussing systems but if you don’t know how to use yours properly, it can and will make bad decisions. Get properly acquainted with your camera’s focussing system, and practise using it!

The images are poor quality

If you’re not happy with the resolution or quality of the images your camera produces, I’m afraid the only answer is to buy a better camera!

But this doesn’t mean you need to splurge thousands on a top-of the range new camera. You can get great deals on older camera models second hand , and many of them are excellent.

I shot this image using a Canon 5D Mark II which you can buy today second hand from Wex , MPB.com or eBay for less than £200.

The lighting is bad: the image looks too harsh, too dark, or too flat

Most safari game drives take place in the early mornings and late afternoons which is when the animals are usually most active. Happily, this tends to also be the prettiest light for photography, but sometimes it can be quite dark. So in an ideal world you should also have a camera that can cope well in low light. 

If the light is dull, flat or too harsh, there are still ways round it. Try changing the position of the car so the subject is backlit, or using a high- or low-key technique to exploit strong contrast.

Learning to edit your images will also make a huge difference: shoot in RAW and then try adjusting the exposure, highlights and shadows, or convert to black and white.

Safari photography tips: before you go

1/ choosing your camera.

Your trusty camera is your window into the wild, so pick the right tool for the job! While it is possible to take great safari images with a smartphone, unfortunately you will be very limited by what your phone camera can do.

If you really want to get those beautiful closeups and soft backgrounds, you’ll need a DSLR or a mirrorless camera with interchangeable lenses – or at the very least a compact camera with a good zoom lens.

You also need to consider factors like how much weight you’re prepared to carry, weather sealing (dust and rain resistance), image stabilisation, and how well it performs in low light.

In Tanzania and Uganda’s national parks I used my much-loved Canon 5D Mark IV ; for my recent trips to Botswana and Kenya I upgraded to a Canon R5 mirrorless which has a much faster focussing system with animal eye detection which is a total game changer for safari photography.

2/ Learn your camera

That said, there’s no point in splashing out thousands on a fancy camera if you don’t know how to use it. The best camera for safari photography is always the one you know well and are comfortable using. 

So if you do splurge on a new camera, don’t be caught fumbling with settings when that perfect wildlife moment arises! Make sure you learn its functions beforehand, explore the menu, and practise using it so that it feels like second nature by the time you’re out in the bush.

I took my new R5 to London Zoo and London Wetland Centre before heading to Kenya , so that I could get it set up how I like it and get any teething troubles out of the way in a controlled environment.

3/ Master your camera’s focus

Modern cameras have extremely intelligent focussing systems that take much of the trial and error out of focussing – but you do need to know how to control them or they’ll take over and get things wrong!

It’s vital you learn how your camera’s focusing system works, get it set up in a way that works for you, and practise focusing on moving subjects. 

Experiment with single-point autofocus for static subjects and continuous autofocus (or servo mode) for tracking moving animals. Don’t be afraid to manually focus for a critical shot, but I normally reserve that for when the subject is still and the autofocus can’t cope – such as a lion sitting amongst tall grasses.

Many newer cameras have fantastic animal eye detection AI but it doesn’t always work and you need to know how to take over quickly if it doesn’t want to play ball. 

4/ Pick the right lenses

The lens you choose will dramatically impact the types of shots you can capture.

A telephoto lens (200 mm and above) is essential for bringing distant animals closer – and I’d recommend a minimum of 400 mm. 

Consider a zoom lens for versatility, but a prime lens offers superior image quality at a fixed focal length. Don’t forget a wider lens (24-70mm range) for capturing landscapes and dramatic animal encounters at close range.

Prime lenses or lenses with a wide maximum aperture (f/4 and below) give you more of that lovely shallow depth of field and perform better in low light, but big prime lenses like the Canon RF 400mm f2.8 L are very large and eye-wateringly expensive!

Check out my guide to camera gear for wildlife photography in Antarctica – you can obviously ignore the cold weather and water sections but all the camera and lens advice is pretty much the same.

5/ Take a second body

It’s a luxury, but if you do have a second camera or a spare body, I recommend you bring it. 

Animal encounters can change in the blink of an eye, and you don’t want to be rushing to change lenses when the lion suddenly comes right up to you, or when you want to switch between a close up and a wide shot showing the environment.

The African bush is also very dusty, so not having to change lenses while you’re out and about will help protect your gear.

I always take two cameras – one fitted with a long lens for close ups or animals that are far away, and one fitted with a wide lens for landscapes or if an elephant is right next to the car. A backup camera is also there should some misfortune befall your main camera.

If you don’t have a spare, why not buy an older model, cheap and second hand ? You can get great deals on pre-loved gear and having a second camera will definitely add more flexibility to your African safari photography.  

6/ Protect your gear

If you’re going to take all that expensive gear to Africa and expose it to the dust, wind, sand and possibly rain, you’d better protect it! 

Invest in a decent padded backpack , and a rain cover for when an unexpected downpour blows in through the side of your open vehicle. Make sure you bring plenty of lens cloths and a dust blower , and give your gear a wipe at the end of every day to keep it in top condition.

And don’t forget proper insurance! Most cameras are too expensive to be covered by your travel insurance policy, so check and get separate gear insurance or cover it under your home insurance policy instead.

7/ Shoot RAW and learn to edit

While RAW files take up more space and need post-processing, they capture more data than JPEGs and offer the flexibility to edit your images to bring out their best. 

If you really want to take your wildlife photography to the next level, one of my top safari photography tips is to shoot RAW and learn some editing skills, to transform your images from good to great.

8/ Dress for success

Neutral-coloured clothing blends into the environment, making you less likely to spook the animals.

Opt for natural fabrics or sweat-wicking sportswear that breathes well in hot weather, and avoid bright colors and noisy clothing that might startle wildlife.

Read more about what to pack for safari here .

9/ Beanbag, tripod or monopod?

If you’re taking a large telephoto lens, you’ll need stabilisation. It’s hard to hold a heavy camera and lens for long periods at a time! 

Some safari companies provide beanbags for you to rest on the window ledge or roof, while others have adapted their cars with padded arm rests to balance your camera on. So it’s worth asking before you travel. 

I usually pack an empty photography beanbag , which I can then fill with beans or rice at the local market when I arrive. 

A tripod or monopod can offer even greater stability but can be impractical if you want to change your angle in a hurry, or if you don’t have much space. However, if you have a monopod (and trust it!), you can also use it to lower your camera over the side of the car for eye-catching low-angle shots. 

10/ Don’t forget spare cards and batteries

Running out of power or storage on safari is a recipe for disappointment!

Pack plenty of fully-charged batteries and enough memory cards – you’ll probably shoot way more than you usually do. Consider high-capacity, fast cards for capturing bursts of action, like birds in flight or a cheetah on the hunt. 

Cards are expensive, so I bring just two, and then back up my photos daily onto a portable hard drive before reusing the cards the next day. 

Find out more about my travel photography workflow here .

African safari photography tips: practicalities

Getting the best out of your safari photography begins before you leave the lodge – in fact, you could say it begins before you even get on the plane!

Here are some things to think about before you head out on your safari adventure:

11/ Ask about your vehicle

Not all safari vehicles are created equal. Before you book, find out what type of car you’ll be using. Will it be open sided; will it have a pop-up or a roll-back top?

Does everyone get a window seat, or will some people have to sit in the middle? Is there tiered seating and will you be able to get down low?

Ideally, you want a car with open sides and a pop-up or open roof for unobstructed views. At all costs avoid tour buses or normal-style jeeps with windows that don’t open fully.  

I prefer to book with companies that offer smaller vehicles (maximum six people per car) and a guaranteed window seat. In an ideal world, you’ll be able to have an entire row to yourself, so you have a prime spot no matter which side the animal is on. 

Knowing the vehicle will also help you choose the right accessories to bring: do you need a monopod or a beanbag? Will you have space to spread your gear out or will you need to bring a more compact setup?

12/ Consider a private car

For the ultimate in control and flexibility, a private safari vehicle might be better for you if you have the budget. 

Not having to worry about what other people want to do, or compete for the best angles, allows you to tailor the itinerary to your photographic goals, spread yourself around the car, and get in the perfect position every time. 

Looking for African safari tours? Search TourRadar for a huge selection from 5* operators

13/ Talk to your guide

Your guide is your key to unlocking the secrets of the bush – he or she is the person who’ll hopefully help you find your dream safari animals or get the shots you’re after.

What’s more, a good guide who understands light and angles is probably the number one most important thing you can have for safari photography. So before the trip or when you first arrive, I always tell the company I’m a photographer and ask to be assigned their best photography guide.

I noticed a huge difference in both Kenya and Botswana between the shots I got with a guide who really ‘got’ photography, and the ones who didn’t. 

Chat to them before you head out on your first game drive. Let them know the wildlife you’re hoping to see and the shots you’d like to get, and they will do their best to help you.

When you’re out and about, don’t be afraid to ask if you want something. The guide won’t know what shot you have in mind, so if you want to stop, move on, nudge the car forward or back a little, get a little closer, or find a different angle, just ask. It might not always be possible or allowed, but they will do their best to help you if they can. 

Remember though, that guides, while brilliant, are not miracle workers. If you’re desperate to see a leopard, they will use all their skills to help find one, but unfortunately the animals don’t perform on demand and sightings are never guaranteed. 

14/ Don’t just talk, listen!

As well as communicating your needs effectively, it’s important to listen. Guides are a goldmine of information when it comes to animals – not only in general, but they will also know the habits of specific animals in their patch. Your guide will be able to tell you where and when you’ll have the best chance of seeing a certain species or where certain individuals like to hang out. 

Once you’ve found the animal, the guides are experts at recognising behaviour cues and will be able to tell you if the lion is about to stretch or the hippo is about to yawn, so you can capture the money shot.

In Kenya, our guide Saruni anticipated that this lion would be thirsty after eating and would walk to this puddle to drink, so he positioned the car in the perfect spot and then all we had to do was wait for the lion to come to us.

15/ Get up early and stay out late

Lighting is crucial in photography. Early mornings and late afternoons offer the soft, golden light that creates stunning wildlife portraits, while midday sun can be harsh, creating strong contrast and deep shadows. 

Typically, most safari itineraries include morning and afternoon game drives, as that is when the animals are most active. Make sure you’re ready to go – if you hit snooze or dawdle over breakfast, you’ll may miss the best moments.

Likewise, at the end of the day many safari companies offer ‘sundowner’ drinks and snacks – which is exactly when you want to be photographing. So I always let my guide know that I’d prefer to skip cocktail hour and keep shooting instead (which is much easier to do if you’re not sharing the car with non-photographers who don’t take kindly to this!).

Safari photography tips: framing and composition

16/ think about your composition.

Now you’ve sorted the practicalities, it’s time to think about the images you’re going to take. Don’t just snap what’s in front of you – instead, think about what you want to include or leave out, and where you want the main focal point to be. 

You’re probably already familiar with the Rule of Thirds, where you imagine dividing the frame into thirds and then place your subject off-centre on one of those ‘third lines’ to create a more pleasing composition. Give it a go!

I explain more about the Rule of Thirds, as well as giving loads more general wildlife photography tips, in my Easy wildlife photography tips for beginners post. 

17/ What’s in shot? Keep it simple.

Be mindful of what fills your frame. Where possible, try to avoid clutter and distracting elements like branches or leaves that obstruct your subject. If necessary, change position in the car or ask the driver to move back or forward a little to get a better angle.

Avoid photos with too many elements competing for attention. Where there are many animals together, try to isolate one to three individuals, or wait for the group to space out a little to create a clean composition.

There were many zebras at this waterhole at Leroo La Tau in Botswana but I focussed on just these three to create a simple composition

18/ What’s in the background?

A messy background can detract from your subject. Whether that’s tangled trees or random other animals, try to aim for clean backdrops that don’t distract.

If necessary, ask your driver to move the car, or wait for the animal to move into a better position.

19/ Focus on the eye

In wildlife photography, it’s generally accepted that you should always focus on the main animal’s eye. We want the viewer to connect with the subject, and we are naturally drawn to eyes, so if the eye isn’t in focus the viewer’s connection to the image may be lost.

There are exceptions of course, such as if the eye isn’t visible in the shot, or you’ve deliberately chosen something else to focus on, but as a general rule of thumb, you should always get at least one eye sharp.

20/ Wait for eye contact

Connected with this, notice how when the animal’s gaze is locked on you, it creates an extra dramatic connection.

Some safari animals are curious and will look right at you, so keep your camera poised and ready to click the shutter at that crucial moment when your subject looks right at your lens.

21/ Get low

Sitting in a car, with the animal on the ground, most of the time you’ll be looking down on your subject and the background will be the grass around it. 

It’s not easy to do because most of the time it’s not safe to get out of the car, but if you can get down to the same level or lower than your subject so it’s framed against the sky instead, it makes for much more dramatic images. 

You obviously can’t do this when there are predators around, but if you ask your guide, it may be possible if the animal is a herbivore, it’s far enough away and you stay close to the car. I shot these rhinos by staying safely behind the car, and lying on the ground so I could shoot underneath it. 

22/ Shoot landscapes

Another top safari photography tip to remember is that going on safari isn’t just about the animals.

Don’t forget to capture the vastness and beauty of the African landscape, from the wide savanna grasslands, to lonely trees silhouetted against the sunset, to dramatic mountains on the horizon or reflections in lakes and wetlands. 

23/ Include the environment for context

Show how your animal subject interacts with its environment. Did you spot a lioness stalking through tall grass or a solitary giraffe eating acacia? Close ups can be dramatic and beautiful but including context can tell a different story. 

In Tsavo West, Kenya , I was amazed by the magnificent elephants which are often stained red or orange thanks to the landscape’s red dust. In this image I wanted to show how the elephants’ vivid colour stands out in the dry landscape and is mirrored by the orange dust bath just behind them.

24/ Shoot silhouettes

Sunrise and sunset are the most magical times for safari photography. And if you get dramatic colours in the sky, you can shoot sensational silhouettes. 

Find a recognisable animal – giraffes and elephants are great for this – and then get down low (positioning your car a little downhill is ideal) so the animal’s shape is against the sky and you can see its legs.

Time the shot so all the legs and the tail are visible, and underexpose by a stop or two to bring out the sky and turn the animal into a dark silhouette.

25/ Use the beauty of backlighting 

It’s tempting to always have the sun fully illuminating your subject from the front, but moving round to the other side so the animal is backlit often gives much more attractive results.

Low backlighting at the beginning and end of the day also illuminates grasses and creates a beautiful rim of light around your animal, highlighting the texture of its fur.

26/ Look up and around

Don’t forget to look skyward! Capture African birds soaring overhead, or giraffes munching on leaves from tall trees.

And don’t forget to look behind you too. While everyone is clicking away at resting lions, there might be some hyenas or a band of mongooses on the other side of the car.

27/ Include soft foreground elements

Frame your shot with interesting foreground elements like wildflowers, tall grasses, or branches, using a wide aperture and shallow depth of field to make them soft focus. This creates depth in your image and draws the viewer’s eye towards your subject.

This spoonbill standing by a lake was a pretty boring shot, until I moved behind the bush to create a natural frame around the bird. 

28/ Include cars and people 

As well as taking shots of the animals you see, don’t forget to include people too. 

Sometimes lions, elephants and other wildlife comes extremely close to the vehicles, and you can’t get a clean shot. Embrace this and make a point of it! Shots of animals and people’s reaction to them being so close can give you dramatic images and great memories of your safari photography trip.

29/ Try high key and low key

Playing with your exposure and going for a minimalistic look can add a new dimension to your safari photos. 

High key photography, emphasising bright whites and light colours, creates a clean feel, and can work well on overcast days when the sky is white. A great way to start practising with this is to find an animal against a white sky, and overexpose by a stop or two to blow out the sky and give an airy feel to the image.

Conversely, low key photography emphasises darker tones and deeper shadows, ideal for dramatic portraits. This works best if you have an animal lit by the sun against a darker background such as trees or rocks. Underexpose by 1-2 stops for that moody look.

I mainly shoot aperture priority, so the exposure compensation wheel is your friend here if you want to start experimenting.

30/ Use black and white to convey drama or texture

I love bright colours, but sometimes, stripping the colour away can be incredibly powerful. 

Black and white photography can allow the textures and shapes of your subject to shine – and works especially well with patterned animals like zebras, leopards or giraffes. 

Converting your image to black and white is also great for giving a boost to flat images shot on cloudy days or in disappointing light.

31/ Don’t ignore the little guys

While everyone wants jaw-dropping shots of lions and cheetahs, don’t ignore the less celebrity animals.

Some antelopes have wonderful character and colours, and if you look at your feet you may spot a colourful lizard or a fascinating dung beetle. So keep your eyes open!

32/ Look for natural framing

Trees, leaves, or even the bodies of other animals can create great natural frames which add interest to your composition.

In the image of silver-backed jackal pups below, I deliberately cropped the shot so the body of the standing puppy makes a natural frame around its siblings

33/ Try an unusual crop

You don’t always need to include the whole of the animal. If your zoom allows, why not crop in to draw the attention to details or a single individual amongst a herd.

I’ve cropped this image so you only see the eye and mouth of the mother crocodile, but it draws attention to the two babies sitting on her head.

34/ Be creative

Try to think outside the box with your images. What can you shoot that tells a story in an creative way but isn’t a basic portrait of an animal? 

Perhaps a lone elephant casts a long shadow as the sun dips below the horizon. Or look for reflections in watering holes – the mirrored image can add an artistic touch.

Buy my safari prints

Did you know that all my images are available to buy as prints to hang on your wall? And if you head to my Print Store and something you like is not there, you can simply message me via the contact form or on social media and I can add it for you.

Safari photography tips: some tricks and techniques

35/ aperture or shutter priority, or manual.

Some photographers like to make you think that if you’re not always shooting full manual, you’re just an amateur. Well I’m here to tell you that’s rubbish, so don’t worry.

Yes, you do need to get away from full auto, because although auto can be helpful and gets some things right, it often gets things wrong too.

But the ‘semi-auto’ modes, where you tell the camera your priorities and it calculates the rest, are ideal for wildlife photography. Things happen quickly and unexpectedly on safari, and there simply isn’t time for you to be fiddling with all the settings.

Looking for Africa photography safaris? Check out   these photo safaris  to fin d your dream trip

I pretty much always use Aperture Priority (AV) mode with my aperture fully wide open for lovely soft depth of field, while keeping an eye on my shutter speed to make sure it’s not too slow for fast-moving animals.

I keep my ISO on manual as well, to avoid the camera pushing it right up and giving me noisy images.

You could also use Shutter Priority (TV) mode to make sure your shutter is fast enough to freeze the action, but then you don’t have any control over the depth of field you want.

36/ Auto focus or manual focus?

Manual focus can definitely be useful at times, but in general I always use auto focus. Cameras have extremely complex and clever auto focussing systems, so why wouldn’t you use it!

You do need to understand your focussing system and know how to control it, otherwise the camera may choose to focus on the wrong thing. I use a single spot which I either point at the subject and then reframe to take the shot, or I move the spot around the frame. For fast-moving animals, the animal eye detection AI is really very good, but not always perfect.

For more on how I set up my camera for wildlife photography, check out Using The Canon R5 For Wildlife Photography: A Full Review .

37/ Use burst mode to freeze action

The animal kingdom is unpredictable, and perfect photo opportunities can happen in a flash. 

Today’s DSLRs and mirrorless cameras – and even smartphones – can now shoot many frames per second, allowing you to capture a rapid sequence of images and increasing your chances of getting that razor-sharp shot of a lion leaping or a gazelle mid-air. 

Later, you can sort through the burst and select the image with the perfect composition and action frozen in time.

I used a high-speed burst to take a sequence of images of this leopard snapping a flies so that I could pick the facial expression I liked best (on the right).

38/ Or experiment with slower shutter speeds

Safari photography is all about capturing movement and it can be tempting to go for the fastest shutter speeds possible to freeze the action.  

Why not try using a slower shutter speed and either panning or zooming at the same time, to create a sense of motion and a very different look?

I used a slow shutter speed of 0.3 seconds and turned the zoom as I took the photo to create this impressionistic images of a lion in Botswana.

39/ Be patient

Animals move on their own schedule, and if you get bored too quickly, you may miss that dream moment. In fact, some of my best shots have happened after all the other cars have got bored and left, while we waited and were rewarded for our patience. 

So embrace the waiting game! Enjoy the scenery, listen to the sounds of the savannah, but always be ready to shoot quickly when that leopard finally comes down from the tree or the sleeping lion gets up and goes on the hunt.

Click here to start planning your dream photo safari adventure!

40/ Be a team player

Sharing a vehicle means compromising sometimes. If another guest has a dream shot, or there’s only one good angle on the animal, be flexible and allow them some space, and they should do the same for you.

The same goes for your car as a whole. Don’t be that guy who parks in front or hogs the best spot for hours. You may not get every shot, but life is better when people are considerate of others too – and it’s better for the animals if they’re not being harassed by jostling cars.

Communication and courtesy go a long way in ensuring everyone gets a chance to capture unforgettable moments and has a great time in the process.

And that’s it! I hope you enjoyed all these tips for safari photography.

My favourite travel tools and brands

To help you organise your trip, here’s a short list of some of the brands and tools I use over and over again when I’m planning my travels. You can see more on my Travel Resources page.

• Booking.com : A huge range of hotels to choose from, often with free cancellation. If you book hotels regularly you can earn discounts. I’m on Genius Level 3 which gets me 20% off!
• Expedia : Another great place to find hotels and Expedia also sell flights , car hire, and loads more all in one place.
• Skyscanner : The only place I ever go to search for flights and compare prices.
• Flight Centre : Booking a more complicated route? Let Flight Centre organise it for you (and deal with the drama when something goes wrong).
• Priority Pass: I love having access to 1,400+ airport lounges when I fly, allowing me to enjoy my time at the airport. With my link you get 30% off a standard membership or 20% off standard plus.
• Airalo: Say goodbye to ridiculous mobile roaming charges. Did you know you can now buy an e-SIM , install it in your phone before you leave home, and then use data abroad at local prices? Game changer.
• TourRadar: If you prefer group travel and organised tours, TourRadar has a huge range of fantastic tours from respected operators. They’re very helpful and have 4.5 stars on TrustPilot.
• Viator: Part of the TripAdvisor brand, Viator is another great place to search for group adventures and day trips.
• GetYourGuide: A great place to find local tours and day trips in your destination.
• Wex Photo Video: The UK’s best camera gear store. Quote my name – Bella Falk – to get £20 off your first purchase.
• Ellis Brigham: Looking for good quality backpacks, travel clothes and other gear? Ellis Brigham is where I buy almost all of mine.
• Rentalcars.com: Part of the Booking.com family and the world’s largest online car rental service, with 24/7 customer service.
• World Nomads Travel Insurance: I never ever travel without travel insurance and nor should you!

