Alan Kefauver wrote:
OK, heading out on another Africa Trip in early September.
Masai Mara, Kenya (Migration), Tanda Tula, SA (Leopards), and Madikwe, SA (Rhinos)
17 days total.
Little different kit this time.
OM Systems OM-1 with the M. Zuiko 150-400 f/4.5 w built in 1.25TC. (300-1000mm FF equiv)
Canon R5 with the RF 70-200 f/2.8, the RF 24-70 f/2.8, and the 16mm STM.
Lots of cards and batteries.
All in a Thinktank Airport Advantage Roller.
I'm nervous about leaving the RF 100-500 behind and the fact that I will have two bodies, but two different systems. I could go all Oly and leave the Canon stuff at home but I would need a second OM-1 as I always want two bodies. The Canon has lower noise and is better in low light and I'm addicted to 45mps for cropping. But this 150-400 Oly lens is incredible and i can fill the frame better than with the RF100-500.and taking the RF 100-500 is just an overlap of sorts.
So, I am covered from 16mm to 1000mm, with the only hole being between 200-300mm
Total weight for this trip all in (cameras, clothes, computers, etc.) is 24Kg (52 lbs)
You've been before so you would know if you use the 24-70 or not, but I would bring a 14-35 instead of the 24-70 and 16. Or if you are scared to leave the RF 100-500 at home maybe bring the inexpensive lighter weight RF 100-400 on your other R5 if you want to fill your gap.
Alan Kefauver wrote:
OK, heading out on another Africa Trip in early September.
Masai Mara, Kenya (Migration), Tanda Tula, SA (Leopards), and Madikwe, SA (Rhinos)
17 days total.
Little different kit this time.
If you haven't done so already try request Chad to be your guide at Tanda Tula. He's a pro wildlife photographer, so if you're going there for photography he's the guide you want.
Alan Kefauver wrote:
OK, heading out on another Africa Trip in early September.
Masai Mara, Kenya (Migration), Tanda Tula, SA (Leopards), and Madikwe, SA (Rhinos)
17 days total.
Little different kit this time.
OM Systems OM-1 with the M. Zuiko 150-400 f/4.5 w built in 1.25TC. (300-1000mm FF equiv)
Canon R5 with the RF 70-200 f/2.8, the RF 24-70 f/2.8, and the 16mm STM.
Lots of cards and batteries.
All in a Thinktank Airport Advantage Roller.
I'm nervous about leaving the RF 100-500 behind and the fact that I will have two bodies, but two different systems. I could go all Oly and leave the Canon stuff at home but I would need a second OM-1 as I always want two bodies. The Canon has lower noise and is better in low light and I'm addicted to 45mps for cropping. But this 150-400 Oly lens is incredible and i can fill the frame better than with the RF100-500.and taking the RF 100-500 is just an overlap of sorts.
So, I am covered from 16mm to 1000mm, with the only hole being between 200-300mm
Total weight for this trip all in (cameras, clothes, computers, etc.) is 24Kg (52 lbs)
I would not have only two bodies and different systems, but I bring a lot of gear to Africa as mentioned above. I assume you must have a large weight restriction. There are alternative ways to get similar or better reach than OM's 3.31µm pixels at 500mm, such as 100-500 on R7 (3.19µm), 200-600 on a7rV (3.77µm), etc. If not, then rent a second OM-1, 40-150 and some wider lens or two. I've seen so gear much break in Africa that I would not go without a backup lens. Lately it is a 100-400 II in the luggage that I can live without.
Just came back from South Africa (Tswalu Loapi Camp) 9 nights.
Most pictures were taken with 400mm 2.8, some withe the 70-200 2.8.
12-24 2.8 and the 24-70 2.8 ii stayed in the bag most of the time. Will also be in Madikwe in September. Will leave the smaler lenses at home.
I fly private so no weight restrictions.
For a small and light setup I would go for a 100-400 or 200-600.
Just some snaps from the trip (4th safari this year).
Rytchk wrote:
Just came back from South Africa (Tswalu Loapi Camp) 9 nights.
