Planning an African Safari

I'm leaving for my Botswana/South Africa trip tomorrow. I'll be bringing a 30D, 7D, 17-50 2.8, 100-400L, 38GB of CF, 320GB external HD, 120GB Netbook, and an old PowerShot.

I'm seriously contemplating a tripod/monopod/both. The 100-400 is a rental and I spent the past couple of day shooting with it and boy does it take some getting used to. The lens in incredible, but I'm definitely worried about low-light situations. I could really use the extra few stops. I'd also love to take some long exposure night shots, as some of the camps we are staying at overlook some beautiful landscapes. Weight, of course, is an issue, though. Seems like there are quite a few conflicting opinions on whether or not a tripod/monopod would get much use, especially during drives. Oh... decisions, decisions, decisions...

From what you say I would take a tripod. I'd also consider whether you need two bopdies. yes, you get a back-up in case of problems, but if weight is an issue then I'd take the 7D and 100-400 and 17-50. I'd also just take the netbook. It's a risk, but you won't need two bodies with those lenses. On safari most of your shots qwill be with the long lens, like 98%, and the 17-50 will be handy around camp. So you can just swap as needed. Early morning and late afternoon are prime shooting time, so the 7D will give you decent ISO performance to enable the necessarfy shutter speed. The 30D I'm less confident about in that regard, but I have used the 30D on safari and never had a problem with shutter speed issues. I would absolutely take a bean bag. I don;'t think the 100-400 IS stabilisation is consistently good enough to hand hald - beanbag and tripod as necessary will be way better. The 100-400 aklso has issues with some filers so check with and without. If weight is not a big deal then sure, take the 30D and external drive. I usually shoot way less than 8GB on a day shooting - focus on composition rather than machine gun shooting style. You'll get better images IMO and have less junk to cull in the evenings.

luckily camera bodies are pretty light, and if for whatever reason something DOES happen to the 7D, I really really feel like I need a backup.

I also don't want to be swapping lenses (at all, if I can help it) during the dry season. The 17-50 will always be on the 30D and the 100-400 will always be on the 7D.

If it comes down to it, I don't really need clothes... right??????

I'm heading out after work to compare some tripods. Hate spending so much on something I won't use very often, but it'll be worth it.

You actually don't need many clothes as it is so dry you don't notice sweat at all. Shorts, short-sleeve shirts and sandles will do most days, but can be chilly early morning and evening, so a fleece essential too. Don't forget a ballhead: Manfrotto 488 is probably the minimum for the 100-400, but if just doing landscapes you can manage without IMO.

riyazi wrote in post #10748894
Hope you have a great trip. AYLIS will definitely make it a memorable one for you!

Riyazi, an especially big thanks to you and Teo. Your photos are outstanding and your blog was very helpful to us.

In high school I went on a safari, I don't remember the name of it...but oh my goodness, you're going to have a great time! Our safari was in northern Tanzania...what beautiful countryside... Enjoy your trip!

rossmtbiker wrote in post #10785964
Riyazi, an especially big thanks to you and Teo. Your photos are outstanding and your blog was very helpful to us.

You are welcome - glad that I could be of some help!

One more sleep!

rossmtbiker wrote in post #11053959
One more sleep!

Have a GREAT time... Remember to soak up all of Africa, not JUST the animals.

Do what your guide tells you.
Negotiate like a banshee for souvenirs.

DragonSpeed wrote in post #11054038
Negotiate like a banshee for souvenirs.

And make sure you know the proper prices. The roadside curio shops in Kenya all seem to have turned into major rip-off joints. I like to give malachite figures as gifts and wanted to buy two lions in one shop. I reckoned on $75 - 100 but he insisted that $150 was his best price and looked most disgusted when I walked away. Later in the week I picked up two, slightly larger and better quality, lion figures for just $87. And that was in the Nairobi Hilton! My friend, who can't barter, paid $120 for a Masai nanga and a beaded belt. Half that amount would have been fair.

Oh, and see how many equators you can cross in Kenya. We found five equators along the Nyeri to Nakuru road, anything from 200m to 25 km from the real equator (I had a GPS for geotagging).

hollis_f wrote in post #11056921
And make sure you know the proper prices.

Too true! In Zanzibar, they were asking over $100 for a small "Zanzibar Chest". We ended up paying $35. Wow.

I bet you EACH one of those "Equators" has a half dozen roadside tourist stands and 30 odd guys holding beads and t-shirts

Does anyone have any updates on planning a trip to Kenya or Tanzania??

TIA..

Merlin Driver wrote in post #12578185
Does anyone have any updates on planning a trip to Kenya or Tanzania??

TIA..

Do you have any specific questions? A lot has been covered.

DragonSpeed wrote in post #12579969
Do you have any specific questions? A lot has been covered.

True, I was wondering the same guides were in business and if things were still safe.

We did a quick photo safari last June in South Africa tied to a business tip. HUGE difference in tagging along with a camera on regular tourist safari, and being part of a purpose built photo safari. Look for key items such as no more than one photographer per vehicle bench. We rented 500mms, tripods, and wimberly mounts from Stu. We brought our 7Ds, 40Ds, 100-400s, and 1.4TCs. Most of the time I have a 500mm and 1.4TC on the 40D and the 100-400 on the 7D. Most of my shots were with the 7D. That has to do with the terrain around Kruger park. In larger more open savannas in East Africa, you might want your best camera body on the longest lens combo.

We used Wild 4 Photo Safaris: http://www.wild4photog​raphicsafaris.com/. Most of Stu's safaris are in South Africa. He also does them in East Africa. We have already booked 14 more days for next June....all at our cost...not a business trip.

We wore the REI Safari line of shirts and pants. They are very compact to pack, wick away moisture, protect you from the sun, and hang dry overnight. The shirts are available in long or short sleeve. You can get shorts or long pants that have zip off legs (instant shorts).

Best of luck with your safari adventure!!!!!!!!!!!!