Where to next?

If you liked this safari photography tips post, why not try some of my other safari posts?

• A Kenya Safari Holiday: How To Plan The Perfect Trip For You
• Which Is The Best Botswana Safari Lodge? My Favourites With Photos
• Kenya Vs Tanzania: Travel Experts Decide
• 28 Brilliant Things To Do In Uganda
• 46 Amazing African Safari Animals – A Photo Guide
• What To Wear On Safari: My Detailed Safari Packing List With Photos
• My Camera Equipment List: What’s In My Gear Bag?
• Is Cardamom House In Vipingo The Best Beach Hotel In Kenya?

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21 Safari Photography Tips for Capturing Stunning Safari Photos

As a passionate ethical wildlife photographer and qualified safari guide, I've gathered some valuable safari photography tips to help you elevate your safari experience. Even if you've never held a professional camera, you can still capture the raw beauty of the wild with just a few tips and tricks.

Embarking on a safari in Africa is a magical journey, and capturing these moments through photography allows you to relive the excitement and share the beauty of the African wilderness with others. Photography on safari also encourages you to pay attention to other things that might have gone unnoticed. By actively seeking unique angles and observing moments to capture, you become more attuned to the intricate details of the wildlife and the breathtaking landscapes surrounding you. It helps you notice small details and appreciate nature even more.

Read my 21   safari photography tips for capturing stunning safari photos :

1. Immerse Yourself in the Experience

Each day on safari brings unique moments. Photography not only preserves memories but also encourages you to notice intricate details and appreciate nature. Seek unique angles and moments to capture, and let the beauty of the wild inspire you.

2. Be mindful of the Environment and Respect Wildlife

Patience is key to capturing natural behavior. Maintain a respectful distance, observe quietly, and avoid disrupting the animals' natural rhythm. Remember, you are a guest in their home and therefore this is one of the most important wildlife photography tips . Always respect local regulations, cultures, and environments. Your patience will be reflected in the authenticity of your safari photos.

If you approach an animal sighting, always be careful to not disturb the animal and minimize noise. How to show respect for the animals during wildlife photography? 

• Maintain a respectful distance
• Approach animals indirectly
• Avoid positioning yourself upwind from the animal
• Keep your voice extremely low
• Switch your camera to silent mode to avoid startling wildlife
• Don’t use your flash

Whether you're a beginner or an experienced photographer, adhering to a code of conduct ensures the well-being of wildlife, contributes to conservation efforts, and ensures a more authentic safari experience.

3. Utilize Your Guide's Knowledge

Collaborate with your local field guide who possesses invaluable knowledge of animal habits, territories, and behavior. Communicate your photography preferences, and leverage their expertise to position yourself for the perfect shot. Guides can anticipate lighting conditions and animal movements, enhancing your photography experience. For example, positioning the vehicle in a way that the sun is in your back instead of in your lens to have nice lighting on the animal or landscape you want to capture. However, on some occasions, it’s also great to photograph towards the sun to create a nice rim light around the animal.

As a nature and wildlife enthusiast, I encourage you to ask your safari guide lots of questions  to learn more about the behavior and habitats of the wildlife you encounter. This knowledge helps you anticipate movements and position yourself for the perfect shot.

4. Pay Attention to Composition

Crafting attractive compositions on safari is key to impactful photography. Be creative. Explore angles, perspectives, and framing techniques to create visually appealing images.

Rule of Thirds

Apply the rule of thirds by placing your subject off-center for dynamic images. Utilize paths, tracks, or natural elements like bushes, rocks or trees for depth and scale. These composition tips elevate your photos without requiring advanced technical skills. Most cameras also have a grid that helps you to better frame your subject. Also, always think of leaving an empty space in the direction the wildlife is heading or the direction the animal is looking. In some occasions, it's also a good idea to put your subject in the middle.

Shoot from a low angle

Shooting from a low angle (on the ground) can also make your composition more attractive. Safari in a game drive vehicle mostly doesn’t allow you to get out of the car to photograph wildlife, but on some occasions it might be possible. Another occasion could be if you’re on a walking safari . The advantage of getting low on the ground is that you are able to change the background in your scene. Being on eye-level with your animal also establishes a better connection.

Please consider the ethics of your framing – prioritize the well-being of the wildlife you encounter.

5. Show animals in their natural environment

Capturing close-ups of the Big Five is often popular among safari tourists, and wildlife photographers, but don’t forget the beautiful environment these animals live in.

Their natural environment is equally important as they form that bigger picture together. And it’s those areas that we need to protect to save wildlife from extinction.

Every part of the ecosystem is dependent on each other. That’s the beauty of nature, and it allows the viewer to understand where the animal lives and flourishes. As a conservation photographer, I also love to showcase the wildlife’s home that we need to protect.

6. Master the Exposure Triangle

Light is a fundamental element in photography, and understanding the exposure triangle is a fundamental part to master the art of safari photography. Understanding aperture , shutter speed , and ISO allows you to adapt to various lighting conditions. These three factors work together to determine how bright or dark your photos will turn out, as well as the level of sharpness and graininess.

Adjust aperture for light control and depth of field , use shutter speed to freeze or create motion of animals, and set ISO for sensitivity (lower during the day, higher when it’s getting darker).

7. Use Shutter Priority Mode for moving wildlife

If you’re used to photographing in automatic mode, it can feel like a puzzle if you want to photograph wildlife manually. Therefore, my best photography tip is to set your camera on shutter priority mode (S). It means that you only have to think about the shutter speed and the camera does the rest like your ISO and Aperture (semi)automatically.

This technique ensures sharp and clear images, especially when photographing animals in motion on your safari. Use a fast shutter speed to freeze fast-moving wildlife action, and try to practice with various settings between 1/250th of a second up to 1/2500s. Additionally, fast shutter speeds can help prevent camera shake, particularly when shooting handheld.

A rule of thumb: choose a minimum shutter speed based on the focal length you are shooting. An example: I often capture wildlife with a focal length of 400 mm, meaning my minimum shutter is 1/400s. If you are in a moving safari vehicle, boat or hot air balloon, and/or the animal you want to photograph is moving fast, then use a minimum of 2 times the focal length. So, shooting at 400 mm would mean a shutter speed of 1/800s. To capture moving birds in flight , you might want to practice choosing shutter speeds to up to 1/2000s.

8. Choose AI Servo (AF Continuous) Mode for moving wildlife

AI Servo  is the best mode to capture wildlife that is moving, to automatically keep track of and stay focussed on the moving animal.

9. Practice with Aperture Priority Mode for a ‘blurry’ background

Aperture Priority in safari photography allows you to set the desired aperture, controlling the depth of field in your wildlife shots. In situations where you want a blurred background to emphasize the subject, or conversely, a broader depth of field to capture more details.

Aperture Priority mode gives you this creative control. For example, when you want a close-up of a lion or a colorful bird with a blurred background effect, like the Lilac-breasted Roller in the above image. The more zoom and the lower the aperture number, the more you are able to eliminate the background in your image and create that nice compression.

On the other hand, if you want to photograph a group of animals like a herd of elephants, I recommend choosing an aperture of f/8 to get the whole group of animals in focus (and not only one).

10. Try Burst Shooting Mode in Safari Photography

Shooting in  burst mode is an important wildlife photography tip for safari enthusiasts, catering to both beginners and advanced photographers. Wildlife is unpredictable, and animals often move swiftly. Burst mode allows you to capture a series of rapid shots, increasing the chances of freezing dynamic moments, ensuring you don't miss critical actions or spontaneous behaviors.

Beginners benefit by having a safety net, capturing shots even if timing is a challenge. For advanced photographers, burst mode offers creative opportunities to select the perfect frame from a sequence.

11. Focus on the eyes of an animal

Always focus on the eyes of the animals ; that’s the cardinal rule of wildlife photography! This golden tip elevates your shots, creating a connection between the viewer and the wildlife subject. Instead of hastily snapping numerous wildlife images, wait for the moment when the animal turns its gaze towards you.

Focusing on the eyes provides viewers with a unique perspective. It creates a visual connection, as if the animals are looking directly through the photograph at the audience. This transformative approach adds depth and emotion, making your wildlife images more memorable and resonant, especially when capturing close-up shots of animals. This technique enhances the details in the eyes, showcasing the intricacies and expressions that might be missed in broader shots.

Aim for a shutter speed between 1/250s to 1/2500s, depending on the animal's movement, and an aperture between f/2 to f/6, depending on your lens. These settings ensure both eyes are in focus, capturing the essence of the wildlife subject.

Remember, the eyes are the windows to the soul , even in the animal kingdom. So when focusing on the animal’s eyes, you can create truly remarkable and memorable wildlife photographs.

12. Shoot in RAW if you can

Shooting in RAW format on a safari offers several advantages.

RAW images provide a higher dynamic range compared to JPEG, capturing more details in both shadows and highlights. This is crucial in the diverse and often challenging lighting conditions encountered during a safari.

RAW files contain more image data , allowing for extensive post-processing without compromising quality. This flexibility is valuable when adjusting exposure, contrast, color balance, and other elements during the editing process (I usually edit my wildlife images in Lightroom).

Shooting in RAW preserves the original quality and detail captured by the camera's sensor. This is especially important in wildlife photography, where preserving the authenticity of the scene is crucial.

13. Timing is Everything: The Golden Hour and Beyond

The golden hours of sunrise and sunset conveniently align with the typical timing of game drives during a safari when the animals are most active. The warm, soft light enhances the colors and textures of the African landscape, creating a captivating backdrop for your photos.

The advantage of photographing during the Golden Hour , sometimes called ‘Magical Hour’, is that the soft golden light reduces harsh shadows and creates a golden glow. Patience during these hours rewards you with captivating glimpses into the animals' daily lives.

14. Equip Yourself Wisely with the right camera gear

Ensure you have the right camera equipment for safari photography.

Bring a DSLR (Digital Single Lens Reflex) camera and zoom lenses with 200-600 mm range or a quality compact camera for versatile quality wildlife photos. Safari photography on a smartphone is not the best option to photograph wildlife, but it is, of course, a great option to create short videos, stories, and reels.

Zoom lenses for safari photography

I highly recommend a long lens with a minimum of 200 mm zoom to capture distant wildlife. A zoom lens allows you to effortlessly switch between photographing animals from a distance without disturbing them and capturing intricate details of flora and fauna up close.

More ideally, a zoom lens with a focal length of 300 mm+ is great for capturing wild animals or birds. If you’re using a full-frame camera, I would suggest a 400 mm zoom lens and if you are a keen birder a 600 mm long lens is perfect for bird photography on safari.

Wide-angle lens

Apart from zoom lenses, I always carry a wide-angle lens (for example 16-35 mm), great for capturing the beautiful African landscapes and its animals or magical sunsets.

Essential accessories

Don't forget essential accessories, such as memory cards, extra batteries, cleaning wipes, a charger, a camera bag, and a rain cover. Consider a beanbag for stability.

Hire photography gear for safari

Not having the right camera gear ? Nowadays, the quality of compact cameras is pretty good as well, and it’s also possible to hire photography gear .

15. Consider bringing a tripod and/or beanbag

Bringing a tripod and/or beanbag on safari is a crucial photography tip for the following reasons:

• Stability for Clear Shots: A tripod or beanbag provides stability, reducing camera shake and ensuring clear shots, especially when using longer lenses.
• Flexibility in Composition: Both tripods and beanbags allow photographers to compose shots with precision. A tripod is ideal for setting up shots in a fixed position, while a beanbag provides a more flexible option, allowing quick adjustments and movements.
• Support for Heavy Equipment: Professional camera gear, including telephoto lenses, can be heavy. A tripod and/or beanbag offers robust support for heavier equipment, preventing fatigue during extended periods of shooting.
• Long Exposure and Low Light Conditions: In low light or during sunrise/sunset safaris, a tripod is essential for capturing long-exposure shots without introducing motion blur. A tripod is also great to practice with star photography and photographing the milky way when you're back at the safari lodge .
• Silent Shooting with Beanbags: Beanbags are preferred for wildlife photography as they provide a stable base without the noise associated with adjusting tripod legs. This is especially important to avoid disturbing animals in their natural habitat.
• Versatility in Safari Vehicles: Safari vehicles often have limited space, and tripods may be cumbersome. Beanbags are more versatile, easily adapting to the contours of the vehicle and providing a stable platform for photography.

16. Make a back-up of your images on safari

I always back up my images while traveling. When my memory card is full, I back up my images onto an external hard drive. That is mostly enough, but for people who want to travel longer, I highly recommend backing up to a second external hard drive (kept in different locations). Hard drives I use are Lacie Rugged, Samsung, and Seagate.

If you are using your phone only, I also recommend backing up your images in the cloud, for example iCloud, Dropbox, Google Drive, Google Photos, you name it.

17. Keep it Simple and Be Patient

Wildlife photography requires patience . Allow yourself time to observe and wait for the right moment, focusing on mastering basic techniques. Don't be overwhelmed by settings; simplicity often reveals the raw beauty of wildlife.

18. Edit your photos

Editing your safari photos is not essential, but if you want to step up your safari photography game, I highly recommend learning how to edit your wildlife images in, for example Adobe Lightroom (for both desktop and smartphone) and Photoshop . Especially if you are planning to print your photos, post-processing is an important step.

Get in touch for a private workshop on how to edit your safari photos or join me on a photo safari where I will share editing tips to improve your wildlife photography.

19. Know Your Camera

If you're a beginner photographer, all the settings on your camera can be a bit overwhelming. When I first started photography, my camera was a puzzle to me. I kept using the automatic mode until I learned the basics of photography during a volunteer program in South Africa . Having two game drives per day in Thanda Game Reserve in KwaZulu-Natal was the perfect way to start practicing shooting in manual mode and learn more about the best settings for safari. I highly recommend to start learning more about your camera and camera settings before you go on safari. Go through your camera manual to find the buttons and settings of some of the technical photography tips I mentioned in this article.

20. Embrace Learning and Growth

Whether you're a beginner or experienced photographer, nurture your interest in learning photography. Books about photography, online photography courses, workshops and guided photo safari tours with photography experts offer opportunities to enhance your safari photography skills; including my small group photo safaris . To master a new skill, learning by doing is often the most effective approach to get to know your camera better. So please remember, anyone can learn photography, and the wonders of a safari in Africa can ignite your passion for capturing the mesmerizing beauty of our planet's wildlife.

21. Join me on a photo safari to Africa

Do you want to improve your photography skills on safari  and travel with like-minded travelers? Join me on a small group safari to Africa . As a professional wildlife photographer, I can help to improve your photography skills on safari by sharing hands-on experience and valuable tips. Instead of rushing to tick off the Big Five, we will spend our time carefully during the beautiful golden hours around sunrise (morning game drive) and sunset (afternoon game drive).

It doesn't matter if you're a beginner, intermediate, or professional photographer. Having an interest in photography and and being prepared to learn are the most important aspects.

Safari Photography Tips to take the best photos on safari

These tips, coupled with the expertise on my photographic safari trip to Africa , will undoubtedly enhance your safari photography journey. Capture the essence of Africa's breathtaking wildlife and create lasting memories with every click of your camera (or even your smartphone).

How to Take Great Safari Photos

Being on an African safari is on the bucket lists of most. 

And when you’re out there living your dream, chances are that you’re hoping to capture the experience as best as you can.  It’s easy to be slightly intimidated by the challenge of taking great safari photos, especially when you see people packing around massive lenses and other high-level photo equipment.

The good news is that you don’t need fancy equipment to capture amazing safari photos, you just need a keen eye and to follow some of the tips I’ve mentioned below.  If you follow some of these tips, you’ll find yourself taking cool photos regardless of whether you’re shooting a point and shoot or a fancy DSLR.

Know your Camera

It really is a shame how many people just pick up their camera and start shooting.  The auto button means that you don’t need to understand your camera, right?  Not so much.  Sure, better cameras have better functionality, but when someone says “I need a better camera” they should really just say “I need to learn how to use this camera.” 

Whether you shoot a point and shoot or a DSLR, if you shoot it on auto you’ll find yourself frustrated with the results.  Learn the basics of photography, then go through the settings of your camera to figure out how to shoot certain situations.  Moreover, know what your camera does well, and focus on that type of image-taking.

Forget the Lens Envy

It’s easy to look around at others on safari with you in lust with their camera gear, but it’s not going to do yourself any good to envy their gear.  If it makes you feel better, I was on a wildlife tour once where a guy was shooting my dream lens a 400mm f/2.8. 

I peeked through his photos the next day and wasn’t too impressed.  The next day I saw him shooting his camera on auto.  Lesson of the day, it’s not the camera but the person who takes the picture.  I’m much more impressed by people who take incredible photos on simple cameras than I am by good photos on a great lens.  Stop dreaming and hone your craft with the tools you have.

That said, if you’re curious as to what lens would be ideal on a safari? Look for something like a 100-400mm as it’s nice to have that range.

Look with Your Eyes

I’m really guilty of failing to do this, and I think it’s something all photographers struggle with a bit.  But when you’re on safari it’s even more important. 

Many times I find myself spending too much time looking through the lens, and losing my peripheral vision.  If you catch yourself doing that, pull yourself back a little bit and observe the world through your eyes instead.  Not only will you be able to gauge the scene, mood, and light better but you’ll actually experience the moment for yourself.  Going on safari is about more than just good photos.  Don’t get too set on your camera, look with your eyes.

I was once told that the difference between a good photo and a great photo is usually a tripod .  On safari, it’s hard to pack a tripod because you’re in the tight confines of a safari vehicle or a boat the whole time. 

However, you’ll still want to bring some sort of stabilization.  Personally, I like to use a monopod on safari because of its mobility and the fact that it doesn’t take up much space or too much time to set up.  This past trip, I tested a bit between hand holding and monopod shooting and the difference in sharpness was mind-blowing.  Even if you shoot a point and shoot, you’ll probably want something to stabilize, even if it is just the side of the safari vehicle.  The little gorilla pods are great for point and shoots on safari because you can hook them up to the sides of the vehicles, or even to your knee.  You’ll just get much better photos and video if you stabilize a bit.

On the topic of stabilizing. Many safari trucks keep their engines running while stopped for wildlife. If the engine is running, you’ll have vibrations in your lens. So, either ask the guide to turn off the engine to stop the camera shake, or try to handhold the camera for less vibration.

Find the Light

Photography, some will say, isn’t so much about catching a subject; rather it’s about capturing the light.  I think seeing nice light is the thing that takes a photographer longest to recognize.  However, once you start identifying good light, or at least the light you want, you’ll take your photography to the next level.  To get great safari photos, attempt to find the right light for your image.  Whenever you have a subject in front of you, evaluate it and work with the light rather than the subject.  Generally speaking, shooting early in the morning or late in the day will give you the best light.  However, nice light can really pop up at any time.

Don’t Over-Photograph

One of the biggest mistakes people make on safari is that they take too many photos.  It’s easy to do; and I suppose that it’s better than taking too few photos.  However, by shooting too much you do a few of things. 

For one, you’ll kill memory space.  Secondly, you’ll find yourself less willing to edit, or even go through, your photos.  And perhaps the worst thing is that you’ll not be thinking about the composition of your photo enough.  Before taking a photo you should be asking yourself about the scene, the light, and the story behind the image. 

If you’re just taking photos to take photos, you should instead pull the camera down and enjoy the moment instead. To expand, don’t shoot the same composition over and over either.  Each time you take a photo, set a new composition and switch your settings around.  Otherwise, you’ll just end up with 100 photos of the exact same thing.

Develop a Story

A lion is cool .  A lion stalking its prey is amazing.  The truth is that anyone can take a photo of a lion, but creating a story for the lion with a photo is a true skill.  In fact, the lion doesn’t even have to be hunting.  If you can create an image that leads the viewer to believe that, then you’ve won.  Photography is a form of storytelling, and as the old adage goes: a photo tells 1,000 words.  However, that’s only true if you have a story behind the image.  Otherwise, a photo only tells one word: Lion.

Don’t Chimp

Chimping is a photography phrase for taking photos and then immediately looking at the LCD to see what you’ve captured.  I guess they call it chimping because, like a chimp, you might not have the self-control to wait.  When you’re photographing incredible things, it’s really easy to want to chimp.  However, in that moment that you look down at your photo and admire your previous work, you could miss something spectacular.  Wait until you’re free and clear before checking out your photos or you’ll find yourself saying “damn, I didn’t see that!”  Sure, you might want to do a test shot to check for exposure, but don’t look down after every shot or you will miss something.

The honest truth is that wildlife photos are a dime a dozen.  Though it might be a once in a lifetime moment for you, thousands of people do safaris each month.  Thus, simply taking a photo of a lion or giraffe isn’t that unique.  Try to stretch your creativity to see how you can make a common sight seem different.  Personally, I used a GoPro camera to capture some images on my recent safari to Chobe.  I thought using a fish-eye rather than the usual zoom lens would create some interesting images.  I was right.  Figure out a way to make your images unique and go for it.

Don’t Forget the People

We often forget the human element in a safari.  However, capturing people in your shots is not only important in remembering who you spent time with on the trip, but also for photography reasons.  If you can add a safari vehicle to a shot next to an elephant it adds scale to your shot and lets the viewer see just how big the animals are.  Similarly, showing a person in your vehicle of a nearby giraffe or lion lets the viewer see how close you get to the animals.

Turn the Beep Off.  Oh, and the Flash too.

This is a tip as well as a grievance.  Before setting out on safari, turn off the beep function on your camera.  Not only is it bloody annoying to hear beeps constantly onboard a safari vehicle, the sound can scare off animals.  You don’t need to hear the beep, and neither do the animals.  While you’re at it, turn off your camera’s flash capability.  Yes, it too can scare off animals.  Moreover, the flash can hurt a nearby animal’s vision or at time cause distress.

I think these tips apply to any type of photography. Over the last couple of days, I’ve stared and photos and contemplated my words on a page wondering how to become a better storyteller and capture moments worth sharing. I love the idea of developing a story and using your eyes. So as I strive to become a better photographer, I love these tips. Here are my thoughts on photography and writing that go beyond the image or the destination.

