berimbolo wrote:
Can you rent a 400 F2.8 (EF or RF) or the 100-300 F2.8?
A 70-200 2.8 comes in handy at the beginning and end of the day and for close sightings. I always have a 70-200 2.8 on my second body and the 100-500 on my primary body. I would be fine only taking those 2 lenses for shooting while on safari.
safaridude wrote:
I just booked a Chobe River Photo tour for July 2025 with Ann and Steve Toon. I like their smaller group and Steve has been super responsive with any question. Will have a full report later. I am taking two R5 and have the following lenses: RF 100-500, RF 24-105, RF 100 Macro 2.8 and RF 16. While the RF 24-105 is for general walkabout photography, I am wondering if the RF 100-500 f 4.5-7.1 might be too slow for very early morning and late PM shots. Is it worth getting a 70-200 at 2.8 for those twilight shots? And how will the RF 100 at 2.8 do for the same? The domiciliary CFO simply chuckled at the Canon lenses costing $ 9K....Show more →
Definitely bring a 70-200 f/2.8, it's a key safari lens to match with your longer glass.
Robjwilli wrote:
Hi Alan, have you been on a Pangolin trip before? I have been looking at their Chobe trip over the last few days.
Thanks, Rob
This will be my third trip with Pangolin. The Chobe/Okavango Delta/ Kalihari is a fine tour. I also did the Great Migration, Kenya, and am doing Epic Kenya one in February.
I'm planning my first trip to Africa next fall. Currently working on a month long itinerary in Aug/Sept. I've talked with several tour companies and found Pangolin and C4 Photo Safaris to be the most helpful and knowledgeable. Other groups that weren't photo focused (eg Expert Africa) really seemed to struggle in early conversations.
I'm wondering if this agrees with others' observations?? What other groups do you recommend contacting that also have a strong focus on photography?
I went through the same decision making it sounds like. But I was taking my family with me also, and I was worried that a "photo" camp wouldn't offer them as much to do as a regular camp. So we ended up going with regular, non-photo, camps and the experience was amazing. We stayed at two Great Plains camps and then a few days in Lewa. But I had private vehicles at each camp, and I had guides that were extremely knowledgeable about photography and always made sure we were in the best position for photos. I think that made as much difference as anything else. We saw quite a few other tour groups, and I definitely wouldn't want to be in a shared vehicle with non-photographers. I can't recommend Great Plains high enough, but I wouldn't be afraid to book with a non-photo tour if you could be sure to get a private vehicle. But my experiences are pretty limited so take that with a grain of salt...
downhillonwater wrote:
I'm planning my first trip to Africa next fall. Currently working on a month long itinerary in Aug/Sept. I've talked with several tour companies and found Pangolin and C4 Photo Safaris to be the most helpful and knowledgeable. Other groups that weren't photo focused (eg Expert Africa) really seemed to struggle in early conversations.
I'm wondering if this agrees with others' observations?? What other groups do you recommend contacting that also have a strong focus on photography?
Thanks for your help.
Another photo-centric tour operator to look at is Wild Eye. I've done a couple of their trips. They have an extensive list of set-date departures and they will also put together a custom trip. Their Mara camp and Madikwe trips off very good value. The rest of their trips are priced in line with competitors like Pangolin. Probably not anymore that any itinerary ExpertAfrica would suggest.
If you are very serious about photography I suggest you do a trip aimed at photographers if budget allows. Photo-centric trips often do cost more because they typically put fewer people in the vehicles. An alternative is to do as Cduf406 did and get a private vehicle.
downhillonwater- whatever provider you choose you want to make sure you will be in open-side vehicles. Most camps use open-sided vehicles. On the other hand, overland (drive-in) tours must use vehicles with full sides and windows. These are very restrictive for a serious photographer.
Yes, I will second that suggestion on making sure they have open vehicles. That's not something I had given much thought until I got there and realized how important that was. We used vehicles that were completely open except the back and post at the front corners, but at Lewa we had to use a closed vehicle with just windows for a day, and boy, what a difference. Some of the newer vehicles had doors that opened a full 180 degrees, and I was able to sit on the floor with my legs out the door on the running board to get my camera lower. Makes a big difference.
Thank you all for your responses. I will take my 100-500 and rent the 70-300 lens 2.8 . I have a 5D with a wide angle zoom for landscape. That should do it.
downhillonwater wrote:
I'm planning my first trip to Africa next fall. Currently working on a month long itinerary in Aug/Sept. I've talked with several tour companies and found Pangolin and C4 Photo Safaris to be the most helpful and knowledgeable. Other groups that weren't photo focused (eg Expert Africa) really seemed to struggle in early conversations.
I'm wondering if this agrees with others' observations?? What other groups do you recommend contacting that also have a strong focus on photography?
Thanks for your help.
I wouldn't suggest going the "photo safari" route unless:
1. You are going on a very unique specialty safari with a small group, like hiking, camping, etc
2. You are looking for a photographer to teach you photography skills while out in the African bush
It sounds like you are going to spend big bucks in the prime months of the high season, and I would not spend extra for a "photo guided" tour if you are one who's confident with your photography skills. Spend the extra money on visiting the top camps and getting your own private vehicle. It's usually a wash when you compare pricing between a photo guided tour, and going to a top camp and getting your own vehicle. There's nothing better than being able to position your vehicle anywhere you want, vs having other type A's in your vehicle who have their own ideas about which angle to shoot from.
