Amuchnick1 wrote:
For those of you who have visited East Africa and traveled from the US, do you have any tips on fighting jet lag? How big of a factor is it on enjoying the first few days you're there?
8 hours difference is difficult enough on its own - when you add in the fact that you may waking up at dawn local time in the bush, I can imagine its pretty tough.
Thinking about flying direct JFK-NBO and wondering if one full day and one night in Nairobi is enough to get somewhat acclimated
Each person is different, but here is what I have found that helps me generally. Buy a business class ticket if you can afford it so that you can lay flat and sleep for the long-haul flight over the ocean. When you board the flight from the US to Europe (or perhaps Dubai), skip the meal and try to get to sleep as soon as possible on the flight. This helps in a couple of ways. The first being that it helps in the process of getting your body adjusted to the new time zone and it also helps you to be less sleep-deprived upon arrival. Have breakfast on the plane and stay awake on the next long haul flight that gets you to Nairobi or other airport. If you fly direct from the US to Nairobi, the same would apply as far as sleeping and getting onto the local time as quickly as possible. Also, stay hydrated - it makes a huge difference.
I have only been to East Africa once, but I used the same technique that I have started to use when I go to Europe since the jet lag is about the same. Upon arrival, spend a few days somewhere where you can be outside and engaged. In Europe, I like to find places where I can spend an entire day walking around and this helps tremendously with jet lag. When I flew into Nairobi this year, I spent a few days at Ololo Safari Lodge in Nairobi National Park and that was perfect. The lodge itself is nice with lovely grounds and morning and afternoon game drives are included in the cost, so those get you engaged and into the local time zone quickly. I still had to fight getting so tired in the afternoon, but it was not nearly as debilitating as it could have been.
I just left Samburu, Kenya which has always been a wonderful place to go, but due to heavy, unusual rains found almost no game around during the three day stay. In total I only saw two lions, a few giraffes, etc after long and tiring game drives. In the past most of the animals stayed close to the river to have access to water, this time they dispersed very widely and were very hard to find.
I hope things return to normal soon for the sake of the locals who depend on safari tourism!
In contrast, I’m in Mara North now and it has been great so far. ...Show more →
Mara North delivers. Hopefully you are scoring some leopard action.
VKM2F wrote:
Thanks for the heads up. I'm heading not far away to Laikipia in January and then Amboseli afterwards and am hopeful rain doesn't disrupt things. Climate change has thrown much of the traditional weather patterns out the window.
Last year was crazy with all the deluges as it was an El Niño pattern. Laikipia and Amboseli in January are usually great but nowadays it's a full roll of the dice with the unpredictable weather patterns. Good luck!
I'm trying to decide if Im going to buy the 300GM for my next trip to Kenya. I dont expect to use the lens much when Im not traveling, but it seems so so useful for Kenya. Its hard to rent gear in Canada, so that is not really an option.
Right now I'll be taking:
Sony A1
Sony A1ii
600GM
70-200GM
200-600G
Maybe something wide (I have space and weight).
Has anyone been to the Mavela Game Lodge? They are located in the Manyoni Game Reserve in KwaZulu Natal (South Africa). We were offered a significant discount when we inquired, so we booked six nights...since we were staying just down the road in the iSimangaliso Wetland Park (Natural Heritage site) and nearby False Bay...
berimbolo wrote:
I'm trying to decide if Im going to buy the 300GM for my next trip to Kenya. I dont expect to use the lens much when Im not traveling, but it seems so so useful for Kenya. Its hard to rent gear in Canada, so that is not really an option.
Right now I'll be taking:
Sony A1
Sony A1ii
600GM
70-200GM
200-600G
Maybe something wide (I have space and weight).
I am heading to South Africa next week with:
A9iii
A7Rv
300mm
1.4TC
2.0TC
70-200mm 2.9 GMii
I've been testing out the 300mm bare and with both TC and it's performed incredibly well.
robert_in_ca wrote:
I am heading to South Africa next week with:
A9iii
A7Rv
300mm
1.4TC
2.0TC
70-200mm 2.9 GMii
I've been testing out the 300mm bare and with both TC and it's performed incredibly well.
I think it would be super useful because of how light it is, but it would be $7000 CAD out of pocket for me after selling my 200-600. At this point I'm leaning towards buying one for the trip and selling it when I get back
berimbolo wrote:
I'm trying to decide if Im going to buy the 300GM for my next trip to Kenya. I dont expect to use the lens much when Im not traveling, but it seems so so useful for Kenya. Its hard to rent gear in Canada, so that is not really an option.
Right now I'll be taking:
Sony A1
Sony A1ii
600GM
70-200GM
200-600G
Maybe something wide (I have space and weight).
If you can buy the 300 and sell it for a minor loss when you get home that would be the call for me. I would put a 70-200 on one body and the put the 300+1.4x @ 420mm on the other body and run it like that most of the time, and then alternate between 300 and 600 with and without the TC's when needed. You can bring your setup above with the 600 which is perfectly fine and a better choice if you shoot birds, but if shooting mammals I would prefer something in the 400 range to shoot along side the 70-200.
My original setup was a 70-200, 200-400 f/4, and a 400 2.8. I ended up using the 70-200 and 400 most of the time. And when the 100-300 came out, my setup became a 100-300 on one body and the 400 on the other body. I include my 70-200 on a 3rd body which I used often as well. If the 100-300 wasn't available to me my setup would still be the 70-200 and 400 for safari in Kenya. I'm sure you know that you usually have plenty of time to add/remove TC's in the field if you need to, so changing from 300/420/600 not a problem most of the time.
