Photographic Safari Travel Advice

A photographic safari to Africa involves a commitment of time and, most likely, a considerable investment in your gear. Make sure you enjoy maximum returns by following our photo-safari travel advice.

What to Pack for a Photographic Safari in Tanzania

Packing for a photographic safari requires more thought than packing for a simple holiday. Standard safari rules apply: pack lightweight clothing that you can layer for warmth in the early morning and evenings and keep the colours muted, earthy tones with no busy patterns of highly contrasting colours. Since there are limitations on the size and weight of your bags when you transfer between lodges or reserves by light aircraft (the most common way of reaching multiple safari destinations in one itinerary), make use of lodge laundry services to minimize how much clothing you pack and save space for your gear.

It is always a good idea to carry a small ‘point-and-shoot camera (or use your mobile phone) for candid moments and the occasional, inevitable selfie for your social media. A big DSLR is often unwieldy to capture quick snaps of people or those in-transit moments that surprise you.

For specific advice on packing your camera gear, read our blog ‘Packing Your Camera Bag for Safari’.

What to Do Before You Leave

If you are fairly new to photography or have rewarded yourself with a new camera, spend some time getting to know its technical settings and familiarise yourself with shooting under various outdoor conditions in your home city – try shooting in a park or capturing candid images on the street.

We share some tried-and-tested tips in our blog ‘Pre-Safari Prep: How to Get the Most From Your Camera’. For beginners and experienced photographers, we highly recommend a pre-safari photography workshop if your itinerary includes Johannesburg – ask your African Safari Expert for details.

What to Expect on a Photo Safari

Unlike a generalist safari which aims to please general tastes and interests on a game viewing activity, a specialist photographic safari has a specific goal shared by all the participants. Your fellow travellers will be as keen as you are to get the perfect shot and, although your individual interests may vary from birds to big cats, the group dynamic is relaxed and empathetic. Everyone gets a window seat, everyone gets professional attention, and each traveller has patience for the other’s special interests.

You do not need to be an expert photographer: our photo-safari partners include Africa’s top photographer guides who are passionate about sharing their knowledge and developing your skills – their goal is to help you get that once-in-a-lifetime image.