To be a better traveler, you can’t just visit a place. You have to experience it with your emotions and soul. Only when we go beyond what we see can we tell a travel story (through words or photos) that’s worth sharing.

You’re right Jeremy. That emotion (or lack thereof) is portrayed through your writing and images isn’t it. In west and central Africa I went through so much that I could feel my writing in particular was much stronger. Since arriving in the ease of Southern Africa, it’s been hard to write inspired. That’s the opposite for the photography, as the places have been such great photo destinations in the south, whereas in the north they weren’t inspiring photographically.

These are excellent tips for any shooting situation, not just safari. Love your photos and hope to get out there someday!

Thanks Andrea, Hope you are doing well! I’m sure you will get out there someday!

There’re the helpful tips. Wonderful Photos! Thanks for sharing

Thanks Danny!

These are really great tips, although it was hard to concentrate on your advice with such fab images floating in between!! i love that you recommend to hone your craft with the kit you have. So often I see ‘tourists’ with these huge lenses and clearly no idea of how to utilise them to optimise their shots!

Thanks for reading Charli. Yeah, safaris are so action packed sometimes you just want to snap away. I guess part of correcting that comes down to taking a deep breath and reminding yourself to take it all in rather than worrying about getting it all on film. Should result in higher quality photos too!

Of all the photos, the photo of the monkey is what I like the most. It is so so cute! Thanks for sharing the photos as well as your experiences.

I’ve only been on a mini safari in Senegal so far and I wasn’t very pleased with my photos. I think stepping back and observing the scene is probably the one thing I need to do more of and definitely less of the chimping! Never heard it called that before but I’m guilty as charged.

Kathryn, where did you go on Safari in Senegal? Trust me, you head on a Southern African and you’ll never want to go on one anywhere else. Tip one to how to take great safari photos should have been: “Go on a good safari!” haha

I am really intrigued by these shots. I am now motivated to try something similar. Thanks!

Great tips!!! Will keep it in mind when I go back to Africa! 🙂 Your photos are really really amazing!!! 😉

Thanks Tintin!

Great tips, practical and concise!

Wow!! You are a great photographer and have lots of unique quality in your all pics in these post. well done dear! good timing and good position!!!

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20 Easy Tips for Better Safari Photos

I hate to break it to you, but it’s impossible to get good safari photos with your phone’s camera . Yes, even with the latest iPhone or Pixel, what good safari photos require is physically impossible to fit into a phone. I mean, if we didn’t need to lug around big lenses, I’m pretty sure no one would do it?

So if you need to bring a “real camera” on safari, exactly what camera equipment do you need for safari? Which equipment is optional? And how can you make the most out of the camera equipment that you already have?

Here are the essential photography equipment for going on safari, including my personal recommendations for gear, ideas for how to save money on your safari photography setup, as well as safari photography tips to help you make the most of any gear you get your hands on.

Bring the right photography gear for safari

You don’t need to spend a fortune to get great photos, but you do need more than an iPhone to snag great photos. If this list sounds daunting and you don’t already have a suitable camera, consider renting a camera or lens if you are certain you won’t use it again. You can also buy gear used on eBay or Amazon to save some money.

• Camera – I used the Fujifilm X-T2 with great success.
• Zoom lens – For the Fuji system, I can recommend the Fujinon XF 50-140mm f2.8 + Fujinon 2x Teleconverter .
• Wide angle / mid-range lens – I took the Fujinon XF 16mm f1.4 + Fujinon XF 35mm f1.4 + Fujinon 56mm f1.2 .
• Lens cleaning equipment (lens pen, lens wipes) – I recommend this lens pen and these lens cleaning wipes .
• Spare batteries – Choose whatever fits the camera you have, fully charged! I usually bring two spares.
• Spare memory cards – You want something with a fast write speed, like this 64GB UHS-II 300MB/s SD card
• Camera bag – Bring anything with easy access. You’ll be sitting on safari so size and weight is not a big deal.

It might look silly, but you can bet I got the best photos!

Use the burst shooting mode

Burst shooting mode allows you to hold down the shutter, and take between 5 10 photos in a single second! This can be extremely useful on safari, when animals are moving quickly or simply when you know the animals are likely to disappear into the bush or an area you cannot drive to. That’s why it’s super useful to get a camera that supports this setting!

For example, here there are two water bucks, sparing with one another in the morning sun. Since they’re moving around quite a lot, there weren’t a lot of photos where I could see their antlers interlock. But since I could take a bunch of pictures, I could just pick the best one.

Here, the rhinos are not moving very fast, but it’s a super special moment to capture a baby rhino on camera! Owing to the vegetation, I knew I wouldn’t have a view of both the mother and baby for long, but burst mode saved me and I had a number of pictures to choose from. Thanks burst mode 🙏

Learn to use your camera in advance

Nothing is worse than trying to figure out how your freaking camera works while you’re already ON safari! You’ll just be frustrated trying to get the settings right, while an amazing wildlife moment just passes right by. Spend time practicing with your new camera. You’ll want to learn a few things like:

• How to make the shutter speed faster
• How to turn on burst mode
• How to change the focus point

That’s just for beginners, but these are really important things to have down second-nature before your safari 🍃

Enjoying the photos? Follow along on Instagram!

Follow @notanomadblog for beautiful travel photography and stories of our journeys

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Bring equipment for dealing with dust or fingerprints

When you’re driving out in the bush, there’s a good chance you’ll need to deal with some dust. How much dush depends a lot on where you’re driving and recent weather conditions (has it rained recently?). In any case, don’t forget to bring along a lens pen for cleaning smudges off your lenses (which can make your photos blurry!) and some lens cleaning wipes for more serious dirt or water droplets 💦

Bring back up memory cards

When you’re using burst mode, it’s easy for your memory card to fill up fast . Don’t get caught on safari having to delete photos just to free up space on your memory card. I personally filled up THREE memory cards during my two-week trip to South Africa, and about half of that was just safari photos. Be prepared, buy extra.

Bring a telephoto lens

If your goal is to take wildlife photos, then a telephoto lens (also called “zoom lens”) is the one piece of equipment you can’t leave behind. The question is always, how much zoom do you need for safari? For many systems, the most common zoom lenth is somewhere between 50-150mm and 100-400mm. In general, you won’t regret having plenty of zoom – it doesn’t go as far as you’d think. That said, be sure to complement your zoom lens with a wide-angle or mid-range lens because there will be times where you need to capture a landscape, a whole herd of animals, or a complete scene with multiple animals in it.

This crocodile was super far away, but I could capture him with my zoom!

Support your zoom lens to avoid camera shake

An interesting caveat to having a big zoom lens is that the more you zoom, the more likely you are to get blurry photos . That’s because more zoom means less light coming in, and your camera needs to compensate for it. If you already have the aperature (also called “f stop”) as open as possible, the next step for the camera is probably to slow down the shutter speed.

That’s why you need to be as still as possible and support your lens with your hand to keep camera shake down. You can also hold your breath during a shot, to avoid introducing shake, or balance your lens on a bag or something soft on the edge of the safari vehicle or hand rail. Anything to help the lens keep still!

Many zoom lenses also come with OIS (optical image stabilization), so look for that when you are picking a zoom lens!

This two-week South Africa itinerary can show you some of the best of the country, from wine regions to urban life, from safari to city, and from the sparkling Indian Ocean to the deserts of the Karoo. Here is how to spend two weeks traveling South Africa.

Bring a tripod for long exposures at night

Even though this isn’t strictly a safari tip, the fact is that if you’re staying in a private safari lodge , you’re going to have incredible views of the stars . Bring along a tripod for some very special photos at night!

Include the environment

Sometimes the environment with the animal in it is way more interesting than the animal itself! Here’s an example of that, with the hippo yawning as the sun sets over his favorite watering hole. These guys were so loud with their howling, it was a really memorable moment on safari while the sun was going down.

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Be prepared for low light photos

When choosing lenses for safari, make sure you find one that has the lowest f-stop number (meaning, the widest aperature) that you can find. For example, the lens I used was f2.8. That’s pretty good for a zoom lens. Many wildlife lenses will be f4, but that can also mean you get less light for the evening drives. Strive for a balance between zoomm power and f-stop.

At night, our tracker scans the landscape for the gleam in the eyes of nocturnal animals. On one night, we spotted this beautiful African barn owl who was patient enough to let me take his photo!

You can hover over any photo on this blog to see the camera and lens that the photo was taken with. Click on the information to see reviews on Amazon.

Don’t forget about the details

It can be really easy just to focus on animals, but safari is also about the overall experience, not just the so-called “Big Five”. On safari you’ll learn about the plants that animals feed on, and how it affects where they move to, as well as the smaller creatures that drive the ecosystem in the bush, like the venerable Dung Beetle!

Above: Mopane trees are a favorite food of elephants, and one of the reasons they come to the Timbavati Game Reserve. Below: A Dung Beetle crafts its ball of dung, intended to attract a mate.

Include people or other objects for scale

It can be incredible how big animals are on safari! But usually in photos it’s hard to convey how big they really are. By including people or other objects for scale, it can be easier to communicate visually how big something really is. For example, this Giraffe is totally huge standing next to a fully grown tree! No trouble getting to those leaves, eh?

Go to where the animals are

In most parks, this means watering holes! Especially during high sun, you’ll see animals coming to watering holes for a drink or to take a mud bath. Even if you don’t see animals right away, you can stay and sit at a watering hole for a while and there’s a pretty good chance that some animals will swing by in no time.

Watering holes are also a great place to see herds of animals. At Addo Elephant Park we saw herds of zebras and especially elephants congregating at the watering holes. The best part is watching the elephants chase the zebras away! 🐘

Going on safari is the number one item on top of many tourists' lists when visiting Africa. No matter what your budget is, there is a safari option that will fit your budget. Here are different ways you can get the safari experience and their pros and cons!

Wear neutral colors

There’s a reason why safari-goers tend to dress in neutral colors! That’s because animals are less likely to see it and run away. In most areas that are popular for safari, the animals know that safari vehicles are not to be feared, but plenty of prey animals are likely to run anyways. Dress neutral and keep your visibility to a minimum.

Dressing neutral usually means tan and olive-colored clothing. You’re meant to avoid white or neon colors in particular.

Join a bush walk

One of the best ways to experience the African bush is going through a bush walk! You’ll get a chance to see smaller animals and get up close to plants and insects you typically don’t get to take your time with when driving through. Check that your safari lodge offers a bush walk.

WARNING – You should never go on a bush walk on your own, or leave the safari vehicle without your guide telling you it’s fine. On a self-drive you should not get out of the vehicle at all. Only walk through the bush on guided tours, with guides who are usually armed.

Travel early in the morning or around sunset

Not only do you get some of the best photos possible during the “golden hours”, but it’s also the time when animals are the most active. Although we saw animals at all times of the day, you’ll see different animals active at each time during the day. Most private safari lodges will take you on early morning and late afternoon game drives, but be sure to verify that before you book!

Above: Hyenas venture away from their den for a late afternoon drink near our safari lodge. Below: A bull elephant eating his leafy breakfast 🍃

Talk to other safari-goers for tips on sightings

If you’re doing a private safari, there’s a good chance your guide and tracker are communicating with other guides and trackers about their sightings. That’s one of the big benefits of going on private game drives. But even if you don’t have the budget for that, don’t be afraid to slow down your car on a self-drive and roll the window down to talk to people! That’s how we got a tip about one of the best elephant herd sightings we had.

It can be really hard to pick a safari lodge in South Africa with so many great options. Here is my incredible experience at Motswari, a private game reserve in part of the Greater Kruger National Park.

Don’t just zoom in all the way

Sometimes the best photos include the full body of the animal, or even some of the environment. It can be so so so tempting just to use your zoom for animal portraits, but make sure you’re also getting some of the landscape in the picture too!

Focus on the eyes

Whether you’re photographing animals on safari, or you’re taking portraits of people, the principle is the same: set your focus point on the eyes! This is what makes the photo look sharp and feel engaging.

Make sure the settings on your camera are correct

Before heading out for the day, check that your camera settings didn’t get changed, or that they’re not the same settings you used when you were out at night! Nothing’s worse than having an awesome early morning sighting and screwing it up because you still had your ISO too high.

Don’t forget to enjoy the safari!

Photography is supposed to help you remember your safari experience, not to BE the experience in and of itself. Bring some binoculars to inspect the animals more closely, and enjoy whatever gifts nature has brought you that day!

Have you ever been on safari? What animal did you think was the most photogenic? What was the best spot you’ve been for viewing animals?

Share your experiences in the comments! I’d love to get your safari tips.

About the author

Hi there! I'm Monica, an American expat living in Germany for over six years and using every opportunity to explore the world from my homebase in Berlin. My goal is to capture my memories in photos and posts that show how easy it is to start from scratch and travel the world by working abroad.

Follow along on Instagram , Twitter , Bloglovin , & Facebook .

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How To Take The Perfect Safari Photo

The safari photography guide.

Photographing wildlife is always challenging, so we’ve put together our top tips on how to take a steady stream of great wildlife photos whilst  on safari to help capture the amazing sights that await on your African adventure.

Photo Prep Before You Go:

– Take the time to familiarise yourself with how your camera works. Practice using the different modes and studying the result. You don’t want to waste a moment of your trip getting frustrated over how to use your camera!

– Think about the environment you’re going to be in – will you want the hassle of carrying around a tripod,  extra lenses, and filters? For a safari situation, your extra gear may be a touch too limiting and distracting.

– Study the animals you are hoping to photograph. Being familiar with their movements and features can help you plan how best to capture them when the moment arrives… and end up with a safari animal photo portfolio like this .

– Check your equipment to ensure it is not too noisy or distracting for the animals. See if you can turn off the shutter sound, for example, or choose a camera with a quiet one if you’re buying something new.

Tips Whilst On The Trip:

– Be sure to charge your battery and bring spares if you have them, or invest in a few if you don’t. You could be out all day and are likely to be doing a lot of shooting, so start each day with a fully charged battery to limit the chances of running out and missing a perfect shot.

– Make sure you have extra memory cards for the same reason as above. The general consensus is – however much memory you think you will need, bring more! For many, a safari is a once in a lifetime experience, so don’t limit yourself to the number of memories you can capture.

– When trying to shoot a moving animal, switch your camera mode. Sports or action mode are both good options if you have them, as they increase the shutter speed, meaning you can catch the movement without the result being a blurry mess. Do remember to switch it back to normal afterward, however, as this won’t produce a good result for stationery shots.

– Avoid shooting into the light and try to position yourself on the opposite side of the vehicle to the sun.  Ideally, you would like the sun to be behind you, illuminating the subject.

– Turn the flash off! You won’t need it during the day and it can annoy the animals, so be mindful and respect the local environment.

– Don’t put your subject in the middle of the picture. Think about the shot you want and how best to compose it, then spend some time setting it up (even if the animals aren’t yet there). It is all too easy to get caught up in the moment and just start pointing and shooting, but this will not result in the best images.

-Following on from the above point, use the rule of thirds. In a nutshell,  this means imagining your screen as a grid cut into 3 x 3 squares, placing the focal point(s) of the scene where the lines intersect.

Technical Talk:

– For capturing animals in motion, you ideally want a camera that shoots at 5x a second, with a shutter speed of 1/125.

– If you are bringing a Digital SLR along, a long lens is crucial. A 300mm lens will work fine, but a 400mm lens is better for shooting from a distance. For landscape shots, use a wide-angle lens.

– If you don’t think a tripod is practical, take a bean bag or a window-mounted tripod instead.

– Blurred backgrounds can look great, particularly on close-up shots.

– For zoom shots, keep the eyes of the creature in focus, which will result in a more engaging photo that embraces the personality and spirit of the animal. Find out more about some great zoom lenses .

And finally, don’t get so caught up in taking the perfect photo to show everyone back home that you forget to take the time to experience the moment! Put your camera down for a while and make some memories that are just for you.

Interested in putting your new-learned photography skills to use on a safari? Read our guide to photography safaris across Africa.

Interested in sharing your photos with the world? Learn more about how to start a photography blog on 9 Mousai .

Top countries for safaris

• Botswana safaris
• Kenya safaris
• Namibia safaris
• South Africa safaris
• Tanzania safaris
• Uganda safaris

Safari basics

• Safari animals
• How to find the right safari company
• When to go on safari
• What to take on safari
• Safari clothing – what to wear
• Safari rules & etiquette
• Wildlife spotting tips

Most read articles

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• Safari movies to watch before you go
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• Apex predators
• 10 Fascinating African tribes
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• 17 Epic hybrid animals
• The world’s ugliest animals
• Why are flamingos pink?

Africa’s best game reserves

• Chobe National Park, Botswana
• Etosha National Park, Namibia
• Kruger National Park, South Africa
• Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya
• Moremi Game Reserve, Botswana
• Okavango Delta, Botswana
• Serengeti National Park, Tanzania

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Finding the Universe

Travel tales, photography and a dash of humor

Safari Photography Tips – How to Get Great Photos on Safari

Last updated: May 7, 2024 . Written by Laurence Norah - 4 Comments

A safari is a fantastic way to see a wide range of wildlife in its natural habitat. It’s also an opportunity to take lovely photos of that wildlife! However, there are some unique challenges to taking photos on safari. In this post, I’m going to share some safari photography tips to help ensure you get the best photos when you go on safari.

As a professional travel photographer, I’ve been lucky enough to take photos in a wide range of scenarios, including on a number of safaris in both Africa and Asia. Based on my experiences, I’m going to share with you everything you need to know to get great photos on safari.

Most of my examples used in the post are from taking photos while on safari in Africa; however, these tips will work for most safari destinations. as well as for wildlife photography in general. Many of these tips can help anyone looking to improve their wildlife photography and also for anyone wanting to take photos from a vehicle.

I’ll cover a few things in this post. I’m going to talk about some general tips and things to think about when going on safari from a photography perspective. I’ll also include ideas on suggested cameras and camera accessories for safari so you know what is important to bring along.

A safari is a big investment for many of us, and is often a once in a lifetime trip. So getting great photos to remember our experiences is important. Let’s get started with the tips!

Tips for Taking Better Photos on Safari

Plan where you want to go.

The first thing you are going to have to do is decide where you want to go on safari. It’s likely that you already have an idea as to what you want to see and photograph on your safari, be it specific animals or birds, or maybe you are interested in certain landscapes.

The main thing is that you pick a destination that will give you a good chance of seeing the things you really want to see and photograph. This is particularly the case with animals or birds that are rarer, like rhinos.

On a recent trip across East Africa, we knew that we wanted to see and photograph things like gorillas, chimpanzees, rhinos, and spoonbill storks. We picked the countries we visited as well as the time of year we travelled to ensure that we would have a good chance of seeing these particular animals.

We also wanted to see the Great Wildebeest Migration on that trip. This is always taking place, so it was just a question of researching where it would be at the time of year we would be visiting to ensure we would have the best chance to see and photograph it.

Planning your destination properly is definitely the first step to getting the photos you want to get on your safari.

Research Your Chosen Safari Location

Once you have chosen your safari destination, do some research to better understand your trip itinerary and the wildlife, landscape, and climate of the destination.

All of these things can affect how you will want to prepare for your safari and the type of camera equipment you might need.

For instance, if your main photography goal of the trip is take photos of lions, you will want to try to make sure that you spend a sufficient amount of time in places with healthy populations of lions to increase your chances of seeing and photographing them. Lions are often best seen in savanna areas.

However, if you are interested in malachite kingfishers, you’ll want to make sure that you spend enough time in wetland areas for a good chance to see these birds. These little birds are best spotted and photographed either from a boat or on foot.

This research will also help you decide on the equipment you will need to take with you. For photography of smaller birds for example, you’re likely going to need a longer lens. If you are more interested in landscapes, then a wide-angle lens will be an essential item.

Finally, check out the climate for the country you are visiting and the time of year you plan to visit. Having an idea of what to expect will ensure you bring the right clothing as well as any protective equipment like camera rain covers on your trip.

Choose the Right Camera for Safari

One of the main decisions you’ll have to make when planning your safari trip is what camera to take with you on your trip. This decision will have you weighing various factors, from your budget through to the size and weight of the camera.

When you are deciding how much to spend and how much you are willing to carry with you, consider what sort of images you want to get. If you are looking for amazing wildlife shots of fast action or in low light, then you will want to invest more money in a high-end set-up.

As an example, compare these two shots of a leopard taken in low light at the end of the day. Both are uncropped.

Both images are obviously of a leopard. However, the compact camera struggles to get a close up shot due to the maximum 70mm focal length, and even at ISO 800 the image ends up being quite noisy. The slow shutter speed, even with image stabilization, also means the shot is not too sharp.

The larger and more professional Canon EOS R5 mirrorless camera paired with a 100-400mm lens is still able to get a very usable image, even at 10,000 ISO.

If you are just happy to capture memories of your trip, then a compact camera or smartphone will likely do the job.

A good compromise for many users is a bridge camera , which offers a good balance between a long zoom, affordability, and image quality.

However, if you want the most flexibility and opportunity to get the best shots from your trip, then a higher end mirrorless camera would be my recommendation.

If money and size are no object, my recommended camera for safari would be a high-end mirrorless system. The latest mirrorless models feature excellent auto-tracking autofocus which can recognise and lock onto a subject very quickly, which can really help with fast moving subjects.

In this situation, I’d probably pick a Canon EOS R5, Sony Alpha a7r IV or a Nikon Z9. I’d pair it with a telephoto zoom in the range of 100-500 with stabilization and as wide an aperture as I could afford.

If you want something that offers a good balance between affordability, image quality, and zoom, then my suggestion would be a bridge camera.

I have a whole post on the best camera for safari which I would suggest reading if you don’t already have a camera you want to bring with you. It’s definitely important to choose the right camera for you.

In summary though, here are some recommended cameras that I suggest you take a look at, depending on the type of camera you would like to take on safari:

• Smartphone: either a Pixel 6 Pro or iPhone 13 .
• Compact camera Panasonic Lumix ZS70 or Sony RX100 VII
• Bridge camera:   Panasonic Lumix DC-FZ80 / FZ82 or Sony RX10 IV .
• Mirrorless camera: Sony a6100, Sony Alpha 7c , Canon EOS R6 Mark II , Nikon Z7II , Canon EOS R5 , or   Sony Alpha a7 IV
• DSLR camera:  Nikon D3500 or Canon EOS 6D Mark II

For more on choosing a camera in general, we also have guides to the best travel camera , best compact camera , best bridge camera , best mirrorless camera and best DSLR cameras .