I think there's a big misconception that these pro "photo guides" are the ones who will find the animals and get you the shot. No, that's not the case as they are just along for the ride like you and everyone else. It's the local silver rated guides who work at the camps you're staying at who do all the tracking and find the magic. These guides are so damn good at what they do it will blow your mind. So when you have your own vehicle you are assigned your own guide and he/she will drive you to the magic. Then, it's up to you to tell him how you want the vehicle positioned, and they are happy to do it. "back, back, little farther, okay almost there, stop, okay 2ft forward, etc". With your own vehicle you have space to move around from side to side and front to back, and bring as much gear as you want. And, you can stay out in the bush as long as you want instead of having other photographers in your vehicle who want to go back to camp to eat or rest. There's just nothing else like getting your own private vehicle.
What I have found with watching some of the "photo safari" vehicles is that once they are on a mediocre sighting they get stuck there because there's always someone wanting to get that 2000th photo of the cheetah laying in tall grass with bad lighting. Meanwhile across the plains, there's a beautifully lit sighting with no other vehicles around and that can be you, scoring the shots before the other vehicles are called in.
If you haven't been over there yet I know it might sound a bit risky to go on your own without a photo guide, but you just have to trust others who can tell you the best camps will produce all the goods you''ll ever need and you don't need to pay a photo guide to score. Build a relationship with your guide at camp and tip them well after they put you in the right spot, time after time, after time.
If you are one who's still learning and wants guidance on how to shoot the animals, then by all means go the photo safari route.
artsupreme wrote:
I wouldn't suggest going the "photo safari" route unless:
1. You are going on a very unique specialty safari with a small group, like hiking, camping, etc
2. You are looking for a photographer to teach you photography skills while out in the African bush
It sounds like you are going to spend big bucks in the prime months of the high season, and I would not spend extra for a "photo guided" tour if you are one who's confident with your photography skills. Spend the extra money on visiting the top camps and getting your own private vehicle. It's usually a wash when you compare pricing between a photo guided tour, and going to a top camp and getting your own vehicle. There's nothing better than being able to position your vehicle anywhere you want, vs having other type A's in your vehicle who have their own ideas about which angle to shoot from.
I think there's a big misconception that these pro "photo guides" are the ones who will find the animals and get you the shot. No, that's not the case as they are just along for the ride like you and everyone else. It's the local silver rated guides who work at the camps you're staying at who do all the tracking and find the magic. These guides are so damn good at what they do it will blow your mind. So when you have your own vehicle you are assigned your own guide and he/she will drive you to the magic. Then, it's up to you to tell him how you want the vehicle positioned, and they are happy to do it. "back, back, little farther, okay almost there, stop, okay 2ft forward, etc". With your own vehicle you have space to move around from side to side and front to back, and bring as much gear as you want. And, you can stay out in the bush as long as you want instead of having other photographers in your vehicle who want to go back to camp to eat or rest. There's just nothing else like getting your own private vehicle.
What I have found with watching some of the "photo safari" vehicles is that once they are on a mediocre sighting they get stuck there because there's always someone wanting to get that 2000th photo of the cheetah laying in tall grass with bad lighting. Meanwhile across the plains, there's a beautifully lit sighting with no other vehicles around and that can be you, scoring the shots before the other vehicles are called in.
If you haven't been over there yet I know it might sound a bit risky to go on your own without a photo guide, but you just have to trust others who can tell you the best camps will produce all the goods you''ll ever need and you don't need to pay a photo guide to score. Build a relationship with your guide at camp and tip them well after they put you in the right spot, time after time, after time.
If you are one who's still learning and wants guidance on how to shoot the animals, then by all means go the photo safari route.
Thanks! This is exactly the kind of advice I am seeking.
Right now, I've got 3 groups who've put together itinerary.
Expert Africa - Person creating itinerary is not a photog and seems to be struggling.
Pangolin - Came back quickly with itinerary that pieced together their existing workshops. Includes dedicated photog guides and multi person vehicles but "everyone gets a window seat"
C4 Photo - skilled photographer creating itinerary for me. Guides are from the camps. I think this may be what you're describing.
C4 is the direction I'm leaning and your message has further supported that.
A question I have right now:
Are there other groups similar to C4 Photo that I should be reaching out to?
downhillonwater wrote:
Thanks! This is exactly the kind of advice I am seeking.
Right now, I've got 3 groups who've put together itinerary.
Expert Africa - Person creating itinerary is not a photog and seems to be struggling.
Pangolin - Came back quickly with itinerary that pieced together their existing workshops. Includes dedicated photog guides and multi person vehicles but "everyone gets a window seat"
C4 Photo - skilled photographer creating itinerary for me. Guides are from the camps. I think this isnwhat you're describing.
C4 is the direction I'm leaning and your message has further supported that.
A question I have right now:
Are there other groups similar to C4 Photo that I should be reaching out to?
1. You are going on a very unique specialty safari with a small group, like hiking, camping, etc
2. You are looking for a photographer to teach you photography skills while out in the African bush
vbnut wrote:
Do you consider Pangolin a "photo safari"?
It depends where you are going and what safari package you are picking, but Pangolin is one of the more reasonable TO's. When looking at a package, always look to see what you can get going direct with your own private vehicle, and if it's cheaper to go direct I would go that route instead of sharing a vehicle.
I'm going on a hunting Safari next months and planing to take Nikon Z8, 24-120 F4 and 180-600. Along that I will be taking Insta360 Go 3S for POV shots and I also bought insta360 X4 but in my limited testing, I'm not sold on it, as I'm not getting expected results. Maybe that because this is my first foray in 360 photography.
So I'm thinking getting Rx100 VII instead to use exclusively for video and as a backup for my main camera. Rx100 is small enough that it won't require me to change my current backpack setup. What do you guys suggest?