Bring a small wide angle prime or zoom if you have one. Like the equivalent of the Canon RF16 or RF14-35. You won't use it much but it's good for taking some stocking stuffers of trees/landcruiser/sunsets, etc.
artsupreme wrote:
If you can buy the 300 and sell it for a minor loss when you get home that would be the call for me. I would put a 70-200 on one body and the put the 300+1.4x @ 420mm on the other body and run it like that most of the time, and then alternate between 300 and 600 with and without the TC's when needed. You can bring your setup above with the 600 which is perfectly fine and a better choice if you shoot birds, but if shooting mammals I would prefer something in the 400 range to shoot along side the 70-200.
My original setup was a 70-200, 200-400 f/4, and a 400 2.8. I ended up using the 70-200 and 400 most of the time. And when the 100-300 came out, my setup became a 100-300 on one body and the 400 on the other body. I include my 70-200 on a 3rd body which I used often as well. If the 100-300 wasn't available to me my setup would still be the 70-200 and 400 for safari in Kenya. I'm sure you know that you usually have plenty of time to add/remove TC's in the field if you need to, so changing from 300/420/600 not a problem most of the time.
Bring a small wide angle prime or zoom if you have one. Like the equivalent of the Canon RF16 or RF14-35. You won't use it much but it's good for taking some stocking stuffers of trees/landcruiser/sunsets, etc....Show more →
I think the loss on the 300 would be close to 3000 CAD. I'm not going to buy one. If crossing the border is hassle free post Trump, I'll rent one from the US.
I am leaving this weekend for my annual trip to Kenya. I am currently looking at taking the two A1s, the 400 GM, 135GM, 50GM and the 20G plus a 1.4x teleconverter. I'm on the fence with the 300 this year as well as the 70-200GM II. I find it easier to use the primes but I have a little space in the bag that the 70-200 or 300 can still fit! If I took the 70-200 I would skip the 135 and 50.
guitardirky wrote:
I am leaving this weekend for my annual trip to Kenya. I am currently looking at taking the two A1s, the 400 GM, 135GM, 50GM and the 20G plus a 1.4x teleconverter. I'm on the fence with the 300 this year as well as the 70-200GM II. I find it easier to use the primes but I have a little space in the bag that the 70-200 or 300 can still fit! If I took the 70-200 I would skip the 135 and 50.
I would take the 70-200 instead of the 135GM and 50GM, unless you think you'll make use of the wider apertures
I just got back from Botwana where we did 3 days on the Chobe River and National Park and then 4 days in the Okavango Delta. I also debated on whether to take the 300 GM (my favorite lens) or if I should go with the 400 GM. (I don't have the 600 GM so that wasn't a question for me).
Here's a histogram (of sorts) of what my final image counts ended up with each camera/lens combination. Maybe this will help someone.
Gear:
Sony RX100 VII
Sony A1 (usually with 400/2.8 GM)
Sony A7R5 (usually with 70-200/2.8 GM II)
Teleconverters: 1.4x and 2.0x
Lens Histograms
Various (iPhone 15 Pro): 72 photos
24-200 (RX100 VII): 10
70-200/2.8: 83
70-200/2.8+1.4x (open-door helicopter flight): 20
70-200/2.8+2.0x: 35 (single camera drive from airstrip)
400/2.8: 189
400/2.8+1.4x: 257
Now that I'm back, I'm very happy with my decision. I didn't miss having the 300 and really liked the extra stop of light with the 400 for the early morning golden hour shots.
Hawkmoooon wrote:
I just got back from Botwana where we did 3 days on the Chobe River and National Park and then 4 days in the Okavango Delta. I also debated on whether to take the 300 GM (my favorite lens) or if I should go with the 400 GM. (I don't have the 600 GM so that wasn't a question for me).
Here's a histogram (of sorts) of what my final image counts ended up with each camera/lens combination. Maybe this will help someone.
Gear:
Sony RX100 VII
Sony A1 (usually with 400/2.8 GM)
Sony A7R5 (usually with 70-200/2.8 GM II)
Teleconverters: 1.4x and 2.0x
Lens Histograms
Various (iPhone 15 Pro): 72 photos
24-200 (RX100 VII): 10
70-200/2.8: 83
70-200/2.8+1.4x (open-door helicopter flight): 20
70-200/2.8+2.0x: 35 (single camera drive from airstrip)
400/2.8: 189
400/2.8+1.4x: 257
Now that I'm back, I'm very happy with my decision. I didn't miss having the 300 and really liked the extra stop of light with the 400 for the early morning golden hour shots....Show more →
I rarely miss a lens I don't bring along. I recognize that there will be shots I can't get with the kit I have on me (not just in Africa), but its fun to work a scene with what you have.
I thought I'd regret not taking the 200-600 to Grand Teton NP because 600F4 is a bit tight for moose, but it forced me to try some things that worked out really well.
berimbolo wrote:
I rarely miss a lens I don't bring along. I recognize that there will be shots I can't get with the kit I have on me (not just in Africa), but its fun to work a scene with what you have.
I thought I'd regret not taking the 200-600 to Grand Teton NP because 600F4 is a bit tight for moose, but it forced me to try some things that worked out really well.