If you have, or plan to buy, a mirrorless camera or DSLR camera, you may be wondering what kind of lens would be best for safari. It depends of course on your photography goals and what you want to photograph, but I would generally recommend a lens with a focal range of 100-400mm. See my safari camera post for lens recommendations.

Learn How to Use Your Camera

Once you have decided on which camera to take with you, it’s important that you learn how to use it properly. This applies to whatever kind of camera you are using, be it a smartphone camera or a high-end DSLR or mirrorless camera.

A camera is ultimately just a tool to help you take great photos, and like any tool, it will only do what you ask of it. Understanding the various features of your camera and how to access and adjust key settings is vital to ensure you don’t miss a shot.

When you are on safari, great photography opportunities can arise very quickly and be gone just as quickly. For example, for the shot of the leopard at the start of this post I had just a couple of seconds to frame the shot and ensure all the settings were correct before he decided to sit up and slink away out of sight.

Had I not been able to nail the focus or adjust ISO, aperture, and shutter speed appropriately in time, I would have missed the shot. I would recommend checking out my guide to the exposure triangle , as well as how to use a mirrorless camera for detailed advice.

Understanding how to adjust the settings and set up your camera properly means you’ll have more control over the final look of your shots. For example, you could learn how to manually change the shutter speed so as to capture movement in different ways.

Here are a couple of examples of different shutter speeds to show the difference.

In the first shot, even though the fighting zebra are moving quickly, the fast shutter speed freezes the action. In the second shot of the wildebeest crossing, they are just walking over the road. But in 1/5th of a second, they cover a small amount of ground, and so they become blurry. The single stationary wildebeest remains sharp as it isn’t moving.

There are many features of a camera which can be used to adjust how the final shot looks, and understanding how to control them will help ensure you get the shots you want.

If you feel you need help with using your camera and would like to improve your photography, there are a lot of photography courses, books, and workshops out there. I run an online photography course that teaches all the basics as well as more advanced skills, and have proudly helped thousands of people improve their photography skills.

Understand the Limitations of Your Camera

Every camera has limitations as to what it can do. These limitations will vary, and even high-end cameras will have some sort of limitation.

Examples of limitations are:

• The zoom isn’t very big, meaning you can’t capture animals which are far away and will have limitations capturing smaller animals like birds
• The camera sensor is small, and so will produce noisier images when there is less light
• The lens is big and heavy, so you need to use a fast shutter speed to avoid getting blurry images due to your hand motion when hand holding it
• Big and heavy equipment is more difficult to pack and travel with

The important thing is to understand the limitations of your camera so you can work around them, or at least, know what to expect before you go on safari.

The most common issue is probably not being able to take photos of animals that are further away. We saw a number of travelers frustrated by this on our recent trip in East Africa. All cameras will have their distance limitations, just be sure to have a good idea of yours so you can have realistic expectations of what kinds of photos you will be able to take. You can simply go outside and take photos of local animals or birds to get a good sense of this.

Another common issue I see from safari photos and wildlife photos in general are images that are not as sharp as they could be.

This is usually because the shutter speed is too low, and the user is hand holding a larger lens. A slow shutter speed means that any movement in your hand is translated into motion blur as you take the picture. You can fix this by increasing the shutter speed and/or resting the lens on a steady surface.

Some limitations can’t be overcome though, and are usually down to the actual hardware inside the camera. For example, the maximum zoom, the sensor size and maximum aperture size will be fixed.

However, if you know what the limitations of your equipment are, then you will be able to either accept them and work around them, or decide on upgrading to a different camera for your trip.

I’d also add at this point that you shouldn’t compare your photos to those you’ve seen on TV, online, and in wildlife magazines. You have no doubt seen some amazing wildlife photos and videos on sites like National Geographic or the BBC , and might wonder why you aren’t able to get the same sorts of shots.

Whilst it is of course possible to get images like those photographers do, they often have a lot of advantages over the average tourist. Not only do they typically travel as a crew with tons of high-end equipment, but they often take photos in locations that are hard to get to with limited public access.

They also often have paid for special press / filming permits to get off-road access or shoot in private areas outside of national parks. They also often spend weeks planning and trying to get the right shots, and only share the best shots with the public.

So don’t be too hard on your gear or yourself. Just be aware of the limitations of your photography equipment and know how to get the most out of it.

Understand What Causes Blurry Wildlife Images

It’s important that your images are sharp. Two things can cause an image not to be sharp.  The first is using too slow of a shutter speed for the situation you are shooting. The second is not focusing correctly.

A slow shutter speed can result in blurry images for a number of reasons. If you are hand holding your camera, then any movements in your hands can translate to blurry images. Movement of the subject can also translate to blur, as can movement due to you taking photos from a moving vehicle or boat.

You can resolve the slow shutter speed blur problem by using a faster shutter speed, and ensuring you are as still as possible when shooting. Ideally, you’ll want to rest your camera on something totally stable when shooting. Then all you have to think about is the motion blur that might result from the animal moving.

For focus, the main issue is likely to come about as a result of the camera’s autofocus system picking the wrong part of the scene to focus on, leaving your subject out of focus. I’ll cover that in my next tip.

Master Your Camera’s Focus System

An important aspect of wildlife photography is knowing how to use your camera’s focus system.

It is important to be able to focus on the animal or thing that you want the viewers’ eyes to go to in the image. This means that you will want to be able to use your camera’s manual focus system (if it has one) and/or learn how to change the focus if your cameras autofocus gets it wrong.

A shot can technically be in focus and sharp, but if you have focused on the wrong part of the scene your actual subject will be out of focus and so you won’t end up with the image you want.

Nearly every camera on the market today has an automatic focus, or autofocus system. As the name suggests this system automatically focuses for you when you point the camera at a scene.

There is however quite a difference in the capabilities of these systems. At the more basic end, an autofocus system will allow you to select an area of the scene to focus on, and then focus appropriately.

More advanced autofocus system will be able to identify specific types of subject like animals or people, and track them as they move so you can keep focus.

Many cameras and lenses also feature manual override, so you can manually adjust the focus if you need.

For the main camera I use for wildlife photography, the Canon EOS R5 , this has a very sophisticated autofocus system which is able to recognised and lock onto a wide range of subjects. If it can find an eye, it will lock focus on that. Otherwise it will try to track a torso or head. Additionally, it can continue to track the subject as it moves, switch between subjects, and I can override the focus selection if necessary.

It took me quite a while to get to grips with this system, and also to get used to its quirks and limitations. For example, on some occasions it would prefer to focus on the grass in front of the subject rather than the subject. Other times it might focus on a marking on an animal’s hide, rather than the eye.

Results like this are why it is so important to both understand the various focus modes of your camera, but also understand how to override them.

For example, on my Canon EOS R5 I have a separate button set up for centre spot focus. This allows me to point the centre of the frame at the area I want to focus on, and know I’ll get sharp focus in that area when I press the focus button. I can also entirely override the focus with the manual focus ring on the lens.

Whilst I can rely on the autofocus subject tracking 90% of the time, it also means I don’t miss focus in those edge cases where the camera doesn’t get it right. Technology can be smart, but it can’t read minds quite yet, so it’s usually working off a best guess as to what you want to take a photo of.

Whatever your camera is, my recommendation is to spend some time learning the various focus modes, what they are, and how to quickly override the focus if necessary, either manually or by selecting a different focus area.

Ideally you’ll want the camera to be in a continuous focus mode so it keeps tracking a moving subject. Try to find some subjects like wildlife in your garden or a moving pet that you can practice on before you go on safari to master your camera’s focus features.

Try Shooting in Burst Mode

Most cameras have a range of shooting modes, which may also be called drive modes. The choices normally vary, and will include single shot and burst shot modes. The drive mode menu on your camera is also where you’ll often find the camera’s self-timer mode.

For wildlife photography, a lot can happen in a short sequence of time. For this reason, shooting in burst mode is usually the way to go when you have a moving subject. This means that as you hold down the shutter button the camera will keep taking images.

Alternatively, in single shot mode, you have to keep pressing and depressing the shutter button. This loses you time and you may miss the shot.

Shooting in burst mode will let you take a sequence of images and then pick the best one. For example, here’s a sequence to show a yellow-billed stork landing.

The number of images the burst mode will take will depend on two main factors.

First, the camera’s burst speed, which is the number of images per second your camera can take. For instance, a camera with a burst speed of 10fps (frames per second) can take up to 10 photos per second.

Second, the speed that your camera can write to the memory card inside the camera as it takes pictures.

Most cameras will be able to take a certain number of images at the maximum burst speed for a few seconds, and then as the memory buffer fills up, this rate will slow down or even stop until the images have been written to your memory card. These details should be made clear on the specification sheet for your camera.

When you shoot in burst mode you will definitely also want to have continuous autofocus enabled. This will mean that if your subject moves as you are shooting it will hopefully stay in focus.

The main disadvantage of shooting in burst mode is that you will end up taking a lot more photos and using more memory card space. However, memory cards and memory in general are relatively inexpensive these days, so this shouldn’t be too much of an issue. Just be sure to always have an extra memory card with you.

Try to Shoot at the Best Times of Day

If you’ve ever read a photography guide, it will normally advise you that shooting in the earlier morning and later afternoon will give you better results. This is because the light at the start of the day and in the evening is softer and has that nice warm yellow glow.

In addition, the lower angle of the sun in the morning and evening produces shadows, resulting in images that have better contrast and depth compared to images shot in the overhead midday sun which can produce more flat images.

When it comes to safari, this advice is also true, but there are additional reasons to shoot earlier in the morning and later in the evening.

To start with, the majority of animals are going to be more active earlier in the morning and then towards the evening. The middle of the day tends to be hotter, and is a time when many animals are likely to be resting in a nice shady spot.

You will tend to see fewer animals in the hottest part of the day and those you see will tend to be less active during this time.

If you are looking for nocturnal species like genets, bushbabies, or aardvarks, your best chances to see them are on night drives or night walks, or to try to go as early in the morning as you can for a chance to spot them before they have gone off to sleep.

Just note nocturnal animals can be pretty tricky to see in most national parks given the hours that you are allowed to do a game drive. Getting good photos of them can be very difficult given they are often spotted at night.

We recommend trying to start your game drives as early as the park will allow. This will give you a better chance of seeing more wildlife, and also getting better images of that wildlife.

Another reason to avoid the middle of the day is that as the air heats up it gets more hazy. Think of the heat shimmer you see on a hot day—this is a real issue when shooting during hotter days and can negatively impact your images.

The haze will result in less sharp images, especially of further away subjects. In addition, as the day progresses, there will often be more dust in the air from vehicles driving around, which also reduces the clarity in the air.

Of course, I appreciate that I am talking about ideals. It isn’t always possible to pick the ideal time. Sometimes you will be out in the middle of the day. In these situations. Try to get as close as possible to your subject, which will let you avoid more of the heat haze. Where possible, shoot your subject so the sun is behind you rather than behind your subject.

The below two images are of the same black rhino mother and calf in Kenya. Both were shot in the middle of the day. In the first shot, the pair were quite far away and there was quite a lot of heat haze, meaning the shot ended up not being as sharp as I would have liked.

In the second shot, the pair moved much closer to us and the light was slightly improved, so there is some depth from the light and dark. It’s still not the ideal setup, but it’s definitely improved compared to the flat and slightly hazy look of the first shot.

See more on heat haze in photography here , including more tips for identifying and avoiding it.

This brings me on to my next tip for getting great photos on safari.

Any wildlife photographer will likely tell you that their most useful skill is patience. When doing landscape photography , I am certainly used to waiting for the right light, but wildlife photography definitely takes the need for patience to a new level.

Wild animals tend not to move to our schedules. They go where they want when they want. Being patient and quiet can reap huge rewards when it comes to photographing them in their natural habitat.

An example is of this leopard in a tree. When we arrived, it was asleep in the tree by its kill. However, we waited for around an hour and it decided to get up, eat more of its kill, descend from the tree and wander off. All these moments provided better photography opportunities than the initial one, and just required patience.

Another example would be a group of lion cubs we encountered in Tanzania. There were eight of them playing near the road, and as we watched two of them climbed up a tree. Shortly afterwards, one of their mothers returned, and we were rewarded by the sight of baby lions bounding across the grass to be reunited.

This is a story I could repeat multiple times across many wildlife encounters, but the overall message should be clear. Try to remember that a safari game drive is not an exercise in getting somewhere.

When you find an animal or bird you want to see, you will probably be rewarded if you spend some time just sitting and watching it rather than rushing on to try to find something else.

Prepare Your Equipment

If you already have a camera that you plan to take with you on safari, you want to make sure it’s in great working order before heading on safari. This is especially the case if you have older gear or gear that gets a lot of use.

Before you go, I recommend testing and cleaning the camera yourself to make sure it’s working. You’ll also want to make sure all the gear from your lenses to your camera straps are in good shape before your trip. Your trip is not a good time to learn about a preexisting scratch in your lens, a corrupted memory card, a fraying strap or a battery that doesn’t hold its charge!

You might also consider taking your camera to have a professional clean and check before your safari. Often you can do this at a local authorised dealer or repair shop for your camera brand, as they will have servicing options. Alternatively, your manufacturer might offer mail-in servicing options.

I try to get my cameras serviced every year or two, especially if I know I’ve been hard on them. As well as cleaning the sensor professionally, they check the camera over and make sure things like seals and screws are all in good working order. In my opinion this is well worth the investment, especially on high-end equipment.

Protect your Equipment on Safari

Safaris can be really hard on camera equipment. From dusty conditions to bumpy roads, there are all sorts of hazards that can either damage your equipment or cause it to function less effectively. In this section, I’m going to talk about common issues you can expect to encounter and how to overcome them.

Dust or Sand

When it’s hot and dry, the roads will be dusty. As your vehicle and other vehicles travel on the roads they kick the dust up, and it gets everywhere. If you have the top down or windows open, expect dust to get on your camera equipment.

If you are traveling to a place where sand is a concern, such as a desert or beach, be careful as blowing sand can get into your gear and can also leave scratches on your lens if you accidentally wipe them. Never put your camera down in the sand as it can easily work its way inside.

Cameras contain a lot of sensitive electronics as well as some moving parts, neither of which appreciate dust or sand. In addition, if dust gets onto your camera’s sensor it can cause unsightly spots to appear in your images.

There are a few things you can do to minimize the impact of dust or sand. First, a good camera bag that you can put your camera in between uses will help to prevent general dust getting in. So when you are not using your camera, I’d recommend securing it in a case or bag.

Also be careful about where you set your camera. Don’t place it on the ground or other dirty surfaces, and don’t leave it outside for any longer than it needs to be outside.

Next, remember to use a lens cap if your camera lens supports them as this will help to keep the front element dust free. Just keep the lens cap in your pocket and place it on the camera whenever you are not using it. If your lens supports it, then a lens hood and a UV filter can also provide much needed protection.

If you are using a camera where you can change lenses, try to change the lens in a dust-free location if possible, such as in your hotel or when stopped in a sheltered place. Try not to change your lenses more than you need to when in dusty situations.

In addition, I’d recommend packing a small camera cleaning kit so you can get accumulated dust off your gear as you travel. I’d particularly recommend having a lens cloth, a brush, and a blower with you.

Once you are done with your safari and you have gotten all the amazing photos you wanted, you might consider getting your camera professionally serviced and cleaned to get rid of any errant dust and to ensure it’s back to full working order for your next adventure.

Not all safaris take place whilst in a closed vehicle. Sometimes you might be on foot or trekking, or in an open top vehicle. In these situations, even when visiting a country in the dry season, there’s always a possibility of rain.

Whilst some cameras do offer a level of weather-proofing or rain resistance, the majority are not fully waterproof. So having a camera rain cover to keep your gear dry like this is a good option.

I’d also recommend having a good camera bag or backpack with a rain cover where you can put your camera in between shots.

If you have a smaller camera like a compact camera or smartphone, something like a resealable freezer bag or clear dry bag can also work well to keep it dry.

Bumpy Roads

As well as dust and rain, another issue you will have to contend with will be bumpy roads. Most roads in safari parks are unpaved, and some of them can be very bumpy.

You definitely don’t want your camera equipment flying around the inside of a vehicle as this can damage it, and could even cause injury to the other occupants. I have a few suggestions to help avoid this scenario.

First, I recommend bringing along a good camera bag or case. Camera bags are specially designed to provide padding and protection for your gear, and many of them also come with rain covers. This means that you have somewhere safe, protected, and padded to put your gear in between shoots.

Personally I use Vanguard photography bags and I’ve been an ambassador for Vanguard for many years now. If you see something on their store that works for your equipment, you can save money using our exclusive Vanguard discount code. This will give you 20% off everything in the  Vanguard store.

Just use the code  FindingTheUniverse for your discount! This code works in the Vanguard USA, UK, Australia, Spain, and Germany stores.

When you are actually using your equipment, I recommend having a strong and comfortable strap to keep it secure around your neck or shoulders. I use the Peak Design strap system which has reliably kept my camera gear comfortably slung at my hip for many years now. You’ll want to find one that is comfortable for you.

I left my DSLR camera on the seat of our Land Cruiser on a trip and it fell on the floor after hitting an unexpected bumpy patch in the road. I was lucky that nothing was damaged but it sure made me more careful about either putting gear away in my bag or keeping it around my neck.

I also recommend that if you are someone like me who enjoys standing up in a safari vehicle, that you sit down or at least put your camera in a camera bag when the roads gets really bumpy. If your guide tells you to hold on or you see that you are going to be crossing a river, it is probably best for both you and your gear to sit down. This way you’ll have a better grip on your gear and avoid banging your gear on something or falling.

Dress Appropriately

Packing appropriate clothing is going to ensure you are comfortable and ready for the weather during your trip. Whilst it might not directly help you get better photos, comfort is a really important factor. When you are comfortable you will be able to focus on getting great photos rather than the temperature or the insects.

When choosing clothes for your trip, consider the climate, weather, and insects of where you are going as well as the activities you plan to do. You are going to pack very differently for a cool weather destination than a tropical one. You also need to pack differently if visiting a country during its rainy season versus its dry season.

In terms of photography specific clothing, you might want to consider having lots of pockets so that you have plenty of places to store things when standing in a vehicle and when hiking. This will give you quick access to things like extra batteries, lens wipes, and your lens caps.

There are a range of different vests you can get, including specialised photography vests . I personally prefer something a bit more versatile that I can use in a variety in situations, and I like the Scottevest products which have a lot of pockets and are great for travel in general. I find them particularly useful for airport travel as they have so many handy pockets.

Generally though, on safari I wear the NosiLife long-sleeve shirts from Craghoppers . These have lots of pockets and also come with built in insect protection and sun protection. They also dry very quickly.

Jess and I mainly wore Craghoppers tops and bottoms throughout the days where we were either in the vehicles on safari or were doing treks. This is the most common brand we’ve seen people wearing for proper safari clothing throughout our travels. You can shop for them on their official store here , as well as on REI in the US here , and on Amazon here .

Depending on where you are going, you will probably also want to consider packing a hat, sunglasses, insect repellent , sunscreen, good practical shoes (we generally wear Scarpa or Merrell ), layers for warmth, and a rain jacket or poncho .

For more tips, check out our detailed guide to what to pack for safari , which has lots more tips and suggestions for your trip.

Pack a Photography Bean Bag

If you are traveling with a longer lens, I’d consider getting a photography bean bag or two for your safari trip.

For wildlife photography on safari, I find that a photography bean bag like this is one of the most useful photography accessories I have packed. Generally, I find I get a lot more use out of a bean bag on safari compared to a tripod or monopod.

This is because on safari you are often shooting from a vehicle, either from the window or via the pop-up top. And in both cases, setting up a tripod or even a monopod isn’t always going to be possible.

On the other hand, a bean bag can rest on the top of the vehicle or over a window, where you can then rest your lens or camera on it. If you are shooting with a larger camera and lens setup, you will definitely be thankful of having somewhere to steady it, as it’s unlikely to be practical to hold it up for prolonged periods of time. It also keeps you from putting your camera or lens directly on the metal edges of windows and roofs which could lead to damage.

Using a bean bag means you’ll be able to use slower shutter speeds for more stationary animals as well, so you don’t have to worry about camera shake so much. This is especially helpful when shooting with very big telephoto lenses from around 400mm and up.

Jess also found the bean bags useful for just using as armrests and for placing her elbows when using binoculars.

Bean bags are very light to travel with, and you can usually find inexpensive materials like dried beans to fill them with at your destination. My only tip is not to fill them with anything obviously edible, as some animals in some parks might sniff out the tasty treats within and decide to give them a nibble! Dried (obviously uncooked!) beans are a good option for this reason.

Be Specific About What You Want with your Guide

If you are doing a safari with a driver and/or guide, then being able to communicate about your goals and what you want to see is really important. It is also important for you to listen to your driver/guide for feedback and understand what is realistic based on their expertise. Doing this as early in the trip as possible is best.

If there’s a certain shot or composition that you want, it’s a good idea to let your guide know so you have a better chance of seeing it. Whilst there’s never a guarantee of seeing any wildlife on safari, if you specify that you want a shot of an elephant bathing for example, then your guide should have an idea of where the best places to get that shot might be on your trip.

If you aren’t clear on your interests, then you’ll be on more of a general safari and taken on the common safari drive circuits within the parks. Guides will almost always drive you to see things like lions or cheetahs if spotted, even without asking you. However, if you’d rather photograph elephants, eagles, or zebras, then you need to speak up so that you guide know what your wildlife sightseeing priorities are for the trip.

Whilst you will still likely get great photo opportunities (your guide is there to take you to see wildlife after all!), it might not be exactly the shot you want. So being specific will definitely help improve your chances of getting the shots you want if you have something specific in mind.

Another thing we discussed with our guide from the beginning was to have signals about stopping and when to leave after stopping for a wildlife sighting. So we asked our guide to just ask to make sure we wanted to leave an animal or we’d tell him, or he’d give us a head’s up if we needed to leave.

This not only helped make sure we felt we had enough time to get the photos we wanted, but it also made sure we were prepared for any sudden jerks from stopping and starting the vehicle.

Communicate with your Fellow Travelers

If you are traveling solo, then you will of course have a lot of autonomy in where you go and what you see on your trip. If you have a driver/guide then the two of you can set times and itineraries each day and be in sync about your wildlife spotting goals.

