A safari is without a doubt an unforgettable once in a lifetime experience. As well as lifelong memories that will be etched in your mind for years to come, it is also nice to be able to capture beautiful photos as keepshakes as well as to share with friends and family. Here are some tips to help you capture the best photos.
1. CHOOSE YOUR GEAR WISELY
A good camera and the right lenses will go a long way in capturing the action. You will need two lenses. One with a zoom from between 200-400mm and another one for wide landscape shots. Two reasons for this. A, you don’t want to miss the action because you are too busy changing lenses, but also you need to take into account there is a lot of dust on safari which will easily get into your exposed sensor and cause havoc!
Whatever gear you bring with you, make sure you know the ins and outs of it beforehand. There is nothing worse than trying to figure out the settings whilst the events unfold before you. Practice at home on your local wildlife, and make sure you are completely familiar with all the settings.
Make sure you pack extra batteries and memory cards, and back up your photos regularly throughout the day.
2. YOUR GUIDE MATTERS MORE THAN YOU THINK
Make sure you travel with a safari specialist like us. We have the knowledge and experience not only to find the wildlife, but also to ensure we are positioned in the right place to help you capture the perfect shots. Malaki, the founder of MK Tanzania Migration Safari’s has taken many photos which have been published in National Geographic and will be on hand to help you capture those lifelong memories.
3. BE PREPARED TO LOSE SOME SLEEP
Whatever you are shooting, light is key! It doesn’t matter how expensive your camera is, if you want WOW worthy photos you need to be out during golden hour. This will mean waking up early to catch sunrise. This is not only a good time for photography though, it is also a good time for spotting wildlife as I then tend to be much more active during the cooler hours before retreating to the sun during the hottest parts of the day.
Sunset is also another great time to capture the animals as the sky turns all shades of orange and red.
4. BE PATIENT
With so much to see and do it is often tempting to want to press on after having taking a few snaps, however, it pays to stay still and watch the wildlife. The Great Migration is constantly on the move. They may look static as you snap away, but in reality they are constantly moving which means the situation is constantly evolving.
By stopping and admiring them you will get a chance to see how they interact with each other, you will spot their behavioural patterns and before you know it an event will be unfolding before your eyes.
Whether that be a hunt or an affectionate rub between two friends you will never know, but it is always worth spending the time and letting the magnificient views sink in.
5. GET A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE
Game drives are by far the most common way to safari in Tanzania, however, we also offer walking and canoe safaris which give you a very different perspective than if in a vehicle. You may also spot more obscure wildlife that may otherwise be hidden from sight whilst driving around.
Arusha National Park is great for walking and canoe safaris giving you the perfect opportunity to get up close to buffalos and jiraffes. It is also home to white and black colobus monkeys.