Most pictures were taken with 400mm 2.8, some withe the 70-200 2.8.
12-24 2.8 and the 24-70 2.8 ii stayed in the bag most of the time. Will also be in Madikwe in September. Will leave the smaler lenses at home.
I fly private so no weight restrictions.
For a small and light setup I would go for a 100-400 or 200-600.
Just some snaps from the trip (4th safari this year).
Do you think the slower aperture of the 200-600 is a big hindrance? Im unable to rent a 400 F2.8 before I go because its not available for rent in Canada.
It gives you flexibility. That is mor important. If you are close slower apature will still give you enou baground blurr.
I stopped mine down a couple of times.
In the beginning most tend to want the ditailed portairts. I start to prefer more and mor to include the environment.
If you are short on weight restrictions go with an universul setup.
And don‘t forget to rake the camera doen from rime to time and enjoy nature. Even when this means to not get a picture.
Rytchk wrote:
It gives you flexibility. That is mor important. If you are close slower apature will still give you enou baground blurr.
I stopped mine down a couple of times.
In the beginning most tend to want the ditailed portairts. I start to prefer more and mor to include the environment.
If you are short on weight restrictions go with an universul setup.
And don‘t forget to rake the camera doen from rime to time and enjoy nature. Even when this means to not get a picture.
I'm beginning to think of what I want to sue to carry stuff in the field. Not a full camera bag, just something I can put batteries and cards and maybe an extra lens in... Preferably more organized than just a plain tote bag. Anyone found a solution they are particularly happy with? It would be nice just to grab cameras and a small bag with all my parts and accessories, and go out he door. Not a big deal, just starting to think about the little things.
Cduff406 wrote:
I'm beginning to think of what I want to sue to carry stuff in the field. Not a full camera bag, just something I can put batteries and cards and maybe an extra lens in... Preferably more organized than just a plain tote bag. Anyone found a solution they are particularly happy with? It would be nice just to grab cameras and a small bag with all my parts and accessories, and go out he door. Not a big deal, just starting to think about the little things.
Are you getting your own private vehicles or sharing a private vehicle with a friend? Or, will you be packed in like sardines with a load of other tourists? If you get your own private vehicle, there's plenty of room to bring all the extra gear/bags you want. I brought multiple cameras/lenses along with a full camera bag of accessories and my lady brought her own tote bag as well. We had 4 people max in our private vehicles and there was plenty of room.
It'll be some of both. I'll have a big backpack with everything for teh flight over and travel between camps. Just thinking of something smaller for drives from camp. Maybe one of the Peak Design sling bags would work. I've got time, so I'll look for some options.
Cduff406 wrote:
It'll be some of both. I'll have a big backpack with everything for teh flight over and travel between camps. Just thinking of something smaller for drives from camp. Maybe one of the Peak Design sling bags would work. I've got time, so I'll look for some options.
You can also load up a photo vest with a ton of accessories and small lenses and leave it on an empty seat. Your wife can bring a tote for anything else. If your vehicle is full you can usually use the passenger seat next to your guide for storage. For anyone worried about weight, the photo vest is a great solution as you can wear the weight while they weigh your bags at check in and then you just put the heavy/loaded vest back into your bag when you're at the gate.
What do you want to carry on the jeep?
Your batteries will last easily for one drive. Usually I do not recharge or change them for 2 days.
I also never gad to change a memory card on a game drive.
A small backpack ist good for sunglasses and so on. But not needed for additional photo gear.
It is a bit of overthinking here
Rytchk wrote:
What do you want to carry on the jeep?
Your batteries will last easily for one drive. Usually I do not recharge or change them for 2 days.
I also never gad to change a memory card on a game drive.
A small backpack ist good for sunglasses and so on. But not needed for additional photo gear.
It is a bit of overthinking here
Battery life depends on the user, gear type, and how long your game drives are. I can go through an R5 battery in a day if I'm shooting a lot of video along side shooting stills. Batteries need to be charged every night for me. I found that most vehicles had charging stations to charge batteries in the bush as well.