But, if like most safari goers, you are traveling with a partner, your family, friends, or as part of a group safari with other travelers, then you will likely have to be willing to compromise at times.

Common things you will likely need to decide on together will be what time to leave, how long to spend on game drives, whether to eat a hot lunch or a picnic lunch, and how long to spend watching each animal.

This can also affect your ability to get the photos you may want in terms of timing and views from the vehicle. With just one or two people in a vehicle, it is generally easy to find a good view, but once you have 4 or more people, it often becomes difficult for everyone to have a great view all at the same time, especially if an animal is not in an open area.

Generally, in these circumstances everyone will politely take turns and give everyone a bit of time and space to view the animal and take photos. But this does mean you will need to compromise and will sometimes miss the “best” view.

However, group safaris by far offer better value in terms of money compared to a private safari. But just note that they do come with some compromises.

I definitely recommend traveling with family or friends if that is an option, as sharing these experiences is probably worth more than taking a good photo. But it is worth talking about everyone’s goals and travel style before booking your trip to make sure everyone is likely to have a good trip.

Consider the Composition

As with any kind of photography, composition is key. Composition refers to how you place the various elements in your shot to create the final image.

It can be easy to get caught up in the moment when you see something exciting, and just to start shooting in an effort to get something shot. This excitement is very understandable!

However, if you are able to calm yourself down a bit and spend a fraction of time properly composing your shot, you will likely get better results.

There are a range of general composition rules in this post that you can read about, so I won’t rehash that. The main things I’d suggest just keeping in mind are the following.

• What’s in shot . When framing your shot, glance around the whole frame to see what is and what isn’t in the shot. For example, it can be very easy to frame an animal’s head, but accidentally crop out parts of their body or a tail. Whilst this might be the composition you are after, it might also end up looking a bit odd. Sometimes, zooming out a fraction and ensuring the whole animal is in the frame might be a better composition
• Eye contact . There are many different wildlife poses you can capture, but one of my favourites is when the animal is looking directly into the camera. In this pose, it will appear to be directly staring at the viewer. This is not always easy as animals tend to look all over the place. In these scenarios, burst mode and patience can be your friends.
• Animal Placement . When shooting from a vehicle, especially from the pop-up roof area, we can often end up above the animal. However, often animals look better when shot from eye level. So repositioning yourself to shoot from an open window lower down in the vehicle might give you a better shot, depending on the distance to the subject.
• Background and skyline . When putting your shot together, don’t forget to consider the background. For example, a deer against a brown rock face or tree will not stand out as well as one against a skyline. It’s not always possible to reposition yourself, but if there is the opportunity to wait for a better composition, or move the vehicle to a different location, take it.

Here are a couple of shots to illustrate my points above.

Don’t Forget the Landscapes

One of the main reasons people go on safari is to see the incredible wildlife of an area. However, it’s also very likely that you are going to be passing through some amazing natural landscapes.

Whilst it can be easy to get a bit single-minded about what we’re photographing, it’s important to step back and capture the landscapes as well as the wildlife.

If nothing else, this will serve as a reminder for you in the future as to where you were when you got the shots, and also the lovely scenery you witnessed. Capturing the wildlife with the landscape is also a good option, as it will give some depth and scale to your compositions.

Pack Spare Memory Cards and Batteries

The chances are that you are going to be taking a lot of photos when on safari. If you are shooting with anything other than a smartphone, your camera will likely have a battery you can change and a memory card slot.

It is definitely worth bringing at least one spare battery for your camera, and ideally two. In addition, bringing plenty of memory is also a good idea.

You don’t want to be half way through a busy day and run out of battery or memory card space, and then potentially miss some great shots. Modern mirrorless cameras in particular can eat through batteries, so a spare or two is definitely a must in my opinion.

Consider bringing a USB Powered Battery Charger and Power Pack

Accommodation options on safari can vary greatly, from simple campsites to high end luxury safari lodges. One thing we have found is that not every accommodation, especially the more remote and basic ones, will have AC power outlets. Or at least not one in your room (there is usually at least one public shared power outlet somewhere in a lodge or campsite).

If they have wall outlets, they will likely be 220V-240V, so you will want to check that all your equipment supports this if you are coming from a country like the USA, Japan, or Canada which has 110V-120V power. Many people will also need a travel adaptor to adapt your plugs, depending on where you are coming from and your travel destination.

However, rather than full power outlets, many locations offer USB outlets. These don’t use so much electricity, and are often powered by solar panels.

What this means is that if your camera only has a standard wall outlet charger for its batteries, you might not be able to charge them. Note that some cameras do charge via USB, so do check if that is the case.

So we recommend making sure that you are able to charge your batteries using both the local AC power outlets and via USB so you can take advantage of either charging option. We also recommend considering packing a power pack.

We personally travel with a USB battery charger for our Canon camera batteries. This is better than our standard charger in some respects, as it can charge two batteries at once, and charges over standard USB. There are a number of different models available , the main thing is to find the one that matches your camera battery.

As well as the USB battery charger, we also travel with a USB power pack . We can use this to charge all our USB powered devices, including our phones and the USB camera battery charger. This is helpful when we have periods of time without power.

Ask About Your Safari Vehicle

Before you go on safari, it’s a good idea to check with your safari company about the type of vehicle you will be in. There are a number of different models that companies use in different locations around the world, with Toyota Land Cruisers being the 4X4 vehicle of choice for many companies. However, there are many different models of Land Cruisers used for safaris so knowing the specific model can be very helpful.

The same vehicle model’s features can also be different across companies depending on the specific conversion. Probably the most important thing for most people is the number of seats, luggage space, and the configuration of the top.

We highly recommend a vehicle with a pop top. This means the top of the vehicle will pop up, allowing you to stand up inside the vehicle and get a better view, as well as better photos.

For the majority of these vehicles, the top pops up and remains over your head, providing much needed shade. However, in some vehicles, the tops actually come off completely, so you won’t have any shade.

We highly recommend a vehicle where the top doesn’t come off completely, as otherwise you are going to be in the sun a lot.

It’s also a good idea to check on the height. In some of the vehicles we have found that even when standing up, the lip is a little high for Jess to get a good view. So if you are shorter (or very tall) you should definitely check about this if you really want to be able to stand up for game viewing.

Another thing to check is whether or not the vehicle has charging points (some have standard wall outlets whilst others might have USB outlets). Some of our vehicles have had this, some didn’t, but it is becoming more common.

If you are planning a very photography focused safari, you can also ask if the vehicle has any photography specific features. Some of the vehicles we’ve travelled in came with photography bean bags for our use for example, which was very helpful.

Other special features might include special camera mounts, tripod mounts, the ability to fully open or remove windows, and even the ability to remove a door or two. I wouldn’t expect most of these features unless you are paying extra for a special photography trip.

Consider Doing Boat and Walking Safaris

Whilst most safaris are done from a 4×4 vehicle, there are other options depending on where you are travelling.

For example, in some locations you might be able to do a walking safari or a boat-based safari. These will give you some variety as well as present the opportunity to see different wildlife.

For instance, if you are interested in birds and small creatures (e.g., dung beetles, lizards), then walking safaris are often going to be better for getting close to these animals. Boat safaris are going to obviously be the best way to get closer to aquatic wildlife.

Of course, this isn’t always going to be possible depending on where you travel, but we definitely recommend signing up for at least a couple of these experiences if you have the option.

Shoot in RAW

If your camera supports it, and nearly all do these days, I highly recommend setting it up so it saves your image files in RAW format. Whilst this takes up more memory, and does require you to edit your photos, you will get a lot more latitude when it comes to editing your final image.

I go into a lot more detail in why to shoot in RAW in my guide to RAW in photography . For now, I recommend enabling it. Most cameras have the option to shoot in both RAW and JPG if you need a stepping stone, although this will take up more memory card space.

However, if you want to be able to share your photos instantly online during your trip, then you will probably want to also shoot in JPG/JPEG because you don’t need to edit them prior to uploading them.

Learn to Edit Your Photos

Photography involves a number of skills. The first two are in the field when you’re getting the shot, and require you to know how to compose a great photo and how to use your camera.

The third skill is photo editing. Photo editing is where you can get the most from the images you have captured. This doesn’t have to take a long time, even minor edits can make a big difference to an image.

Judicious cropping, adjustment of shadows and highlights, tweaks to saturation—these can all add up to really improve an image.

Of course, you can go a lot further with photo editing software. But as a starting point, loading up one of our favourite photo editors and learning how to use it can really help you get the most from your shots.

Keep Your Eyes Open

When you are on safari, the chances are that you will have a guide. Your guide will normally know what sort of wildlife you are likely to see in the areas you’re visiting, and they will of course be looking out for it as you drive or walk around.

However, the thing about wildlife is that you never know what you are going to see. And the more eyes that are looking for wildlife, the higher your chance that you will spot something. Your guide can’t look everywhere at once, and if they are driving, they are going to be at least a little distracted by operating the vehicle and keeping you safe.

In our most recent safari experience, we would often maximize what we could all see while on a game drive. So, generally our guide was seated in front in the driver’s seat, Jess would sit on the opposite side of vehicle from the driver, and I would stand at the back and scan for a different viewpoint. This way we were looking in many directions and had a better chance of spotting things. Although our guide was by far much better at spotting wildlife than we were, we still occasionally made some great spots that our driver had missed.

In my opinion, a safari should definitely not be a passive experience where you sit back and wait for something interesting to be pointed out to you. However, I have been surprised by the number of Land Cruises and Land Rovers full of bored-looking people who seemed to be spending more time on their phones or talking to one another than looking outside. They seem to simply wait for their driver to stop and point something out, take a photo, and then go back to their phones.

If you actively participate and spend your time searching for wildlife as well, you’re going to improve the chances of sightings and find more photo opportunities. You are also going to learn a lot more about the natural environment around you. And you are going to enjoy your trip a whole lot more!

Enjoy Yourself!

This might seem a bit counter intuitive in a guide to getting great photos on safari, but it’s important to remember. When on safari, it can be easy to become caught up in the need to capture every moment with our cameras, and not to miss a shot.

Whilst of course I want you to get those amazing shots, don’t forget that you came on safari also to witness wildlife in its natural habitat. So don’t forget to just step back from the camera every now and again and just take it all in. A safari is an incredible experience and you definitely want to try and enjoy it rather than being stressed over getting every shot on your memory card.

On our recent trip, Jess generally only took photos when animals came close, otherwise, she was content just watching them, either with a pair of binoculars (I definitely recommend packing a good pair of binoculars) or her naked eyes. She said she got much more enjoyment just watching them than when she was trying hard to get a good photo as she had in prior trips.

We highly recommend just sitting back and letting some moments go by unrecorded. I find you can often learn a lot more about animals if you just sit and watch them sometimes. Not every moment needs to be photographed!

Further Reading

That’s it for my guide to getting better photos on safari! If you found this useful, you might enjoy some of my other photography content. Here are some articles to get you started.

• We have a guide to the best safari camera , to help you choose the right gear for you and your budget. We also have a guide to photography bean bags for safari you might consider checking out.
• We have a detailed overview of gorilla trekking in Uganda as well as chimpanzee trekking in Uganda , both of which are an incredible experience
• We have a detailed guide to what to pack for safari , to help ensure you bring the right gear for your trip
• I have a guide to my favourite  photo editing applications , as well as the best  alternatives to Lightroom
• Wildlife photography can often result in noisy images. See my guide to the best noise reduction software for some ideas on how to get the best out of your photos even when they might be a bit noisy
• We have a guide to  how to use a compact camera ,  how to use a DSLR camera , and  how to use a mirrorless camera . We also have a guide to  how a DSLR works
• Knowing how to compose a great photo is a key photography skill. See our guide to  composition in photography  for lots of tips on this subject
• We have a guide to what  depth of field  is and when you would want to use it.
• We are big fans of getting the most out of your digital photo files, and do to that you will need to shoot in RAW. See our guide to  RAW in photography  to understand what RAW is, and why you should switch to RAW as soon as you can if your camera supports it.
• You’re going to need something to run your photo editing software on. See our guide to the best  laptops for photo editing  for some tips on what to look for.
• If you’re looking for more advice on specific tips for different scenarios, we also have you covered. See our guide to  Northern Lights photography ,  long exposure photography ,  fireworks photography ,  tips for taking photos of stars , and  cold weather photography .
• Color accuracy is important for photography – see our guide to  monitor calibration  to ensure your screen is set up correctly.
• If you’re looking for a great gift for a photography loving friend or family member (or yourself!), take a look at our  photography gift guide ,
• If you’re in the market for a new camera, we have a detailed guide to the  best travel cameras , as well as specific guides for the  best cameras for hiking and backpacking , the  best compact camera ,  best bridge camera ,  best mirrorless camera  and  best DSLR camera . We also have a guide to the  best camera lenses .
• If you want a camera or lens, but the prices are a bit high, see our guide to  where to buy used cameras and camera gear  for some budget savings options.
• We have a guide to  why you need a tripod , a guide to  choosing a travel tripod , and a round-up of our  favourite travel tripods

Looking to Improve Your Photography?

If you found this post helpful, and you want to improve your photography overall, you might want to check out my  online travel photography course .

Since launching the course in 2016, I’ve already helped over 2,000 students learn how to take better photos. The course covers pretty much everything you need to know, from the basics of how a camera works, through to composition, light, and photo editing.

It also covers more advanced topics, including astrophotography, long exposure photography, flash photography, and HDR photography.

You get feedback from me as you progress, access to webinars, interviews and videos, as well as exclusive membership of a Facebook group where you can get feedback on your work and take part in regular challenges.

It’s available for an amazing one-off price for lifetime access, and I think you should check it out. Which you can do by  clicking here .

And that’s it! I’d love to hear about your thoughts on wildlife photography on safari, and am happy to answer any questions you have. Just pop them in the comments below and I’ll get back to you as soon as I can.

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There are 4 comments on this post

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Towab Muhammad Yusuf says

2nd April 2022 at 12:27 pm

Zebras is looking awesome, so natural looking

Laurence Norah says

3rd April 2022 at 10:28 am

Thanks Towab!

D. Hernandez says

26th March 2022 at 1:36 am

Hello Laurence,

Thanks for these wonderful photography tips and advice! I am not much of a photographer but found these tips very useful and will be keeping this page bookmarked to read again before my safari. My wife and I have a 2-week trip planned to South Africa in in the fall and about a week of that will be spent on safari.

I was given a Canon EOS Rebel T7 DSLR camera (used but barely used) last year but without any lenses. So my question for you would be what lens would you recommend I invest in if I was to choose to take just one for this trip? I would also of course want to use it around home and for taking photos of family events and future trips, but the main focus for now is getting some decent wildlife photos on our safari in South Africa. Would like to purchase it soon so can start practicing (as you recommend) now!

Thanks for all your time & help! D

26th March 2022 at 9:42 am

I’m glad you found the post helpful and I am sure you will have an amazing trip! So if you are looking at just one lens then you will want a lens that can go from quite wide to quite zoomed in. A lens like this is known as a walk around lens. I would probably recommend either the Tamron 18-400 f/3.5-6.3 or the Tamron 16-300 f/3.5-6.3 . These would both give you the versatility you would want in terms of range, from wide to zoomed in. The 16-300 gives you a slightly lighter lens that can take slightly wider angle shots, whilst the 18-400 is a bit heavier but you get more reach.

It is worth noting that of course if you zoom in at 100% and peer at the images produced by these lenses they won’t compare to a high-end lens costing thousands of dollars. However I think that for standard size prints and general use they are a good option at a reasonable price point.

Let me know if you need any further input, I’m happy to help. Otherwise, have a fantastic trip!

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How to Capture Stunning Safari Photography on Your Next Trip

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If you’re planning a safari trip in the near future, you’ll want to make sure your camera is packed and ready to go. Safari photography can be some of the most rewarding and beautiful photos you’ll ever take, but it takes a little bit of know-how to capture those perfect shots. Here are seven tips to help you get started.

Safari Photography: What to Expect on an African Safari

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5 Quick Tips for Better Safari Photos | Wildlife Photography

By: Author Adam

Posted on Last updated: 28 March, 2024

I have been lucky enough to get in front of some pretty amazing wildlife during my travels, including a 43-day African safari and a trip out to the Galapagos Islands.

I have summed up my experiences into five short tips that will help you get the best pictures of wildlife—ordered in terms of importance, with the first being the most critical to getting better safari photos.

#1.) Get Close!

This may seem obvious, but nothing will impact your shot more than getting as close as possible (or safe) to the animal you will be photographing. In terms of an African safari, close may not always be an option, and that’s where it is important to use longer lenses.

I would recommend having a lens that is capable of 250mm at a minimum. Many safaris get very close to the animals, but generally speaking, the most interesting animals tend to be the furthest away.

To get nice tight shots of big predator species, you are going to want a super telephoto lens more in the range of 400-500mm or higher. Many of my favorite photos used my Sigma 150-600mm lens.

Having a powerful lens will produce shots that are tightly cropped with lots of detail in the animal’s face and their expressions. Using a lens in the mid-range, like 200-250mm (I have the Tamron 18-270 ), will get you shots that have the animal’s entire body in the frame. The detail with the mid-range lenses will be decent in the face but less than a super-telephoto.

#2.) Pay attention to the light

After the distance to your subject, the next most important item to consider is the light source. Most times, you will be relying on natural light to capture your subject since flashes will be too far away to be effective.

In some cases, flashes may not be allowed by law. Your camera’s flash will not carry more than several feet before losing most of its power. Without specialty equipment, a vast majority of the time, you will be relying on the sun to light the animal you are photographing.

Use the sun to light the animal by putting yourself between the sun and the animal. This will ensure you are on the lit side of your subject. This will allow you to use shorter shutter speeds and capture more details in the animal’s face, body, and eyes.

It’s best to instruct your game vehicle driver about this so he knows to look for the light and get you into the right position faster.

#3.) It’s all in the eyes!

As humans, we are programmed to look into the eyes of whatever we are looking at, including pictures. Take your photos to the next level with eye contact with the animal. Be sure to have your focus set on the eyes as well.

Naturally, our eyes are drawn to whatever is most in focus in a picture, and that should always be the eyes. Be patient and wait for the animal to be looking directly into your camera, and then take as many shots as you can while they’re looking at you. These should be some of your best shots.

#4.) Always arrive on to a new animal with fast shutter speeds

I find it best to have your camera set to a very fast shutter speed between animal spottings because you never know when or where your next sighting will come from. It may mean adding some ISO to your shot, but it’s better than missing it.

Sometimes, you only get a brief moment, and you don’t want to end up with a handful of unusable, blurry photos. When arriving at a new animal, try starting with a fast shutter speed, and once the animal is comfortable with you being there, then take the time to optimize your shot.

#5.) Bring lots of fast memory cards

The perfect photo doesn’t just happen; it usually involves and a bunch of waiting followed by a flurry of camera shutters. Be sure your camera and your memory card are ready.

To ensure your memory card doesn’t hold your camera back, be sure to have a 600x memory card (90mb/s) or faster. Your camera only has a small portion of space in its memory to hold photos while transferring them to the SD Card.

If the transfer rate of your card is too slow, your camera will not be able to shoot another photo until the room has cleared. Your camera will also have a limitation, but don’t let your SD card be the bottleneck.

If purchasing a new camera for a safari, the number of frames per second it’s rated for is something I would consider strongly. Memory is very cheap compared to other parts of your gear. Make sure to have plenty of fast cards. I carry several 32 GB 600x SD memory cards. I can fit 800-1000 24mpx RAW files on each.

Now that you know what to expect on an African safari, you have no reason not to go. If you are looking at taking a safari on your own, we cannot recommend Acacia Africa enough. 

PIN ME FOR LATER!

Wednesday 28th of January 2015

An African safari is the dream! I just bet these photos does nothing compared to experiencing the real thing

Wednesday 7th of January 2015

Some great advice. With animals you just have to accept you are going to take 100 ordinary photos for every good one. Just keep taking lots and lots of photos.

Having a long lens is critical. I know when we got ours, the photo quality improved a lot.

Wednesday 30th of September 2015

So true Nicole! Having the right lens is super critical, love seeing your photos as well. Safe travels to you two.

Meg @ Mapping Megan

Amazing photos, and great tips all round - especially the part about bringing a lot of memory cards. We keep our photos on our memory cards just in case our computer files ever corrupt, so are always traveling with a nice little collection of blank cards for extra space. Nothing worse than running out of memory!

Tuesday 20th of January 2015

Luckily now a days memory cards are so cheap. We also can't imagine without having our external hard drives with us either, we have 5 TB of those too....never can be to safe with your photographs!

Tuesday 6th of January 2015

Great tips! I'm going on safari in May and I'm going to forward this to my husband to read as well. You take beautiful photos!

Where is your safari all going? If you need any other tips just email us. Your going to have an amazing time, Africa is amazing!

• // // // //

Tips for Taking the Best Safari Photos

Taking beautiful photographs is an enormously important part of the safari experience for many of today’s travellers. Some Micato guests return home with gallery-style images to frame as mementoes of their African adventures ; for others, the goal is to share dazzling pictures with friends, family, and followers on social media.

Given the gorgeous landscapes and abundant wildlife of Africa’s game preserves, it’s easy to imagine that snapping perfect safari photos would be just that: a snap. The truth, though, is that using the right equipment, and identifying the best angles and light conditions, can make a huge difference in the quality of your pictures. Following a few key tips, like those below, can maximize your chances of capturing stunning images (and also bumping up your Instagram “likes”).

Choose the right gear

Taking photos with your smartphone may work just fine in everyday life, but for a once-in-a-lifetime experience like safari, you’ll want to upgrade your kit. That means investing in (or renting) a good-quality DSLR camera, as well as two lenses: a wide-angle option for sweeping landscape shots; and a zoom lens (preferably at least 300mm or 400mm) for portraits and wildlife close-ups. Since you’ll likely take many of your photos from inside a safari vehicle, you will appreciate that all Micato Safari vehicles are stocked with beanbags to help steady your camera while moving (a tripod really only works if you’re going to be standing still on the ground). And don’t forget extra batteries and memory cards—you’re likely to take thousands of photos on your trip.

Shoot early—and late

Lighting is critically important when taking photographs, and shooting in Africa’s bright, wide-open natural landscapes can present particular light challenges. In general, it’s best to avoid taking safari pictures in the harsh overhead sunlight of mid-day—and instead plan to shoot in the early morning and late afternoon, when the sun’s light is softer and more golden, and casts more striking shadows. (Happily, since these cooler hours are when animals are most active, they are also when most game drives take place.)

