artsupreme wrote:
If you are primarily a birder I would definitely make sure to get your own vehicle to avoid conflict with other passengers who are after big cats or the big five.
Yes, as it stands, we will be staying 4 nights at Inyati, and 2 nights at Umkumbe. And I am paying extra for private vehicles for all game drives except 2 at Inyati (due to lack of availability). So, in total, we should have 10 private and 2 shared game drives.
And I would have done this regardless. It was a bit of a challenge though finding lodges that are not ultra expensive and also offer private vehicles.
While I primarily shoot birds, I do still very much hope to see and photograph the magnificent seven! I certainly am not looking at this as a bird photography trip
cambyses wrote:
Yes, as it stands, we will be staying 4 nights at Inyati, and 2 nights at Umkumbe. And I am paying extra for private vehicles for all game drives except 2 at Inyati (due to lack of availability). So, in total, we should have 10 private and 2 shared game drives.
And I would have done this regardless. It was a bit of a challenge though finding lodges that are not ultra expensive and also offer private vehicles.
While I primarily shoot birds, I do still very much hope to see and photograph the magnificent seven! I certainly am not looking at this as a bird photography trip ...Show more →
Nice! You are going to love having your own vehicle. There’s no better way for photography. Have a great trip and I hope you get some good leopard action.
VKM2F wrote:
Hi all. Just got back from Kenya yesterday and struggling significantly with the jet lag! Posted some of the images I captured in the Nature & Wildlife forum here:
Wow, absolutely wonderful images! I love the eles on the lake. I was there two weeks ago and the lake was still a bit wet, got stuck once but my guide managed to pull us out. Little to no activity there as even the eles found it difficult I guess.
Saw Craig too, he is so docile and calm, absolute treat to photograph, did not get a good shot with Kili though and he was mostly in bushy areas.
I've never been to Laikipia, must put that on the list for next time.
VKM2F wrote:
Giza's cubs are both spotted, I was told.
The lake bed was quite accessible as Jan/Feb is the short dry season. The couple of days of rain was very unusual and made some of it too wet to pass, unfortunately. The elephants come and go as they please and head in all directions so I often found them in other areas as well.
Thanks for the kind words!
It sounds like you got a llittle window of dry lakebed when you were there. I have been checking on it since November and it hasn't been accessible with crossings through mid January when I last checked in. So after seeing your note I checked in again last night and my buddy said yes, it dried up for a couple weeks but now it's under water again. Here's some cell phone photos from yesterday after the heavy rains, and a photo of Craig from yesterday too.
Primus wrote:
Wow, absolutely wonderful images! I love the eles on the lake. I was there two weeks ago and the lake was still a bit wet, got stuck once but my guide managed to pull us out. Little to no activity there as even the eles found it difficult I guess.
Saw Craig too, he is so docile and calm, absolute treat to photograph, did not get a good shot with Kili though and he was mostly in bushy areas.
I've never been to Laikipia, must put that on the list for next time.
Thanks, Primus! Yes, Craig really is a pleasure to spend time with. That was a highlight for me.
I first heard about her from Vincent ( @Vinnie_VdB ) in this thread. I had been in touch with several tour operators—including Good Earth Tours, andBeyond, and African Safari Group—but Natasha stood out because she was the only one willing to provide detailed, itemized pricing for every component of the trip: lodges, private vehicle, road transfers, regional flights, etc. This transparency allowed me to compare her quotes with published rates online and book certain elements myself to optimize our itinerary and minimize costs—a flexibility that other companies didn’t offer.
In the end, my total cost was several thousand dollars lower than the packaged rates I had received elsewhere, for similar (or arguably worse) itineraries.
Natasha is based in Cape Town, and I can’t speak to her expertise on other parts of Africa, but if you're planning a trip to South Africa, I highly recommend reaching out to her—just tell her Kambiz sent you! 😊 She has apparently helped Vincent multiple times, and while I haven’t taken my trip yet, I’m pretty sure she’ll remember my name after all the back-and-forth we had over WhatsApp, email, and phone calls these past few days while fine-tuning the perfect itinerary!
I first heard about her from Vincent ( @Vinnie_VdB@ ) in this thread. I had been in touch with several tour operators—including Good Earth Tours, andBeyond, and African Safari Group—but Natasha stood out because she was the only one willing to provide detailed, itemized pricing for every component of the trip: lodges, private vehicle, road transfers, regional flights, etc. This transparency allowed me to compare her quotes with published rates online and book certain elements myself to optimize our itinerary and minimize costs—a flexibility that other companies didn’t offer.
In the end, my total cost was several thousand dollars lower than the packaged rates I had received elsewhere, for similar (or arguably worse) itineraries.
Natasha is based in Cape Town, and I can’t speak to her expertise on other parts of Africa, but if you're planning a trip to South Africa, I highly recommend reaching out to her—just tell her Kambiz sent you! 😊 She has apparently helped Vincent multiple times, and while I haven’t taken my trip yet, I’m pretty sure she’ll remember my name after all the back-and-forth we had over WhatsApp, email, and phone calls these past few days while fine-tuning the perfect itinerary!...Show more →
Great stuff Kambiz. Natasha is indeed a gem, not only very transparent but efficient and knowledgeable as well. Ever since my very first safari back in 2013/2014 was she always my go-to travel consultant for South(ern) African safaris (must be over 30 times by now).
