A wildlife photographer will always be very conscious of the gear to
be used while on a
photography safari. While the right gear for the
safari is paramount to taking back home award winning images, some
factors are important to consider that would impact positively or
negatively on that perfect safari.
First time Wildlife Photographers
to Africa are always faced with the dilemma of how to come up with that
ideal itinerary. We have summarized it into a 5 most important factors
to consider when organizing your
Photography safari to Africa.
01. Choice of Destination for Wildlife Photography
There is always a personal preference for every individual when it
comes to wildlife. Some will prefer to photograph the big cats while
others may be more inclined to other animals. Before you select the
destination, it is always important to know the availability of “Your
Preference”. For instance, you might be interested in photographing the
Wild Dog packs
licaon pictus. Some wildlife reserves don’t have these
animals and therefore it would be disappointing not to encounter them.
Also some areas would have them but with extreme rare sightings. It
would be advisable to try and find one that you would have more
opportunities at sightings.
02. The Weather Conditions Africa mainly lies within the
intertropical zone. Africa is more dependent to the rain and there
exists some seasons of Long rains. During these long rains, some parks
and reserve are rendered impassable. You could easily find yourself
stuck in a rut for days trying to maneuver out of the mud. Although
sometimes the rain offers a different and interesting perspective to
photography.
During the dry spell, most animals converge within the
water hole and riverine forests. It is always easier to spot game and
get the action within these zones. After the rainy season, the grass
sprouts back and in some grassy plains, viewing wildlife can be an
uphill task. For better Wildlife Photography results, it would be
advisable
planning your safari before the long rains or a couple of
months after the rains.
03. Animal Migration Patterns Prior to your safari, it’s
important to find out about the current migration patterns of the
wildlife in areas you are set to visit. A set example is the
Mara Serengeti Eco system. With migration of about 1.5 million wildebeest,
finding the location of the herds is important if you are to capture
the ensuing river crossings. For avian photographers, some Eurasian and
Pale-arctic migrants are found only during certain months of the year.
04. Planning the Itinerary After having researched and
being more informed about the Wildlife, then arises the question of how
long one should spend in every destination. For the best
Wildlife Photography results, the more time you spend out there in the wild the
better your chances of capturing better shots. A very important factor
to that is the safari guide who leads you out in the wild. The level of
knowledge of any individual safari guide plays an important role in the
photos one captures.
The first and last hour of the day is always
the best time to be out taking photos. It is therefore vital to forfeit
the trappings of a properly laid out breakfast in the lodge or camp and
opt for a bush style picnic breakfast. This gives you the leisure of
concentrating of the photography and worrying less on keeping time to
return back to your camp for breakfast.
05. Accommodation Always go for accommodation that are
located close to the epicenter of the action. This saves you travel time
over the bumpy terrain and offers you ample time to spend with the
animals. Always look out for an ideal location within the wildlife area
and try to minimize on the travel distances within the reserves or
parks. Most camps and lodges in this era offer free Wi-Fi. In the event
not, try and talk to your local safari outfitter and get a pre-loaded
internet modem.
"Photography is an art of observation. It has little to do
with the things you see and everything to do with the way you see them."
Elliott Erwitt.
