Primus wrote:
I am seriously considering Zambia for 2025, especially South Luangwa. From what I've read, Kaingo indeed seems like a good place, they had a BBC crew staying there for some time. The hide photography is said to be very good too. I am not a big fan of that but the field sightings are not that crowded, so it feels more like a conservancy in Kenya, or so I believe (been spoilt now by Kicheche).
If I only had to go to South Luangwa, how many days and at what camp? If just one camp, is there a discount for longer stays? Is ten days at one place too much? In the end I am looking at the best possible sighting and photography, time of the year does not matter so much (would like to avoid extreme heat if I can though).
Thanks, this is looking very interesting. ...Show more →
This all depends on a lot of factors. How much time do you have? If you have 10 days, consider 5 at a camp like Kaingo, and 5 at one of the Bushcamp Company camps. They also run Mfuwe Lodge. That gives you 4 nights at two different parts of the park. Also, Lower Zambezi could be added; wonderful camps there - Chiawa and Old Mondoro to name just a couple. On my very first safari, many years ago, I spent time at those latter camps, then flew to South Luangwa for several days - at Chamilandu, one of the Bushcamp company camps, and then spent time at Tafika. I bawled my head off when I got on the plane home. ;-)
As far as timing - it all depends. May, I think is the end of the Emerald season, so the parks should be greener and lusher. Again, late May into July weatherwise was perfect for me. Warm and dry during the day and cool enough at night that we needed jackets. I would avoid Sept. and Oct. because it would be too hot for me - but I am told wildlife sightings are quite good as animals jockey for water. And with climate change, who knows? I could be all wet. :-)
Loving this thread, but a little overwhelming with all the options!
I'm thinking about doing my first safari and am leaning towards doing something relatively primitive on accommodations, with the main focus being quality shooting experiences. I'm considering one of the Porini camp options.
One question I had is whether I could get away with the 70-200 f/4 rather than f/2.8 as a shorter lens? I'll need to rent gear and am trying to limit cost if possible. My potential gear list (sony shooter)
a7r V
a1 (rent)
16-35 f/4
70-200 f/4 II
400 f/2.8 (rent)
40Driggs wrote:
Loving this thread, but a little overwhelming with all the options!
I'm thinking about doing my first safari and am leaning towards doing something relatively primitive on accommodations, with the main focus being quality shooting experiences. I'm considering one of the Porini camp options.
One question I had is whether I could get away with the 70-200 f/4 rather than f/2.8 as a shorter lens? I'll need to rent gear and am trying to limit cost if possible. My potential gear list (sony shooter)
a7r V
a1 (rent)
16-35 f/4
70-200 f/4 II
400 f/2.8 (rent)
My thought is to keep it simple.
I think you can get away with it, but if you can rent the 2.8 or even a 135 F1.8 (I think someone in the thread took one with him).
Park raised elephant just feeling his oats. As the driver demonstrates he normally responds to yelling by the staff. The driver would not bother yelling at a truly wild elephant. It wouldn't care. Just a reverse Zoo by the looks of that bus. Great memory for the tourists in the bus.
This happened at Ndutu,TZ a few weeks back. We heard a driver calling for help after a male elephant knocked over their LandCruiser. I saw a video that eve and the culprit wasn’t even that big IMHO. But 2 passengers had to be airlifted out (never heard the outcome). You always think that you can read an elephant’s intent, but you really never know. Remember the story of Tom Siegel being gored by an elephant back in 2009/2010 (google it, a Forbes article)? That always crosses my mind when an Ele looks agitated or wants the right of way, so I always ask my driver to back away.
Thx for sharing.....very traumatic and sad. I wonder if they allowed hunting in that park (Kafue Nat'l) in the past 'cause that elephant was super riled. I was told that anger from previous human conflict can be passed down generation:generation. OTOH, we don't know the events leading up to that driver driving away; but, I doubt that he did anything horribly wrong because it was a Wilderness (aka Wilderness Safaris, great company) tour.
I have a SA hunting trip planned for October. I'm going with my dad, where my shooting will mostly be with camera and I am debating about the gear to take. I currently have Z8 and 14-35, Samyang 50/1.4 (adapted), 85/1.4, Tammy 150-500 and 105/1.4 (FX) lenses. As you can see I do not have any midrange zoom. So I was thinking either to get Tamron 35-150 and just take that along with Tamron 150-500. The other combination that was thinking is taking 14-35 and buying Sigma 60-600 DG DN in FE mount and adapting it. So far I've had great luck adapting FE lenses to Z8, but haven't used any Sigma lens.