But your are not out the whole day in most places. You usually do a morning and an evening drive. Enough time in between to charge.
So no need to try to find everything like charger and so on in the vehicle when coming back in the dark.
My wife and I are doing a self-drive in Tanzania in Nov to mid December...and plan on stopping for several days here. It is not a well-known national park...but has the large mammals including Black Rhino and Gerenuk (+ Wild Dog)...and 450 species of birds.
and yes we will drive through Ngorongoro Crater (but not the Serengeti!)
I haven't been but I've been casually watching developments there for the past 15 years. I can tell you some things but cannot offer personal experience so don't take this too seriously.
Have you seen this (a relatively recent visit)? You can translate the page to get a good enough feel. Christa and Bernd were there in February, which is the green season. While November and December are also green season, I expect it is less certain the park will have changed to its green state by that time.
You can translate the page to get a good enough feel.
The new rhino sanctuary is apparently a natural experience - it is fenced for protection but the rhinos have plenty of space to roam free so you won't 'feel' it is enclosed - but the wild dog breeding enclosure is relatively small. If a new pack has just been released and somebody tells you where, you may be in for a treat but the dogs can (and do) roam all the way to Tsavo East in Kenya once they get set. In fact I have heard that most of them end up on the Kenyan side. The rhino sanctuary is visited by school trips so maybe visit there early morning to ensure your visit doesn't coincide with that of 100 kids. :-)
I have heard from a number of people that the rangers in Mkomazi are particularly friendly and helpful, which is excellent news for self-drivers. There is a restaurant near HQ (if you are not already staying at their cottages) so reason to visit and get chatting. They (not the rangers but I am sure they work with the wild dog team) do monitor the released dogs so if you are there for a while it might be worthwhile to make friends early - really not sure though.
There are very limited water sources in Mkomazi, so knowing where these are will really help with game viewing/photography if it is still dry when you arrive.
Many animals will be quite skittish - there are not a lot of visitors and a history of poaching and incursions by cattle herders - although I think both were more or less stopped many years ago now.
There are beautiful mountains as a backdrop so maybe find some places you can find wildlife with mountain backdrops towards sunset. You won't need to go wide for this I think.
Probably not a lot of help, but have a great time anyway. Would love to know how it goes if you have time to drop me a DM any time after you get back.
Hi Paul - OK I spent many July-Nov in Thailand doing raptor migration research there near Chumphon on the east coast (and a couple of spring seasons watching/counting bee-eaters and others head north).
For MkoMazi - thank you for that link. I had not seen it...it seems to "jive" with these comments:
in other words, birds are good to very good here (excellent for us as we are birders), and mammals not so much...which is OK as we have seen many on past self-drives in South Africa, Namibia and Botswana...
Entrance fee seems to have been raised to $30/person per 24 hrs. I don't know if there is a vehicle fee per day - and am trying to find out. The Tanzania National Park web site (and 2023-24 PDF)is/are not as user friendly as other places (such as South Africa National Parks).
which is about $50 night plus lunch/diner (free breakfast) - at $10/person/night. If you go through one of the booking agencies, you can get a bit less than $50/night. The hotel is new (opened 2022) and gets much better reviews than anything in the park (eg the tented camp gets some awful reviews).
I am now trying to figure out location of gas stations (petrol) and supermarkets for basics...but inside the park there does seem to be an inexpensive restaurant for basics...
artsupreme wrote:
This is off to a great start and it's the exact type of information I'm looking for. Thanks everyone.
VKM2F, your bullet point number 2 is exactly why I posted this thread. I don't want to book an expensive safari that turns out to be a typical vacation for the general public. I want a photography based tour where it's just me and a few other like minded photographers who are on the hunt all day to capture the best possible images.
Rytchk wrote:
But your are not out the whole day in most places. You usually do a morning and an evening drive. Enough time in between to charge.
So no need to try to find everything like charger and so on in the vehicle when coming back in the dark.
Pangolin Photo Great Migration Safari: We leave the camp at 6AM and return at 7PM. Breakfast and lunch are in the field.
