I am a Skilled Photographer and These Are My Safari Picture Secrets and techniques

I realized my first lesson about safari pictures the laborious means. There I used to be, at a small airstrip in Botswana, shopping for an additional aircraft ticket for my digital camera bag. I’d uncared for to contemplate the strict baggage weight restrictions on most bush planes, and I used to be over the restrict. (It was fortunate that the aircraft may accommodate the additional bag in any respect.) 

By the tip of the journey, I hadn’t touched the wide-angle lens I packed; the tripod in my bag was unused. Over 10 days, I additionally obtained a real-world schooling in digital camera settings, working in dusty circumstances, and with the very actual risk of operating out of house on my reminiscence playing cards. And to suppose that I had already been doing this for a residing for a number of years. 

Since that fateful first journey, I’ve gone on a number of different, extra profitable safaris—throughout which I’ve honed the next methods for maximizing my time within the area.

Select properly. 

Whereas I’m cautious about overpacking, one factor I gained’t compromise on is touring with two digital camera our bodies. I carry two Sony full-frame mirrorless cameras, an Alpha 7R III and an Alpha 7R V. I match every one with a special lens so I don’t must swap lenses in the midst of no matter motion I’m attempting to seize. I usually use a 24-70 mm for wider photographs of the panorama, animal herds, and creatures that come shut, and a 200-600 mm tremendous telephoto for tighter photographs. I additionally carry alongside a 70-200 mm, simply in case. 

Be ready.

Relating to uncommon sightings—a cheetah feasting on a recent kill, a hyena, a sable antelope—you would possibly solely have a cut up second to seize the second. “Too typically, friends arrive in Africa with brand-new digital camera tools they’ve by no means used,” says Shaun Stanley, the founding father of Stanley Safaris. “Observe previous to your arrival and contemplate investing in a pictures course.”

Hold it clear.

I all the time carry Zeiss lens wipes, microfiber cleansing cloths, and a rocket air blaster for eradicating mud with out the chance of scratches. My lenses are additionally fitted with UV filters, which shield them from scratches and harsh sunshine.

Keep regular.

For sharp pictures, stability is vital—however a conventional tripod is cumbersome contained in the confines of a safari automobile. I’ve realized to like the Kinesis SafariSack, a beanbag-style pouch you possibly can relaxation on the facet of a Land Rover or over a seat. “Many lodges and camps have them, however you possibly can by no means make certain, so I all the time carry my very own,” says Ian Proctor, a member of the T+L A-Record and president of Final Africa Safaris. “I pack it empty after which ask the lodge for some beans to fill it once I arrive.”

Convey further reminiscence.

I’ve gotten the dreaded “SD card full” message many occasions, and it all the time appears to occur once I’m capturing some thrilling second. “It isn’t out of the norm to shoot upwards of a thousand pictures per day,” says Julian Harrison, one other A-Record advisor and the CEO of Premier Excursions. Many lodges inventory further reminiscence playing cards, however I’ve but to discover a stable digital camera store within the bush—and also you don’t wish to run wanting house mid-game drive. 

Know your settings.

Each safari is completely different, however I are inclined to depend on a couple of frequent settings. To seize fast-moving wildlife, I take advantage of fast shutter speeds, usually 1/1000 or sooner. Burst mode, which takes a sequence of rapid-fire photographs, can also be important. Quick shutter speeds typically name for larger ISO settings, however an excessive amount of sensitivity can create “noise,” so I attempt to keep at 1600 or decrease. When taking close-up or zoomed-in pictures, I all the time deal with the animal’s eyes, utilizing an f-stop between f/2.8 and f/6.3 to provide a shallow depth of area that makes for a gorgeous blurred background. 

Insure your rig.

Whether or not your tools value $2,000 or $20,000, you’ll wish to shield that funding: camera-specific plans from Lemonade, Progressive, and State Farm cowl your gear virtually wherever on the planet. Some house owner’s insurance policies additionally embrace protection.

Go it alone.

“For those who’re critical about pictures, I recommend paying further for a non-public safari automobile,” Stanley says. “That means you possibly can carry all of your tools with out imposing on different friends.” 

Decide the best vacation spot.

With their plentiful sport and spectacular surroundings, big-name nationwide parks are well-known for a motive—but additionally draw bigger crowds. “Photographers ought to search out non-public concessions, the place not more than three automobiles can collect round a explicit animal sighting,” Stanley says. These additionally are inclined to have fewer restrictions on entry, that means you possibly can arrive earlier than dawn or keep out after sundown to seize wildlife within the dreamy gentle of daybreak or nightfall.

Be current.

I’m definitely responsible of spending an excessive amount of time behind the lens, so I’ve made a degree of, now and again, merely placing down my digital camera and soaking all of it in.

A model of this story first appeared within the July 2025 challenge of Journey + Leisure below the headline “Animal Magic.”