Use optimal settings

While there are no specific camera settings that will guarantee your photos come out great (the settings you choose will be dependent on your subject matter, shooting conditions, and your camera), a couple of basic rules can be useful to keep in mind. When shooting landscapes, choosing a narrow aperture and a slower shutter speed (or, if your camera has auto settings, choosing “landscape mode”), will help create grander scenes, where both the foreground and background are in sharp focus. When shooting wildlife—especially on the move—it’s best to switch to a wide aperture and quick shutter speed (also achieved by using “portrait mode”). This will result in freeze-frame-style images, where background elements like trees and grasses are blurred, but your subject—a running cheetah, a hovering kingfisher—stays crystal-clear.

With so many animals to see in Africa’s game preserves, it’s understandable that you might want to move on after snapping a few photos of a single elephant herd or family of giraffes. But, as professional wildlife photographers (and Micato Safari Directors) know, the best images often come from staying in one place for a while, and continuing to observe and shoot. A pair of zebras may pick up their heads from grazing so their body positions perfectly mirror one another; a lion that seems to be dozing in the shade may suddenly, thrillingly, open its eyes.

Be respectful

While it’s tempting to want to get as close as possible to wildlife for more arresting photos, it’s important—for the animals’ safety and for yours—to stay at a respectful distance. Your Micato Safari Director , an expert in African species, will make sure your vehicle only approaches animals in a manner that won’t disturb them. But you can do your part, too, by disabling your camera’s flash—which can disorient and temporarily blind the creatures you’re shooting.

You’ll want to use a similar sense of propriety when photographing local people while on safari. Many tribespeople who live and work on game preserves are used to having their pictures taken; still, it is always better to ask. If a person you want to photograph seems uncomfortable with it, defer to his or her wishes, and stash your camera away.

A Micato safari is sure to leave you with life-changing memories—whether you capture them in photos or not. Contact our experts today , and start planning your magical journey.

For more examples of our Safari Director’s photography skills see our earlier blog article Micato Safari Directors Know Photography .

Try your hand at safari photography!

Up next: elephants you'll never forget (video).

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Welcome to Pangolin Photo Safaris

We are Africa’s premier photo safari operator and lodge owners. This site contains plenty of information on all our Pangolin Photo Safaris, the destinations that we visit (and call home) as well as wildlife photography tips , video tutorials and inspirational galleries to help you become a better wildlife photographer. When you are ready, we have a team of expert African photo safari planners who are on hand to help you design and build your perfect Pangolin Photo Safari. We look forward to welcoming you on an African photo safari soon.

Our Featured Safaris

Chobe and Okavango Delta

March – november.

Spend time at The Pangolin Chobe Hotel and then a private camp in The Okavango Delta in the company of one of The Pangolin Photo Hosts.

8 Days | USD8,950

The Best of the Chobe

A 7-day photo safari with expert guidance onboard The Pangolin Voyager and at The Pangolin Chobe Hotel. Private group bookings available.

7 Days | USD4,595

Chobe, Delta & Kalahari

Three iconic and diverse Botswana photo safari destinations in one seamless safari. Led by a Pangolin Photo Host from start to finish.

10 Days | USD12,650

Pangolin places.

Pangolin Chobe Hotel

Perched on a plateau overlooking The Chobe River and Caprivi Floodplains the Pangolin Chobe hotel is designed around a wildlife photography gallery. With only 14 rooms it is an intimate property and the base for our iconic photo safari experiences.

The Pangolin Voyager

Our floating lodge is actually moored on the Namibian side of the Chobe and is the perfect base for families and groups to charter on an exclusive basis. With 5 cabins the Pangolin Voyager can accommodate up to ten guests.

Pangolin Photo Camps

We have teamed up with a selection of highly reputable safari operators to host our Pangolin Photo Camps throughout Southern and East Africa. This gives us plenty of options to visit them at optimal wildlife photography times.

Never, and I mean never, was so excellent guided!

We can’t talk more highly of Pangolin and thank them very warmly for a wonderful holiday.

I loved being in and on the Chobe. The amount of game and birds one gets to see really close up is amazing. I am just a happy snapper who enjoys seeing wildlife but with Guts’ fun instruction in easy to grasp chunks I was surprised how much I learnt and the quality of some of my pics.

This was the most memorable activity of our holiday! What a treat to be able to use such wonderful camera equipment, with tuition and a guide, in such an amazing location.

The photo boats are incredible, well equipped with all the resources you need to create magical wildlife photography. If you come to the Chobe and don’t do a photo tour with Pangolin you’re missing out!

This was an incredible trip. Pangolin arranged everything and deserves top scores for coordinating the logistics.

These guys know what they are doing! We were with Pangolin for 5 days on a recent two stop photo safari. Pangolin handled the Chobe part of the trip in Kasane and on the Pangolin Voyager houseboat and it was a wonderful experience from start to finish.

A wonderful experience, since the photo teachers and guide are very very knowledgable. They bring you in the best position to take your pictures, they know their equipment very well, and by experience, they can almost ‘read’ animal behaviour.

This is truly the way to do a game drive if visiting Chobe National Park. The people of Pangolin are amazing and turned this game drive into one of the most memorable events in my life!

Pangolin Photo Safaris is proud to be the founding partner of a new non-profit organisation dedicated to the conservation of the most highly trafficked wildlife species on the continent: the African Pangolin.

Through a three-pronged approach of Publicity, Participation and Protection, the NGO works with partners in the tourism, conservation and corporate fields with the aim of increasing worldwide awareness of the species; gathering data to contribute towards much-needed research; and implementing protection and rehabilitation projects on the ground.

For more information about this exciting initiative and to join #TeamPangolin visit www.pangolin.africa

7 Best Camera for Safari Options & Safari Phone Photography Guide

By: Author Amanda OBrien

Posted on Last updated: 16/02/2024

As a keen photographer and lover of an African safari, I am often asked for advice on what is the best camera for safari and can you get a decent photo on safari with a phone.

A good camera for safari will require some investment and can be well worth it if you develop a passion for wildlife photography.

However, if you are new to safari and not sure if you want to make that level of investment there are many ways to produce stunning safari photos on your phone – plus some low-cost ways to take your safari phone photo image quality to the next level.

In the past, I had been of the belief that the only way to get great photos on safari was to invest in a camera with best zoom options.

The reason for this is that in the past the cameras on most phones have been pretty dreadful when it comes to zooming – a critical requirement for capturing animals and wildlife in places like the Serengeti National Park Tanzania or the Masai Mara Kenya .

However, a recent visit to the stunning Thanda Safari Lodge South Africa and a lesson with their resident photographer Christian Sperka completely opened my ideas to how great phone photography can now be on a safari holiday.

NB: I am writing this post for those that are new to safari photography – you experts tend to already have many views regarding the best camera for photography and the best safari camera.

Personally, I don’t think there is any such thing as the best camera for pictures – it is always about your goals and requirements and that will change the answer to this question.

Best Camera for Safari Options

Why is camera type so particularly important for safari photography.

There are several options for the types of cameras that can be used to take safari pictures. As you might expect, as you move up in the price you move up in quality.

Moving up in quality normally allows for greater and better quality zooms. The level of control of the shot also increases with quality.

There are a few reasons that these factors are particularly important when it comes to an African photo safari:

• The animals are often quite a distance from the vehicle and in many instances, it will not be possible to get closer. Therefore, to take a good clear photo of the animal a strong zoom is critical.

2. Animals can move very quickly. Having a camera where you can adjust the shutter speed or move the camera to a fast burst mode means you can take shots faster and thus be more likely to capture the moving animal in focus resulting in clear pictures of Africa.

3. A day on safari normally involves major and multiple changes in light. Also, the general light may be quite good but animals, unfortunately, may often be in shaded areas.

To get a nice clear shot it is critical to be able to adjust your camera settings to take the light into account.

The good news is safari is one of the few times where it is not necessary to worry as much about the weight of the camera equipment and the amount of gear related to the camera eg different lenses, tripods etc.

The reason for this is you will generally be on a vehicle most of the time (a walking safari is obviously a bit different) so have space to place extra camera equipment.

However, you do need to get your camera equipment on the plane with you.

Before you head out on safari read this great post on all the different Collective Nouns for Animals from the fantastic Wildlife Diaries blog.

What are the different types of Cameras that I could use for Safari Photos?

The most basic option is the good old point and shoot camera . These are lower-cost options and tend to be quite light.

Many point and shoot cameras come with different preset options such as for evening or sports (which is a good setting for animals as it is for fast movement) that can allow adjustments for the light.

A basic point and shoot camera can work very well for wide-angle shots on safari – showing the general landscape/skyline, sunset or sunrise shots – as well as of course capturing the experience of safari eg shots of those on the vehicle, the drivers, sundowners etc.

The biggest weakness of point and shoot cameras is their lack of zoom. They don’t have the best lens for safari.

The average point and shoot camera do have a 10x zoom which sounds like a lot but alas is not when it comes to capturing animals.

The next level up is the bridge camera – this is basically halfway between a point and shoot and a DSLR camera. So the zoom on a bridge camera is better than a point and shoot as its ability to react to fast action – but it is still not to the quality of the DSLR camera. This is the in-between option with prices that reflect that.

Generally, the best zoom camera option for a safari is a Digital SLR camera . This is the type of camera that professionals tend to use but it does not mean it is out of scope for the average photographer or new photographer.

Indeed, I have had my digital SLR camera for years. The camera body itself is not that expensive. Where the cost can come in is getting the best lens.

Most digital SLR cameras come with a wide lens on purchase. In order to zoom it is necessary to buy another lens.

A digital SLR body with a strong zoom lens held firmly will produce the clearest and best safari shots. Of course, to achieve this there is a considerable cost involved. This is the best zoom in camera option.

Mirrorless cameras are not too far away from a DSLR. However, there are fewer options for mirrorless cameras when it comes to lenses and they are still not quite as fast as a DSLR which is often critical with safari photography.

A Go Pro or 360 cameras can work really well in capturing the safari experience of a game drive. However, my personal experience with these types of camera on safari has not been great.

A Go Pro of 360 camera will cover a wide range but the animals themselves become quite tiny and inconsequential. Yes, they are great for capturing a mood and feel but my personal opinion is they are not best suited to safari.

I haven’t mentioned drones as they are not allowed in many private game reserves or national parks as they can scare the animals.

Best Small Camera for Safari (Point and Shoot)

1. the sony cyber-shot rx100.

The Sony Cyber-Shot RX 100 is a fantastic option for those new to photography who are looking to get a decent shot without having to learn how to become professional photographers. The Sony Cyber-Shot RX 100 camera will make most of the decisions for you to determine the best shot and it has an excellent zoom range – great for safari. It is a sturdy camera with effective image stabilization – also good to capture those fast-moving animals.

This is a very innovative camera that has jumped to the head of the queue in this category. It has a very large sensor for this type of camera and this is critical to clear images – very important with animal shots. This Sony camera is also particularly good in low light and has very fast autofocus – great for sunrise and sunset on safari and for catching those animals on the move. Unlike most cameras in this price range, the Sony RX100 shoots in raw. This is great if you’re keen to get going in the world of photography but otherwise, this feature won’t be of much use as it really comes to life in the editing process. Of the two point and shoot camera options, the Sony RX100 is the one to get if you are quite sure you will continue to pursue your interest in photography.

⇒ Read More Reviews on DPReview ⇒ Check the Price on the Sony RX

Best Bridge Cameras for Safari

2. canon powershot sx70.

The big benefit of this Canon camera is a 65X zoom – fantastic for safari shots. It also offers full manual control and allows shooting in Raw. Plus the Canon Powershot XS70 has inbuilt wifi.

The only downside is its size – this Canon camera it is nearly as big as a DSLR. And it doesn’t perform quite as well in weak light – but is fantastic in a good light. This is perfect for the high-end amateur photographer.

⇒ Read More Reviews on DPReview ⇒ Check the Price on the Canon Powershot SX70

3. Panasonic Lumix DMC FZ1000

The Panasonic Lumix DMC FZ1000 is a fantastic overall bridge camera. Its big advantage is 4K video capture. If you are into video then the Panasonic Lumix is the bridge camera for you.

⇒ Read More Reviews on DPReview ⇒ Check the Price on the Panasonic DMC FZ1000

Best Mirrorless Camera for Safari

4. sony alpha a6000.

This is a particularly good buy as Sony has brought in subsequent models – bringing the price down on this fantastic camera. The Sony Alpha A6000 is packed full of features and will give you some great clear shots. It is also a nice small-sized camera.

And the Sony Alpha has a very fast autofocus for this type of camera, enabling animals in action to be more likely to be captured in focus.

⇒ Read More Reviews on DPReview ⇒ Check the Price on the Sony Alpha A6000

5. Canon EOS M50

The Canon EOS M50 takes great clear shots and is very easy to use – it is perfect as an introductory mirrorless camera. This Canon camera has 4K video capture so fantastic for those more interested in taking video.

Its lens range is not quite as good as others at this level so if it is animal close-ups you are after this might not be the best option for you.

⇒ Read More Reviews on DPReview ⇒ Check the Price on the Canon EOS M50

Best DSLR Cameras for Safari

When it comes to the best camera for wildlife and safari it has to be a DSLR. And when it comes to DSLR cameras the question you will often hear between photographers is Nikon or Canon ?

These two camera brands have tended to own the top of this market for some time. Personally, I have always been a Nikon person and love my Nikon DSLR.

Do carefully research both brands before you buy them. Once you purchase you are then quite committed to buying complementary lenses and gear linked to that brand – and you can’t use a Nikon lens on a Canon body and vice versa.

These are the two best entry-level DSLRs from each brand:

6. Nikon D3500

From a value point of view, I think this is the best superzoom camera for safari. The price is quite reasonable given what it offers and it is then easy to add say a Tamron lens (see the next section) and get some outstanding shots without breaking the bank.

⇒ Read More Reviews on DPReview  ⇒ Check the Price on the Nikon D3500

7. Canon Rebel T7i

This is the best Canon camera if you are looking for solid quality but don’t want to spend a fortune in my opinion.

⇒ Read More Reviews on DPReview  ⇒ Check the Price on the Canon Rebel T7i

Best Lens Options for DSLR for Safari

Generally for safari the longer the camera lens the better – this is where you see the classic shots of photographers with very long super zoom camera lenses. However, these lenses are expensive and very heavy.

I probably use my longer camera lens 2-3 times a year on trips – but I am super happy when I have it. And I have had the same zoom camera lens for many years.

So the good news is that these camera lenses do last – but as I mentioned above you are tied into the brand of your body camera.

Essentially, there are two options when it comes to a zoom lens. Spend a bit less and go with one of the lesser-known brands – a good option for the amateur.

Or invest in the Nikon or zoom lens for Canon equivalent – not cheap but will last a long time.

Here are two brands I have personally used at the lens lengths here for safari and I have been very happy with the results.

Tamron 150-600 Lens

From a value point of view, this is probably the best superzoom lens for safari. This is also a great lens for Canon camera option as well as other camera brands.

⇒ Read More Reviews on DPReview  ⇒ Check the Price on the Tamron 150-600 Lens

⇒ Read More Reviews on DPReview  ⇒ Check the Price on the Nikon 200-500m Lens

Another less expensive option is to hire a lens to take on safari – or even hire a camera (although it is generally best to be quite familiar with your camera before a safari trip so that you don’t have to try to figure out how to use your camera whilst the elusive leopard disappears).

I’m not aware of anyone who does this on a global level but if you do please email me and let me know. In the meantime, the best thing to do is type into Google something like “Hire a camera lens or camera name of my city”.

This is what popped up when I put it in for London – Lenses for Hire – and Lens Pimp – good name!

Best Camera Accessories to take on an African Photo Safari

There are 4 key camera accessories that I always take on a Safari:

A tripod will serve you well on safari. Its key benefit is giving you a base for your camera that is completely stable – allowing for a much greater chance of getting your shot in a clean crisp focus.

There is no need for anything fancy when it comes to tripods – B&H has a couple of great low-cost options.

⇒ Check out a Range of Tripods 

2. Lens Filter

Don’t leave home without a Lens Filter. Not only are these good for UV rays they also protect the lens of your camera. I have dropped my camera or accidentally whacked it against a hard surface many times.

A Lens filter is much cheaper to replace than a lens. And it tends to then be the only thing that gets damaged and protects the camera.

⇒ Check out a Range of Lens Filters

These little beanbags are brilliant to use on vehicles. Stick the camera bean bag anywhere – on the edge of the vehicle, on the table, on the hood of the car and you instantly get a stable base for much clearer shots.

Empty the camera bean bag out before you go and just add sand when you get there – the same thing on the way home.

⇒ Check out Beanbags here

4. Camera Bag

Once you’ve spent the money on your new camera it is critical that you protect it from damage. This is most important when you are in transit.

I have made the mistake of packing my camera in my check-in luggage before and paid the price with a slightly bent lens. I recommend buying a camera bag and always bringing your camera on the plane with you.

⇒ Check out Camera Bags here

Using Your Phone to Take Photos on Safari

So, it used to be that the options above were the only way to take good clear photos on safari. However, advances in camera phones plus new accessories are now giving phones a genuine place in the safari vehicle.

Using my phone for anything bar atmosphere shots on safari was new to me so I sat down with what is possibly the only resident wildlife photographer at a lodge in Africa – Christian Sperka at the wonderful Thanda Safari – to tell me how to achieve this.

Thanda Safari – Private Game Reserve

The stunning Thanda Safari is in the Zululand region of South Africa. Thanda is known for its understated luxury and celebration of the local Zulu culture. Of course, it also has the big 5.

And amazing food, fantastic service, a spa, brilliant guides – and basically everything you could ever want for a wonderful and memorable safari experience. The Thanda Safari reserve has a quite unique mix of topology – from oceans to inland to the coastline.

This provides a great range of backdrops for photos – and it also means Thanda Safari South Africa is a birdwatcher’s paradise.

⇒ For more about the lovely Thanda check out my post on A Luxury Travel Blog .

Thanda Private Game Reserve has two very unique offers. Firstly, it has its own resident wildlife photographer – Christian Sperka.

Secondly, all guests to Thanda Zululand are offered a free 90-minute photography lesson with Christian. I cannot recommend this highly enough.

I thought I knew a lot about photography but Christian showed me quite a few new and neat tricks that I now use off safari as well as on. Christian is also an excellent teacher.

He uses clear and regular language (no detailed camera talk) and is outstanding at explanations. He has been at Thanda Game Reserve for 6 years and has taught over 1200 people during that time.

⇒ Learn more about wonderful South African Animals in this informative post .

Christian’s Key Safari Phone Photography Tips:

• Phones are great for wide-angle shots. You can absolutely use your phone to capture great shots of the lodges, the drives, sundowners, sunrise/sunset etc.

2. Private game reserves are excellent for those who only have a phone for photography. The reason for this is that on private game reserves guides are able to go off-road and get much closer to the animals than at say Kruger National Park South Africa. The closer you can get to the animals generally the better the shot

3. The iPhone 7 represented a major improvement in phone camera quality. This was then taken to the next level with the iPhone 8 plus and the X and now the 13. The Iphone 8 plus and the Iphone X come with two lenses which allows for greater zoom capability without losing photo quality. The Iphone 13 now has three lenses.

4. There are now some fantastic zoom “Clips” that you can add to your phone that will massively improve the zoom and quality of your phone photography. These little telephoto zoom lenses literally clip on to your phone and are considerably cheaper than any traditional camera lenses.

⇒ Zoom clip options for Smart Phones

5. Christian also introduced me to what has now become my most frequently used app – Camera + Legacy . This brilliant app is an editor and gives some fantastic options – I particularly like Clarity for outside shots.

Camera + Legacy app will massively improve the appearance of your safari photos

5. Movement is a key part of safari photography. Rather than moving your phone camera – which won’t get good shots – hold the camera firm and push down on the take a picture button. This should then result in a “burst” of photos. It is then possible to edit the burst and just keep the best ones.

6. Panorama shots can work well on safari – and you don’t need to use the full range. It is possible to take 90 degree rather than 180-degree photos – just stop the shot at the point you want. And don’t forget you can also just tap the arrow and do the panorama shot from the other direction – for some reason this had never occurred to me.

7. And don’t forget your beanbag – these work as well for phone cameras!

Safari Photo Lessons with Christian

If you can, book your lesson with Christian even before you arrive at Thanda Private Game Reserve South Africa. He is not always at Thanda but can generally arrange to be there if given sufficient notice.

I also recommend that you do your photography lesson on the first day so that you will constantly be using what you have learned.

If this sounds like just what you are after Christian also offers further photography lessons as well as the opportunity to go out on a private game drive with him in the Green Mamba.

Not only will you get to make a major improvement to your photography skills (and nab some amazing safari photos) you will also be able to drink Nespresso coffee in the middle of Zululand thanks to Christian’s portable machine.

The Green Mamba has been designed for photographers. There is extra legroom to allow movement for the optimal shot.

There are even mats on the floor as it can be necessary to get down on your knees to balance the camera for the clearest eye line to the animal.

There is also a martini bar for the ultimate sundowner – and make sure you try Christian’s signature drink the Chocaroola – hot chocolate, Amurala, espresso, and some warm frothy milk.

⇒ Book your Thanda Safari & a Photography Lesson with Christian

Who Paid for What in this Post

Thanda was kind enough to host my stay with them. This means they covered the cost of my accommodation, my game drives, and all meals and drinks. Thank you, Thanda! But as always, my opinions are my own.

I paid for my flights to and from South Africa and internally. This post contains affiliate links. This means that if you click on some of them and make a purchase I will receive a small commission. This does not increase the price that you will pay. I just wanted to make sure that you knew this!

READ NEXT: THE ULTIMATE SAFARI PACKING LIST

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Amanda O’Brien is the creator and editor of The Boutique Adventurer. She has visited 80 countries and is a member of the British Guild of Travel Writers as well as the IFTWTA. She is passionate about wine had has just completed Level 3 of the WSET. Born in Australia, she lives in London.

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Jesmin Black

Wednesday 4th of November 2020

This is very helpful article. Specially the "Christian’s Key Safari Phone Photography Tips" one was great.

Tanbir Kaur

Tuesday 29th of September 2020

These are some great tips! I need to get a new camera. I hope I can go on a safari one day.