Nikon 180-600 is a no-go due it's size and I will still be missing a midrange zoom.
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ajamils wrote:
I have a SA hunting trip planned for October. I'm going with my dad, where my shooting will mostly be with camera and I am debating about the gear to take. I currently have Z8 and 14-35, Samyang 50/1.4 (adapted), 85/1.4, Tammy 150-500 and 105/1.4 (FX) lenses. As you can see I do not have any midrange zoom. So I was thinking either to get Tamron 35-150 and just take that along with Tamron 150-500. The other combination that was thinking is taking 14-35 and buying Sigma 60-600 DG DN in FE mount and adapting it. So far I've had great luck adapting FE lenses to Z8, but haven't used any Sigma lens.
Nikon 180-600 is a no-go due it's size and I will still be missing a midrange zoom. ...Show more →
I've been there in October. A very cool and different experience. Please note that this it not purely or primarily a photography oriented trip.
But you will experience stuff that you won't get to see in a regular reserve, and you'll learn a lot about how wildlife and conservation management is done (spoiler: the lions you'll encounter in places like Sabi, the Mara, etc definitely do not behave like any lion that hasn't had interaction with humans yet - in fact, this trip might take some magic off these private reserves if you get know a bit more how things work over there )
My trip is getting closer every day and my excitement is building exponentially! Slightly off topic question, we will be in Kenya, doing a mix of photo stuff and family stuff (school and village visits, probably some roadside shopping). I'll take some US Dollars for tipping at the lodge and drivers. But I figure I should get some Kenyan Schillings for village visits and any village purchases and the like. How many schillings do you guys normally take, and what denomination seem to work good? Apparently $500USD is $65000KES, so I definitely don't want to take a bunch of $1s! Just thought I'd get some advice before I order some Schillings at my bank.
Standby, I'll be back with gear questions in a few weeks!
Cduff406 wrote:
My trip is getting closer every day and my excitement is building exponentially! Slightly off topic question, we will be in Kenya, doing a mix of photo stuff and family stuff (school and village visits, probably some roadside shopping). I'll take some US Dollars for tipping at the lodge and drivers. But I figure I should get some Kenyan Schillings for village visits and any village purchases and the like. How many schillings do you guys normally take, and what denomination seem to work good? Apparently $500USD is $65000KES, so I definitely don't want to take a bunch of $1s! Just thought I'd get some advice before I order some Schillings at my bank.
Standby, I'll be back with gear questions in a few weeks!
Cduff406 wrote:
My trip is getting closer every day and my excitement is building exponentially! Slightly off topic question, we will be in Kenya, doing a mix of photo stuff and family stuff (school and village visits, probably some roadside shopping). I'll take some US Dollars for tipping at the lodge and drivers. But I figure I should get some Kenyan Schillings for village visits and any village purchases and the like. How many schillings do you guys normally take, and what denomination seem to work good? Apparently $500USD is $65000KES, so I definitely don't want to take a bunch of $1s! Just thought I'd get some advice before I order some Schillings at my bank.
Standby, I'll be back with gear questions in a few weeks!
Take US Dollars. Never needed any local money. Take some crayons and coloring books, pencils, and stuff for kids in the villages. Take a bunch of ones. I took $500 with 50/1s, 20/5s. the rest 20s. kids along the road, note the dollar for the photo by Alan Kefauver, on Flickr
and never change money in the USA for a foreign currency (unless you are friends with the bank's vice president(s)). There is always a money change place in the airport...
I have this Private Tour with Private Game Drives in August and need some advise
Day 1 - Arusha - Tarangire
Day 2 - Ngorongoro
Day 3 - Central Serengeti
Day 4 - Northern Serengeti
Day 5 - Central Serengeti
Day 6 - Central Serengeti - Drive back to Arusha
1) Should I go to Masai Mara from Nairobi for at least 2 days ( Am i missing a lot if I don't go to Masai Mara, is there much better and scenic vs Serengeti ?)
2 Should I at least visit Amboseli for 2 days from Nairobi or Moshi - Tanzania.
Which Park will make more sense following my first Safari. I care mostly about scenic places but of course animals are also very important
