mczuman
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 p.5 #13 · African safari talk...recommendations? | |
I'll confess that I haven't read all the posts in this thread, but I'll speak up because I've visited various African countries thirty or so times over the past two decades. I'm just retired recently from a career as a professional wildlife conservationist, and I've had the privilege to visit Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Mali, South Africa, Angola, Botswana, Namibia, Rwanda, and the DRC. There are probably a couple more that I've overlooked...
I've shot Canon, Nikon, and Sony during those visits, mostly using Nikon D bodies (especially D2x, D3, D800, and D5), but recently Sony (A9 II, just upgraded to A1). I was just in Kenya this past October.
In my opinion, the best combination of wildlife, infrastructure, tourism-focus, and price is Kenya. There are many opportunities for extraordinary experiences, and it is likely to cost less than a southern Africa experience. I would recommend a conservancy and/or private reserve experience because it will be less crowded with more opportunities for off-road travel and sundowners. I like the Lewa Conservancy very much, and Sirikoi Lodge is my all-time favorite. If you combine that with a Maasai Mara camp (such as Cottar's 1920s) you can have great wildlife density and a good degree of exclusivity, too. Speaking of "combining," my favorite schedule is three nights each at three different camps. You'd want to fly either a charter flight or a scheduled SafariLink-type flight between camps, though if you do two camps on different sides of the Mara you can transfer by land.
South Africa can deliver extreme luxury and phenomenal viewing (think Singita, Royal Malawane) but you'd better be very wealthy. Botswana offers amazing diversity and the Okavango Delta, but you have to get there. Namibia has the best skies and amazing red dunes. The wildlife can be stunning, or you can go all day without seeing much (unless you visit the Cheetah Conservation Fund).
Tanzania is a bit like Kenya was a few years ago. It's not quite as developed from a tourism perspective, but there are some great areas, the Crater, and gems like Tarangire if you love elephants.
I now travel with just three lenses because it's such a pain to carry them on planes: a 24-70, 70-200, and 200-400 (200-600mm now I'm a Sony shooter). I use the 24-70mm the least.
Good luck...I don't know anyone who's only been on safari once!
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. I'm parking myself at Ndutu for the cat babies but my friends will be heading up North as well. We start 10 days behind you and here's praying for light rains and reliable flights to/from 