The Boutique Adventurer

thanks! It is an amazing experience that I highly recommend

Adam Fogleman

Wednesday 12th of August 2020

Some good info. Though I think this needs to be updated. Mirrorless cameras have come a long way as has their lens lineups. The Sony A6000 is outdated and not the best representation of mirrorless cameras.

Thursday 13th of August 2020

Thanks for the feedback Adam - I will check out the latest in Mirrorless cameras and do an update.

Wednesday 20th of May 2020

Super compilation and good list for future reference. Bookmarked.

Joanne King

Friday 24th of April 2020

Retested my version with this lens and saw the improvement in the corners and sides!!!Read all of your blog last evening and found lots of useful info. Thanks and keep it up.

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Maps & Merlot

14 Outstanding African Safari Photography Tips

If you’re heading to Africa soon and are looking for photography tips for your African safari, you’ve come to the right place! For most people, photography is a huge part of an African safari, and while we all want to capture those epic National Geographic photos, it is important to understand that those types of shots can be pretty difficult to achieve.

I’ve put together a list of African safari photography tips to help you plan ahead and set you up to take the best photos on your safari. The list includes equipment to bring, camera settings, framing considerations, and more. I hope these African safari photography tips will help you to capture the photos of your dreams!

This post may contain affiliate links.

1. Invest in Quality Camera Equipment

The first of my African safari photography tips is to invest in quality camera equipment.

There is always a huge discussion between mirrorless vs. DSLR cameras, and each has its pros and cons. I’m personally pro-mirrorless due to the lighter weight and how far the technology has come over the years, but you can’t go wrong with either.

The next decision is crop sensor vs. full-frame. As an owner of both, I would firmly recommend a full-frame camera. A full-frame camera provides a wider field of view and also tends to shoot better in low light, which is critical on a safari. Animals are often most active around dawn and dusk, so you’ll often be shooting in low light.

One other thing to consider is the camera’s frame rate, expressed in frames per second “fps.” I ended up shooting in burst mode pretty frequently for animals in motion, so it was amazing to be able to capture a lot of shots. For example, shooting in burst/ continuous mode meant capturing this epic shot of a lion yawning.

With that, I’d recommend a full-frame camera with good fps. I’m personally a Sony fan, so I opted for a Sony A7iii and would absolutely use the same camera again.

Recommended Camera : Sony A7iii or Sony A7iv

Now that you have a camera, your next step is selecting lenses. I’d recommend bringing along 3 main lenses:

Telephoto Lens: A telephoto lens is an absolute must-have for a safari. It should be at least 300mm, or you won’t be able to take those close up shots. For my Sony A7iii, I use the Sigma 100-400mm . It is significantly less expensive than its Sony counterpart, and I was very happy with the pictures.

Wide Angle Lens : While you’re on safari, make sure to bring along a wide angle lens to capture the epic landscapes. I use a Sony FE 12-24mm G Master . On most of my trips, I do a lot of landscape photography, so it made sense to splurge on a wide angle option.

Traditional Lens : For a traditional zoom lens, I’d recommend the Sony FE 24-70mm G Master II . This is a common walkaround lens and is great for most trips (city shots, etc.). On safari, I switched to this lens multiple times when the animals were so close to the vehicle that I couldn’t capture the shot with a telephoto lens.

2. Camera & Lens Rentals

Having the proper camera equipment will help to capture the best wildlife photos. However, purchasing a camera and lenses can definitely add up and if you don’t want to invest in a full setup, the good news is you can also rent cameras and lenses! You can rent a camera body and/or lenses in packages and separately.

If you choose to rent a camera or lens, make sure you schedule its arrival far enough in advance of your trip. It is so important to practice to get to know your camera before you go on safari.

3. Pack Camera Accessories

One of my African safari photography tips is to pack all of the necessary camera accessories. From extra storage to backup batteries to camera support, there are a few items that you definitely want to bring.

Extra Storage

I was actually shocked by the amount of storage I needed for photos on this trip. I completely filled up a 256GB card and was well into my second by the end of my week-long safari. I’d recommend bringing along multiple 256GB memory cards (or larger) to ensure you have plenty of photo storage.

I’d also recommend bringing along a memory card holder case so you can safely transport your SD cards. This is the exact case I use and travel with – it take up very little space and keeps all of my memory cards safe.

Backup Batteries

Going along with the extra storage, you’ll definitely need some backup camera batteries. For my Sony a7iii, I bring two or three of these rechargeable batteries and this battery charger . Our days on safari were pretty long; on some days, we were out for 12 straight hours, so I heavily relied on my backup batteries.

Some safari vehicles will have charging ports (which were great), but I wouldn’t rely on your vehicle having them. Our vehicle was open air, so we also couldn’t charge if it was raining.

Camera Support

For your safari, you’ll also want to bring along some kind of camera support to help stabilize your camera. A camera bean bag is pretty common because it doesn’t take up much space. When you take small bush planes on safari, you’ll usually be limited on weight (30 or 40 pounds), so the bean bag is nice because it won’t take up too much of your baggage allocation.

However, if you have less of a limit on your baggage, I love my tripod . I have used this tripod for so many different things – waterfall photos, long exposure with the Northern lights, and beautiful blue hour shots. It is also perfect to stabilize your camera for safari shots. A tripod is a little unwieldy in a safari vehicle, but it is nice to have around camp.

4. Protect Your Camera Gear

One of my key African safari photography tips is to take very good care of your camera gear. Between the dust and the rain, there are all sorts of things that can mess up your shot.

For the dust : Bring a lens cleaning kit . Even though I changed my lenses very quickly, dust still got into all of the camera’s crevices, so I ended up using the air blower a lot. I didn’t want to touch the inner workings of the camera, so this was so helpful in keeping the camera dust-free. If you get dust in your sensor or on your lens, you’ll get those annoying black spots on your photos. I’d also recommend keeping your lens cap on when not using your camera. I kept my camera covered, but made sure it was easily accessible to quickly capture photos.

For the rain : The lens cleaning kit and keeping the lens caps on also protects well against light rain storms. It was also helpful to use a lens hood during storms if you still want to capture a few photos. I’d also recommend ensuring that your camera bag is waterproof or has a waterproof cover. We had an open-air vehicle for part of our safari and a couple of the rain storms were very heavy. If our bag hadn’t been waterproof, it would have been a huge problem.

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5. Camera Settings

I wrote a whole post on the best camera settings for safari photography , but I’ll give you some of the highlights below.

Continuous Shooting : Wildlife moves a lot, so I shot a lot in burst mode/ continuous shooting. On the positive side, I was able to capture so many cool shots. On the down side, I ended up with thousands of photos to sort through…despite the annoyance, I would highly recommend shooting in continuous mode to capture those epic shots.

Pick the Correct Mode : I wouldn’t recommend shooting in Auto because your camera may not select the correct shutter speed, ISO, or aperture and you may miss “the shot.” If you’re a pro, Manual is your best bet. I’m not a pro, so I switched between Aperture Priority and Shutter Priority. I’d recommend giving my article on camera settings a thorough read for all of the details.

Read More : Camera Settings for Safari Photography

6. Shoot RAW+ JPEG

Set your camera to shoot in RAW. This option will give you so much more latitude in processing and is one of the most important of my African safari photography tips. Sometimes I would only have a few seconds to snag a shot before the animal moved on, so I didn’t always have enough time to get the camera settings perfect. Fortunately, RAW files allowed me to fix most things during processing! One important point is that RAW photos do take up significantly more space on your memory card, so make sure to factor that into your decision when choosing SD cards.

I usually choose to shoot in RAW + JPEG so that if I can transfer a few JPEG files to my phone. This isn’t a huge deal, but I often like to immediately enjoy the pics and send to my family. JPEG may also be the right option for you if you don’t want to spend much time on editing!

7. Framing Your Shot

Framing your shot is one of the key African safari photography tips, and while there are no hard and fast rules, there are a few points to consider.

Rule of Thirds: The Rule of Thirds is a common photography guideline that breaks down an image into thirds, both horizontally and vertically, so that your image is split into nine pieces. You then position the key elements at the intersection of the gridlines to make the image feel balanced. However, remember that this is just a guide and that sometimes rules are meant to be broken. Oftentimes animals don’t cooperate with your photographic vision, so take what you can get!

Shoot High and Low: In a safari vehicle, it can be easy to always gravitate toward the same seat…and if you do, a lot of your shots will be from the same perspective. Make sure to switch up where you’re sitting and stand up, sit down, anything to get a unique perspective.

Zoom In & Out: It can be tempting to zoom in and take tons of close-up shots, but make sure you also zoom out and incorporate the landscape, as well. When I shoot, I’ll usually capture some close-up shots with my telephoto lens and some further-out shots, which I take with my telephoto lens, traditional lens, or wide angle lens – depending upon how far the safari vehicle is from the animals. I’d also recommend doing a major zoom on an animal’s face occasionally. I love when you can capture the emotion behind their eyes.

8. Capture the Small Stuff

Everyone going on a safari knows about the Big 5, and for a good reason. However, there are tons of smaller animals and birds that are so unique that are highly worth capturing on safari. I’ll give you a few of my favorites that I captured while on safari.

There are lots of colorful birds like the lilac-breasted roller and the kingfisher.

The serval and caracal are both cats, though clearly smaller than the lions. We watched both animals stalk their prey and we even saw the caracal spring through the grass to catch a bird!

The pangolin is a scaly mammal, and an animal that our guide told us was considered very lucky. Seeing a pangolin on a safari is very rare; our guide had been working for years and told us that this was only the second pangolin he has ever seen.

9. Photograph the Landscape

In addition to the smaller animals, make sure you take the time to photograph the landscape. It is so easy to only focus on animals, but chances are good that the surrounding landscape is very different than your hometown. I loved snapping shots of the Serengeti at sunrise and the unique trees.

10. Pick the Right Time & Location

Next up on the list of African safari photography tips is to pick the right time and location. To capture the best safari photos, you’ll want to do plenty of advance research. For example, my ultimate goal on our Tanzania safari was to capture the wildebeest river crossing – which tends to occur in late August through early September in the Northern Serengeti. However, if your goal is to see calving season, which means lots of baby wildebeest and zebras, you’d want to travel in February – March to the Southern Serengeti.

No matter the goal for your African safari, do plenty of advance research to ensure you’re booking your trip at the correct time and to the correct location.

11. Trust Your Guide & Communicate Expectations

One of my top African safari photography tips is to get to know your driver-guide. They know so much about the animals, their behaviors, and where to find them. If you are transparent and communicate your expectations, they will be an excellent resource.

On the last day of our safari, we had already seen all of the animals on our list, so we jokingly asked our guide to find us a lion on a rock (very specific!). Our guide was so familiar with the area that he knew of an area with rocks where a lion pride frequently visited. After a bit of driving around, he found us our lion on a rock!

Jokes aside, do communicate your priorities. Do you want to see sunrises over the Serengeti or do you prefer to sleep in? Do you want to take lots of photos or just experience the animals? (This may impact where the driver-guide parks the vehicle). Are there particular animals you want to see?

The other piece is trusting your guide. If your guide makes a decision seemingly out of the blue, there is probably a very good reason. We were driving to the river at sunrise one morning to watch a river crossing and all of a sudden, our driver-guide turned around and sped off in the opposite direction. The guides all communicate on the radio, and it turns out that there was a rhino sighting, which was incredibly rare!

12. Patience is Key

When on safari, it can be so tempting to drive from one animal to the next, always in pursuit of the next best thing. However, patience is key – it often pays off to stay in one location. We ended up waiting by the river for nearly five hours for a wildebeest river crossing; while it was a long wait, it was so worth it. While we waited, we got to see so many other things. We saw baby elephants, two male giraffes fighting over a female giraffe, and baby warthogs playing – things we never would have witnessed if we continued to drive around. Just remember that if your guide suggests you wait, it will very likely pay off.

13. Respect the Wildlife

As part of my African safari photography tips, one of the most important things is to respect the wildlife. Always follow your driver-guide’s rules, because they will try to keep both you and the animals safe.

Remember that you are a guest in the animals’ environment and to never interfere with the animals just to capture a better picture. Do not try to impact what you are seeing; for example, do not interfere in hunts, try and wake up animals, or influence their behaviors in any way. It may be tempting to encourage a particular action in pursuit of that perfect photo, but remember that you are only there to capture photos!

14. Practice Before You Go

One of the most important steps is to practice before you go. For me, safari photography was very different than my traditional landscape photography, so I spent the weeks leading up to the trip experimenting with my gear. I practiced in my backyard with my dog; I’d highly recommend practicing at sunrise, sunset, and other low light settings since this is typically when animals are the most active.

Have you been on a safari? What African safari photography tips would you recommend to travelers trying to capture beautiful wildlife shots?

For some more travel inspiration, check out some of the posts below!

Safari Tips for First-Timers: 20 Top Things to Know Before Going on Your First Safari Safari Photo Settings : Best Camera Settings for Safari Photography Safari Outfits: What to Wear on Safari for Women: 10 Cute Outfit Ideas Tented Safari Camps : Top 13 Things You Always Wanted to Know About Tented Camps Tanzania : Kikuletwa Hot Springs: 14+ Things to Know Before You Go Tanzania Itinerary : Tanzania 7 Day Itinerary

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Safari Photography Guide

Embarking on an African safari promises an exhilarating and memorable adventure, and ensuring you have the appropriate camera gear is crucial for immortalizing those rare and exceptional moments. Canon stands out as a top choice among camera brands for safari photography, renowned for its superior image quality and robust build. This article delves into the optimal Canon cameras and lenses to seize breathtaking photos during an African safari. This safari photography guide focuses on Canon as it is the brand that I use for all my photography and I have found the bodies and lenses robust and able to withstand whatever nature chooses to throw at you while on safari.

Behind the Lens: A Peek into My Camera Bag Essentials

In the dynamic world of photography, having the right gear can make all the difference in capturing those picture-perfect moments. Here’s an in-depth look into what’s in my camera bag, a carefully curated selection of equipment that empowers me to unleash my creativity.

• Lowepro ProTactic BP 350 AW II (Camera Backpack)

The backbone of my photography setup is the Lowepro ProTactic BP 350 AW II. Crafted with precision, this camera backpack is a perfect blend of durability and functionality. Its customizable interior ensures a snug fit for my gear, while the all-weather cover provides protection against the elements. With its versatile design, this backpack is a reliable companion for photographers on the move.

• Canon R7 Camera

At the heart of my kit is the Canon R7 Camera. Boasting advanced features and a mirrorless design, it delivers outstanding performance and portability and with its crop sensor is perfect for safari photography. With a high-resolution sensor and rapid autofocus, the Canon R7 empowers me to capture crisp and vibrant images, making it an indispensable tool for both amateurs and professionals.

• Canon Mount Adapter EF-EOS R

Enhancing the versatility of my setup, the Canon Mount Adapter EF-EOS R allows seamless integration of my EF lenses with the Canon R7. This adapter ensures compatibility across the Canon lens ecosystem, giving me the flexibility to explore various shooting styles and perspectives.

• CANON EF 100-400MM F/4.5-5.6L IS II USM (Telephoto Lens)

When it comes to capturing distant subjects with precision, the CANON EF 100-400MM F/4.5-5.6L IS II USM is my go-to telephoto lens. Its impressive focal range and image stabilization technology enable me to achieve sharp, detailed shots, making it an essential tool for wildlife photography.

• SanDisk Extreme Portable SSD 2TB (Storage Solution)

Storage is never a concern with the SanDisk Extreme Portable SSD 2TB. This high-speed, compact storage solution ensures that I have ample space for my extensive collection of photos and videos. Its rugged design adds an extra layer of security, making it the perfect companion for on-the-go photographers.

• Lexar SILVER Series Professional 1667x 128GB UHS-II SDXC Memory Card

The Lexar SILVER Series Professional 1667x 128GB UHS-II SDXC Memory Card complements my camera’s capabilities with its high-speed performance. With rapid read and write speeds, this memory card ensures smooth data transfer, a crucial factor in capturing high-resolution images and recording 4K videos.

• CANON EF 24-105MM F/4L IS II USM (Versatile Zoom Lens)

The CANON EF 24-105MM F/4L IS II USM is a versatile workhorse in my kit. Its wide focal range and constant aperture make it suitable for a variety of shooting scenarios, from landscapes to portraits. The built-in image stabilization ensures sharp results even in challenging lighting conditions.

• MacBook Air 13-inch  Apple M2 (Editing Powerhouse)

For on-the-go editing and organization, the MacBook Air 13-inch with the Apple M2 chip is my trusty companion. Its lightweight design and powerful processing capabilities allow me to review and edit photos with efficiency, ensuring a seamless workflow during and after photo sessions.

• Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (Immersive Audio Experience)

These headphones provide an unparalleled audio experience with exceptional noise cancellation, perfect for long flights and allowing me to focus entirely on my work, whether I’m editing photos or reviewing footage, or listening to music.

• Manfrotto Element Travel Tripod (Stability on the Go)

Stability is paramount in photography, and the Manfrotto Element Travel Tripod delivers just that. With its lightweight design and quick setup, this tripod provides a steady platform for capturing long-exposure shots, group portraits, or any scenario where stability is key.

• Spare Canon LP-E6NH Lithium-Ion Battery

To ensure uninterrupted shooting, I always carry a spare Canon LP-E6NH Lithium-Ion Battery. With extended battery life, I have the peace of mind that I won’t miss a crucial moment, especially during extended photo sessions or while exploring remote locations.

• iPhone 15 Pro Max (Smartphone Camera)

Lastly, the iPhone 15 Pro Max serves as a versatile tool for quick captures and behind-the-scenes moments. With its advanced camera capabilities, it complements my professional gear and allows me to document scenes spontaneously, ensuring no moment goes uncaptured.

Photography Tips  

Engaging in safari photography offers a rare chance to capture breathtaking wildlife images in their native surroundings. Yet, achieving these moments can be daunting without a grasp of the optimal camera settings. Armed with the right configuration, you can produce sharp, well-exposed photographs with vibrant colors. This section will explore the most effective camera settings and offer tips for successful safari photography.

Shutter Spee d

Capturing the essence of movement is crucial in safari photography, making shutter speed a vital setting. Opting for a faster shutter speed proves effective in freezing the motion of swift-moving animals. Typically, a recommended shutter speed of 1/1000th of a second or faster is advised for wildlife photography. Adjustments to the shutter speed may be necessary depending on the animal’s movement and the prevailing lighting conditions.

Slow shutter speed can also play a crucial role in enhancing the artistic and dynamic elements of safari photography. While a faster shutter speed freezes fast-paced movement, a slower shutter speed introduces intentional blur, imparting a sense of motion to the image. This effect can be particularly useful when capturing the graceful movements of animals, such as a herd of wildebeests or a bird in flight.

By deliberately slowing down the shutter speed, you allow more light to enter the camera, contributing to a longer exposure time. This can result in visually striking photographs, showcasing the ambient light and creating a sense of drama in the scene. It’s important to note that using a slow shutter speed requires a steady hand or, preferably, a tripod to avoid unwanted camera shake.

Experimenting with slow shutter speeds in safari photography opens up creative possibilities, offering a unique perspective that goes beyond simply freezing action. Consider incorporating this technique when the opportunity arises, and adapt your settings based on the specific conditions and subjects encountered during your safari adventure.

In safari photography, mastering the relationship between aperture and depth of field is key to creating compelling and visually striking images. The aperture, the opening in the camera lens that controls the amount of light entering, plays a dual role by significantly influencing the depth of field in your photographs.

A wide aperture, represented by a smaller f-number (e.g., f/2.8 or f/4), is advantageous for safari shots. This setting allows more light to reach the camera sensor and creates a shallow depth of field. This shallow depth of field results in the main subject, such as a magnificent lion or an elegant giraffe, being sharply focused, while the background is beautifully blurred. This technique not only isolates the subject but also adds a pleasing aesthetic element to the image.

On the other hand, a narrow aperture, represented by a larger f-number (e.g., f/11 or f/16), increases the depth of field. This is useful when you want to keep both the foreground and background in focus, capturing the broader context of the scene. It’s essential to strike a balance between aperture and depth of field based on your creative vision and the specific composition you aim to achieve.

Understanding how to manipulate the aperture for optimal depth of field empowers you to adapt to different safari scenarios and improve your safari photography. Whether you’re highlighting a single animal against a dreamy backdrop or capturing the expansive landscape with various subjects in sharp focus, mastering aperture settings enhances the storytelling potential of your safari photography.

ISO is a measure of your camera’s sensitivity to light. A higher ISO can help you achieve a faster shutter speed in low-light conditions. However, a high ISO can also introduce noise or grain in your images. You should try to use the lowest ISO possible to achieve the desired shutter speed and aperture. A good starting point for ISO is 400, but you may need to adjust it based on the lighting conditions.

When capturing animal photographs on a safari, selecting the right focus mode is crucial to ensure that you achieve sharp and well-focused shots, especially considering the unpredictability of wildlife behavior. Here are some focus modes and considerations for taking animal photographs on safari:

• Continuous Autofocus (AI Servo or equivalent): This focus mode is essential for photographing moving subjects, such as animals in action. Continuous autofocus allows the camera to track the subject and adjust focus continuously, ensuring that your shots remain sharp even as the animal moves within the frame. It’s particularly useful for dynamic scenes like animals in motion or engaged in activities. This is the mode in which I normally have my camera set.
• Single Autofocus (One-Shot AF): When photographing stationary animals or capturing portraits, using the Single Autofocus mode can be effective. This mode locks focus on a specific point, and it’s suitable when your subject is relatively still. It allows you to achieve precise focus on the animal, especially when capturing detailed shots or portraits.
• Face and Eye Detection: Many modern cameras, including those used for safari photography, come equipped with advanced face and eye detection technology. When photographing animals, especially those with distinct facial features, enabling face and eye detection can help the camera automatically focus on the eyes or faces of the animals, resulting in compelling and engaging images. This needs to be set in your camera menu.
• Zone or Expanded Area Autofocus: For situations where your subject may move unpredictably within a certain area of the frame, using a zone or expanded area autofocus mode can be beneficial. This allows the camera to focus on a broader region, making it more forgiving if the animal moves slightly within the selected zone.
• Manual Focus: In certain scenarios, such as when dealing with challenging lighting conditions or when the camera’s autofocus might struggle, switching to manual focus gives you full control over focusing. This can be particularly useful for capturing shots where the autofocus system might have difficulty, such as in dense vegetation or low-light environments.

When on a safari, it’s essential to be ready for various shooting conditions and animal behaviors. Experimenting with different focus modes and being familiar with your camera’s autofocus capabilities will help you adapt to different situations, ensuring that you can capture stunning and well-focused animal photographs on your safari adventure.

Exposure mode

When on safari, selecting the appropriate exposure mode on your Canon camera is crucial for capturing well-exposed and visually appealing photographs in a variety of lighting conditions. Canon cameras typically offer several exposure modes, and the choice depends on the specific shooting scenario. Here are some exposure modes to consider:

• Aperture Priority (Av): This mode allows you to set the desired aperture while the camera automatically adjusts the shutter speed to achieve a proper exposure. Aperture Priority is useful when you want to control the depth of field, especially in wildlife photography where isolating the subject with a blurred background might be desirable.
• Shutter Priority (TV): Shutter Priority lets you choose the shutter speed while the camera adjusts the aperture accordingly. This mode is beneficial for capturing fast-moving animals or freezing motion in dynamic scenes. For example, when photographing wildlife in action, a faster shutter speed can help avoid motion blur.
• Program (P) Mode: In Program mode, the camera automatically sets both the aperture and shutter speed based on the scene’s lighting conditions. This mode is convenient when you want a balance between control and automation, suitable for situations where lighting is relatively consistent.
• Manual (M) Mode: Manual mode provides full control over both aperture and shutter speed. This mode is beneficial when dealing with challenging lighting situations or when you want precise control over exposure settings. It’s particularly useful for capturing diverse safari scenes where lighting conditions may vary.
• Auto (Green Square or Scene Modes): The Auto mode is suitable for beginners or situations where you want the camera to handle most of the exposure settings. Many Canon cameras also offer scene modes, allowing you to select a specific scenario (e.g., landscape, portrait, sports) for optimized settings.
• Exposure Compensation: Regardless of the exposure mode you choose, exposure compensation is a valuable tool. It allows you to adjust the exposure up or down in increments to compensate for challenging lighting conditions. This can be crucial when dealing with backlit subjects or scenes with high contrast.

When on safari, be prepared to encounter a variety of lighting situations, from bright sunlight to low-light conditions during sunrise or sunset. Familiarizing yourself with the different exposure modes on your Canon camera and understanding how they affect aperture, shutter speed, and ISO will help you adapt to the diverse and dynamic environments of a safari, ensuring you capture stunning images with optimal exposure.

RAW VS JPEG

When embarking on a safari adventure with your Canon camera, the choice between shooting in RAW or JPEG format becomes a crucial decision, each with its own set of advantages and considerations. My safari photography is done solely in RAW.

RAW Format:

• Maximum Image Quality: RAW files contain uncompressed and unprocessed data captured by the camera’s sensor. This results in the highest image quality and provides more flexibility in post-processing.
• Greater Dynamic Range: RAW files retain more information in highlights and shadows, allowing for better recovery of details in post-production. This is particularly useful in challenging lighting conditions often encountered on safaris.
• Extensive Editing Options: RAW files offer a broader range of editing possibilities, enabling adjustments to exposure, color balance, and sharpness without significant loss of quality.
• White Balance Flexibility: RAW allows you to fine-tune white balance settings during post-processing, providing greater control over the final appearance of your images.
• Optimal for Print and Large Prints: RAW files are well-suited for large prints due to their higher resolution and superior image quality.

JPEG Format:

• Smaller File Sizes: JPEG files are compressed, resulting in smaller file sizes. This can be advantageous for conserving storage space on memory cards and hard drives.
• In-Camera Processing: JPEG files undergo in-camera processing, applying settings like white balance, sharpness, and color saturation at the time of capture. This can be convenient if you prefer minimal post-processing.
• Quick Sharing: JPEGs are easily shareable as they are ready to be uploaded or sent without the need for extensive post-production. This can be beneficial when sharing images promptly, such as on social media.
• Faster Burst Rates: Shooting in JPEG allows for faster burst rates and longer continuous shooting, beneficial when capturing rapid sequences of wildlife action.

Considerations:

Storage Capacity: RAW files consume more storage space than JPEGs. Ensure you have sufficient memory cards and storage devices, especially if you plan to shoot extensively.

Post-Processing Skill: If you are comfortable with post-processing and desire maximum control over your images, shooting in RAW is recommended. However, if you prefer minimal editing and quicker workflows, JPEG may be suitable.

Backup: Given the larger file sizes of RAW, having a robust backup strategy is essential to avoid the loss of valuable images.

Ultimately, the choice between RAW and JPEG depends on your preferences, post-processing workflow, and the level of control you seek over your safari photographs. Many photographers opt for shooting in RAW for the superior image quality and flexibility it provides during post-production, especially when capturing the diverse and challenging conditions of a safari environment.

Familiarize Yourself with Your Camera Settings

Before embarking on your safari, take the time to acquaint yourself with the settings of your Canon camera. Knowing how to manipulate factors like aperture, shutter speed, and ISO is crucial for capturing captivating photos of wildlife and landscapes. Opting for manual mode grants you complete control over your camera settings, enabling adjustments tailored to the specific shooting conditions. For beginners, Aperture Priority mode serves as a viable option, providing control over depth of field while the camera automatically adjusts other settings.

Use a Telephoto Lens

When embarking on a safari adventure in Africa, having the right telephoto lens can significantly enhance your wildlife photography. Canon, a renowned camera and lens manufacturer, offers a variety of telephoto lenses designed to capture the beauty and essence of African wildlife. 

To explore these lenses further and make an informed decision, you can check out real reviews from experienced photographers by clicking on the respective links. These firsthand experiences will give you valuable insights into the capabilities of each lens and help you choose the perfect companion for your safari photography journey.

Canon RF 100-400mm f/5.6-8 IS USM Lens

• Compact, lightweight, and high-image quality RF Tele zoom lens
• Optical Image Stabilizer with up to 5.5 Stops of shake correction
• High speed, smooth, and quiet autofocus with Canon’s Nano USM
• 9-blade circular aperture for beautiful bokeh
• Control Ring for direct setting changes

Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM :

• Versatile zoom range for flexibility in framing distant subjects.
• Advanced Image Stabilization (IS) for sharp handheld shots.
• Excellent image quality with fluorite and super UD glass elements.
• Fast and accurate autofocus for capturing fast-moving wildlife.

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS III USM :

• A professional-grade telephoto zoom lens with a wide aperture.
• Ideal for capturing wildlife portraits and details.
• Superior image stabilization for handheld shooting.
• Durable build suitable for rugged safari conditions.

Canon EF 400mm f/2.8L IS III USM :

• Exceptional image quality with a wide aperture for low-light conditions.
• Super telephoto reach for capturing distant subjects.
• Advanced IS technology for stable handheld shooting.
• Lightweight design for easier portability during safari excursions.

Canon RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM :

• Designed for Canon’s RF mount, offering compatibility with mirrorless cameras.
• Impressive zoom range for versatile composition.
• Image Stabilization for sharp images at longer focal lengths.
• Compact and lightweight design for travel and safari use.

Canon EF 600mm f/4L IS III USM :

• Super telephoto lens with an ultra-wide aperture for exceptional light gathering.
• Ideal for capturing distant or elusive wildlife with incredible detail.
• Advanced IS system for handheld stability.
• Robust build with magnesium alloy construction.

Canon EF 200-400mm f/4L IS USM Extender 1.4x :

• Unique built-in extender for increased focal length flexibility.
• Versatile zoom range suitable for a variety of safari scenarios.
• Advanced optical design for high-quality images.
• Durable construction for challenging environmental conditions.

When selecting a telephoto lens for safari photography, consider factors such as focal length, aperture, and image stabilization. The choice depends on your specific preferences, the type of wildlife you plan to capture, and the shooting conditions you expect to encounter during your African safari.

Consider using a Wide-Angle Lens

When embarking on a safari adventure in Africa, a wide-angle lens can be a valuable addition to your camera gear. While telephoto lenses are often associated with wildlife photography, wide-angle lenses offer unique opportunities to capture the vast landscapes, stunning scenery, and the broader context of the safari experience. Here are some Canon wide-angle lenses to consider and why you might use them on a safari:

Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L III USM :

• Versatile Wide-Angle Zoom: This lens covers a broad range of focal lengths, making it versatile for capturing both expansive landscapes and closer subjects.
• Large Aperture: The wide f/2.8 aperture allows for excellent low-light performance and creative control over depth of field.
• Durable Construction: With weather-sealing and robust build quality, it’s suitable for varied safari conditions.

Canon RF 15-35mm f/2.8L IS USM :

• Designed for Mirrorless Cameras: This lens is part of Canon’s RF series, providing compatibility with their mirrorless cameras.
• Image Stabilization: The inclusion of image stabilization is beneficial for handheld shooting, especially in low-light situations.
• High Optical Performance: Offers sharpness and clarity across the frame, capturing the vibrant details of African landscapes.

Canon EF 24mm f/1.4L II USM :

• Wide Aperture: With a wide f/1.4 aperture, this lens excels in low-light conditions, allowing you to capture the magical moments of sunrise or sunset on the safari.
• Prime Lens Quality: As a prime lens, it delivers exceptional optical performance and is well-suited for capturing wide-angle scenes with stunning clarity.

Canon RF 14-35mm f/4L IS USM :

• Ultra-Wide Angle: This lens offers an ultra-wide focal length, ideal for capturing dramatic landscapes and immersive safari scenes.
• Image Stabilization: Equipped with image stabilization for handheld stability, even at wider angles.
• Compact and Lightweight: Designed for portability, making it a practical choice for travel and safari expeditions.

Why Use a Wide-Angle Lens on Safari:

Landscape Photography: Wide-angle lenses are perfect for capturing the vastness of African landscapes, showcasing the sweeping plains, majestic mountains, and expansive skies.

Environmental Context: Wide-angle lenses help tell a more comprehensive story by including the surroundings, and providing context to the wildlife and their habitat.

Creative Perspectives: Wide-angle lenses allow for creative compositions, emphasizing foreground elements and creating a sense of depth in your images.

Group Shots: When photographing groups of animals or scenes with multiple subjects, a wide-angle lens ensures you can fit more into the frame.

In summary, incorporating a wide-angle lens into your camera kit for an African safari enables you to capture breathtaking landscapes and diverse environments, providing a well-rounded photographic narrative of your safari experience.

Best Canon Cameras For Safari

Choosing the right Canon camera for an African safari involves considering factors such as budget, features, and the level of photographic expertise. Here are recommendations for affordable, mid-range, and professional-level Canon cameras that are well-suited for capturing the diverse and dynamic scenes encountered during an African safari:

Affordable Cameras:

Canon EOS Rebel T7i (EOS 800D):

• Budget-Friendly: The Rebel T7i offers an affordable entry point for those on a budget.
• 24.2MP APS-C Sensor: Provides decent image quality for capturing wildlife and landscapes.
• Dual Pixel CMOS AF: Ensures quick and accurate autofocus, handy for spontaneous wildlife moments.

Affordable RF Canon Cameras

Canon EOS R100

• Entry-Level Mirrorless: A budget-friendly mirrorless option24.1 Megapixel (APS-C) CMOS Sensor with ISO 10025600 (H: 51200
• Built-in Wi-Fi and NFC Technology.
• 9-point AF System and AI Servo AF
• Optical Viewfinder with Approx. 95% Viewing Coverage
• 3.0-inch LCD with 920,000 Dots
• Scene Intelligent Auto Mode – Full HD 30p 
• Canon EOS Rebel SL3 DSLR Camera
• Lightest, Smallest EOS DSLR camera.
• High Image Quality with 24.1 Megapixel CMOS (APS-C) Sensor
• Fast and Accurate Dual Pixel CMOS AF with Eye Detection AF
• 4K Video, 4K Time-lapse Movie
• Vari-angle Touchscreen, 3.0-inch LCD.
• Built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth Technology with Auto Image Transfer.

Mid-Range Canon Cameras :

• Canon EOS 90D
• Fast continuous shooting, Capture the action at up to 10fps
• 32.5 megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor, For exquisite detail
• Intelligent optical viewfinder, Comfortable to use even over long periods
• 45 cross type AF points with multi-controller, Focus quickly and accurately even in low light
• iTR focus tracking, Keep even fast-moving subjects in focus
• 4K filmmaking and Dual Pixel CMOS AF, Superb quality video and audio
• Canon EOS 6D Mark II
• Full-Frame Power: A mid-range full-frame option.26.2 Megapixel Full-frame CMOS Sensor
• Optical Viewfinder with a 45-point All Cross-type AF System
• Dual Pixel CMOS AF with Phase-detection & Full HD 60p
• DIGIC 7 Image Processor, ISO 100-40000
• Vari-angle Touch Screen, 3.0-inch LCD
• Built-in Wi-Fi, NFC, Bluetooth and GPS
• Canon EOS R7
• High Image Quality with a 32.5 Megapixel (APS-C) CMOS Sensor
• High-Speed Shooting
• Blazing Fast Autofocus
• 5-axis In-body Image Stabilization with auto-level technology
• Record each clip over 30 minutes
• Get professional quality video with Smart Shoe integration for audio and HQ 4K

.                            

Pro Canon Cameras

• Canon EOS R3 Mirrorless Camera
• High Image Quality with a Back-illuminated Stacked 24.1 Megapixel Full-frame CMOS Sensor
• DIGIC X Image Processor with an ISO range of 100-102400; Expandable to 204800
• The First EOS Digital camera to feature Eye Control AF
• 5.76-million-dot & 120fps blackout-free EVF with quick response, as well as a Vari-Angle Touchscreen
• Capable of recording 6K 60P RAW or 4K 120p 10-bit (uncropped) with Canon Log 3
• Dual Card Slots for CFexpress and UHS-II SD Memory Cards
• Canon EOS 1DX Mark III
• A new era in autofocus speed and accuracy
• Outstanding stills and video
• High speed camera communications
• Always ready to perform, whatever the situation
• Enhanced DIGIC Processor
• New CMOS Sensor

Considerations When Buying a Canon Camera for Your African Safari:

Focal Length and Lens Compatibility: Ensure the camera is compatible with the lenses you need for wildlife and landscape photography, considering both EF and RF lenses.

Autofocus Performance: Wildlife photography demands reliable autofocus, so look for advanced autofocus systems like Dual Pixel CMOS AF for quick and accurate focusing.

Weather Sealing: Given the varied conditions on safari, having a camera with weather-sealed construction is crucial for durability and protection against the elements.

Portability and Weight: Consider the size and weight of the camera, especially if you plan to carry it for extended periods during safari excursions.

Battery Life: Longer battery life is beneficial for extended periods in the field. Consider having spare batteries for backup.

Video Capabilities: If you plan to document your safari in video format, consider cameras with advanced video features, such as 4K recording and high frame rates.

Low-Light Performance: Given the early morning and late evening safari excursions, good low-light performance is essential for capturing wildlife in natural lighting conditions.

Budget: Determine your budget range and choose a camera that offers the best features within that range. Consider investing in good lenses as well.

• It Is Important To Pay Attention To The Lighting. 

Lighting is a crucial aspect of photography, and when on safari, capturing the vibrant colors, textures, and details of wildlife and landscapes depends significantly on understanding and utilizing available light conditions. Here are considerations and tips for handling lighting while on a safari photography expedition:

• Golden Hours:
• Early Morning and Late Afternoon: The golden hours around sunrise and sunset provide soft, warm, and directional light. This lighting not only enhances the natural colors of the environment but also creates long shadows, adding depth and dimension to your photographs.
• Harsh Daylight:
• Use Shadows Creatively: Embrace the challenges of harsh midday sunlight by incorporating shadows creatively. These shadows can add contrast and drama to your images, especially when capturing textured landscapes or wildlife features.
• Cloudy Days:
• Even and Soft Lighting: Overcast or cloudy days can provide even and soft lighting. This diffuse light reduces harsh shadows and can be advantageous for capturing details and colors without the distraction of strong contrasts.
• Backlighting:
• Silhouettes and Rim Lighting: Experiment with backlighting, especially during sunrise or sunset. This technique can create silhouettes and add a beautiful rim light to your subjects, highlighting their contours against the backdrop.
• Adapt to Changing Conditions:
• Be Flexible: Safari conditions can change rapidly, from bright sunlight to overcast skies. Be prepared to adapt your settings and compositions accordingly. Stay alert to the changing atmosphere and adjust your approach as needed.
• Use Natural Frames:
• Utilize Trees and Vegetation: Take advantage of natural elements like trees or bushes to create frames within your composition. These frames can add interest to your photos and also help control the intensity of sunlight.
• Consider the Animal’s Perspective:
• Capture Catchlights: When photographing animals, pay attention to the catchlights in their eyes. Position yourself so that the light enhances the catchlights, bringing life and sparkle to the subject’s eyes.
• White Balance:
• Adjust for Conditions: Set your camera’s white balance according to the prevailing conditions. Different lighting situations may require adjustments to maintain accurate and natural color tones.
• Avoid Direct Flash:
• Opt for Natural Light: While flash can be useful in certain situations, especially for fill-in light, try to rely on natural light as much as possible. It provides a more authentic and visually appealing look to your safari photographs.
• Patience and Observation:
• Wait for the Right Moments: Patience is key in wildlife photography. Observe the behavior of animals and be ready to capture those magical moments when the lighting is just perfect.
• Silent and Respectful Approach:
• Minimize Disturbance: Approach animals silently and respectfully to avoid disturbing their natural behavior. This not only ensures ethical photography but also allows you to capture them in their most relaxed and authentic state.
• Lens Hoods and Filters:
• Minimize Lens Flare: Use lens hoods to minimize lens flare caused by direct sunlight. Consider using polarizing filters to manage reflections and enhance colors.

Conclusion:

Lighting is a dynamic element in safari photography, and understanding how to adapt to different conditions will significantly impact the quality of your images. Whether you’re capturing the warmth of a sunrise, the drama of a storm, or the soft glow of an overcast day, being attuned to the nuances of lighting will help you create stunning and evocative safari photographs.                                                                                                       

Best Software To Edit Safari Photos

Editing safari photographs requires software that can handle various aspects such as color correction, exposure adjustments, and fine-tuning details to bring out the beauty of wildlife and landscapes. Here, I’ll discuss three popular software options for editing safari photographs: Adobe Lightroom, Adobe Photoshop, and Luminar Neo.

• Adobe Lightroom: 
• User-friendly interface: Lightroom’s intuitive interface makes it accessible for both beginners and experienced photographers.
• Non-destructive editing: Lightroom preserves the original image, allowing you to experiment with edits without altering the original file.
• Efficient organization: The software offers robust cataloging and organizational tools, helping users manage large collections of safari photographs.
• Synchronization: Edits made in Lightroom can be synchronized across multiple devices, facilitating a seamless editing workflow.
• Key Features: Global and local adjustments: Lightroom enables users to make overall adjustments to the entire image or target specific areas using the Graduated Filter, Radial Filter, and Adjustment Brush tools.
• Presets and profiles: The software includes a variety of presets and profiles, allowing users to apply predefined settings or create their own for consistent editing.                                                                     

Advanced editing capabilities: Photoshop is a powerful software for intricate and detailed edits, making it suitable for tasks like retouching and compositing.

Layers and masks: The ability to work with layers and masks provides a high level of control over specific elements in the image, enhancing flexibility in editing.

• Key Features:
• Retouching tools: Photoshop offers advanced retouching tools, such as the Healing Brush and Clone Stamp, which are useful for removing distractions or imperfections in safari photographs.Advanced color correction: Photoshop provides extensive color correction tools, allowing photographers to fine-tune the color balance and enhance the vibrancy of safari images.

Luminar Neo:

• AI-powered editing: Luminar Neo leverages artificial intelligence to streamline the editing process, making it easier for photographers to achieve impressive results quickly.

One-click enhancements: The software includes AI-driven features like Accent AI, which automatically enhances images with a single click, saving time in the editing workflow.

• Sky replacement and AI filters: Luminar Neo offers creative tools like AI Sky Replacement, allowing photographers to change the sky in their safari photographs easily. Additionally, AI filters enhance specific aspects of the image, such as details and colors.

In conclusion, Adobe Lightroom, Adobe Photoshop, and Luminar Neo are all excellent choices for editing safari photographs, each offering unique features and strengths. Lightroom is ideal for efficient organization and global adjustments, Photoshop excels in detailed editing and retouching, while Luminar Neo stands out with its AI-powered enhancements and creative tools. Choosing the best software depends on the specific needs and preferences of the photographer.

Patient, Observant Wildlife Photography

Wildlife photography is a fascinating and challenging genre of photography. It requires a lot of patience and observation, as well as technical skill and knowledge of animal behavior. In this article, we will discuss some tips for being patient and observant in wildlife photography.

Research and Plan

Before heading out to photograph wildlife, it’s important to research and plan your trip. Research the animal behavior and habitat, as well as the best time of day and season to photograph them. Knowing where and when to find your subject will save you time and increase your chances of getting the shot you want. Planning also involves choosing the right gear, clothing, and accessories for your trip.

Be Quiet and Still

Wild animals are sensitive to noise and movement, so it’s important to be quiet and still while photographing them. Avoid making sudden movements, rustling leaves, or loud noises that could startle or scare the animal away. Move slowly and deliberately, and keep a low profile. Wildlife is more likely to approach you if you look and act non-threatening.

Observe the Animal Behavior

Observing animal behavior is essential to capturing great wildlife photos. Pay attention to their movements, body language, and interactions with other animals. This will give you insight into their behavior and help you anticipate their next move. Knowing when and where to point your camera will increase your chances of getting the shot you want.

Wait for the Right Moment

Wildlife photography requires patience, and waiting for the right moment is key to getting a great shot. Observe the animal and wait for it to do something interesting or unique. Be prepared to wait for hours or even days to get the shot you want. The key is to be patient and ready for when the animal does something interesting.

Be Respectful of the Animals

Respect for the animals and their habitat is crucial in wildlife photography. Avoid disturbing the animal or its environment by keeping a safe distance and avoiding feeding or touching them. Respect their space and be mindful of their safety and well-being. Remember, the animal’s welfare comes first, and photography comes second.

Patience and observation are essential to capturing great wildlife photos. Research and planning, being quiet and still, using a telephoto lens, observing animal behavior, waiting for the right moment, being respectful of the animals, using natural light, and shooting in continuous mode are all important techniques to master. With practice, skill, and a lot of patience, you can capture stunning wildlife photos that will inspire and delight others. Remember, the key to great wildlife photography is to be patient, observant, and have fun with creativity.

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