Enjoy the trip but one word of warning, it is addictive
Primus wrote:
With the monopod, it is usually best not to take it with you anywhere in Africa, but strangely, in Sabi Sands, some of the vehicles do not have a window sill or a bar in the right place, so no place to keep your bean bags or rest your cameras. You then have to hand hold the rig, which can be painful after a while. So perhaps this is the only place where a monopod would be useful. At least that was my experience.
Speaking of monopod, after watching a couple of clips on Safari photography, I think I will probably take it. The best use I have seen for a monopod in Safari is to use it upside down in order to lower the camera on the side of the vehicle to get more eye level or ground level shots of the animals when possible.
cambyses wrote:
Speaking of monopod, after watching a couple of clips on Safari photography, I think I will probably take it. The best use I have seen for a monopod in Safari is to use it upside down in order to lower the camera on the side of the vehicle to get more eye level or ground level shots of the animals when possible.
If you are fit enough, it's way easier to just hang over the side and you can use your LCD. I've done it both ways and I won't bring a monopod back again.
The problem with Turkish Airways to/from Nairobi is that the flight times are horrible.
You get into Nairobi at 3:35 am and depart from Nairobi at 5 am.
I've traveled several times on Kenya Airways, direct from JFK to NBO. The seats and service are average, but it is a direct flight and takes about 13 hours eastwards and 14 hrs westwards. The fare can be had as low as $3200-$3500. The problem is they do not go every day of the week. Timing is not bad, departure from JFK around 1.45 PM and arrival NBO at 11 AM, plenty of time to take a bush flight out of Wilson to the camps. Return is 11.30 PM NBO, arrival JFK 6 AM or so. They are having some mechanical problems lately, but beats layovers in Europe or elsewhere.
FWIW, I tried a different route last month, went Air France EWR to CDG to NBO and return for $3450 but there was a 5-6 hr layover at CDG both ways. Overall I would rather go KQ even if the food and aircraft with AF is slightly better. Cannot beat a direct flight.
My wife and I traveled to Botswana last year on KQ - JFK-NBO-JNB, very convenient. Had to take another flight from JNB to Kasane, but you got to do that any way.
as an alternate Airline - look at Ethiopian Airlines - they are good...the faster way to get to southern Africa is a United Air flight Newark to Capetown...but much more expensive than Eastern USA/Europe/Southern Africa.
In JBerg it is possible to rent a vehicle and go one way to Maun or Kasane (Botswana) - about 14 hr drive (so one stops halfway and overnites). Why? you can bring much more luggage this way than on the short flight Jberg-Maun (and the cost works out the same for two people).
Deb and I have flown business class via Lufthansa NYC-Germany-Namibia. The Germany-Namibia segment was not a great experience (narrow seats that did not allow me to lie completely flat because the foot area was too narrow and not long enough...and I'm 6"1').
Last year to fly to Australia we saved several thousand dollars each by flying NYC to Toronto (American; First Class) and then United Polaris Toronto/San Fran/Sydney. Polaris is touted as being a great flying experience...it was OK. Anyway, my point being here is if you think outside the box (and major NA cities) for getting to your destination, you can save a lot of money.
For example, if you fly NYC to Spain (Madrid eg; or even Portugal), you can get a very good price on a flight to East/Southern Africa so that it comes out to about $3200 RT rather than about $5k (all business flights/per person) by flying one airline all the way through NYC/Europe/Africa. You will be flying two different airlines (save money but lose time), and perhaps going through customs/immigration...If need be just get a hotel room in the airport and stay overnight...or use the high end CC to get lounge access and spend time there. Lounges usually have showers and places to sleep (cubicles). The Turkish Airlines lounge in Istanbul is our favorite one for that...
Think outside the box...look where no one else is looking...We're off to Northern Minnesota for Great Grey Owls Monday - it is an irruption year.
rdcny wrote:
as an alternate Airline - look at Ethiopian Airlines - they are good...the faster way to get to southern Africa is a United Air flight Newark to Capetown...but much more expensive than Eastern USA/Europe/Southern Africa.
In JBerg it is possible to rent a vehicle and go one way to Maun (Botswana) - about 14 hr drive (so one stops halfway and overnites). Why? you can bring much more luggage this way than on the short flight Jberg-Maun (and the cost works out the same for two people).
Deb and I have flown business class via Lufthansa NYC-Germany-Namibia. The Germany-Namibia segment was not a great experience (narrow seats that did not allow me to lie completely flat because the foot area was too narrow and not long enough...and I'm 6"1').
Last year to fly to Australia we saved several thousand dollars each by flying NYC to Toronto (American; First Class) and then United Polaris Toronto/San Fran/Sydney. Polaris is touted as being a great flying experience...it was OK. Anyway, my point being here is if you think outside the box (and major NA cities) for getting to your destination, you can save a lot of money.
For example, if you fly NYC to Spain (Madrid eg; or even Portugal), you can get a very good price on a flight to East/Southern Africa so that it comes out to about $3200 RT rather than about $5k (all business flights/per person) by flying one airline all the way through NYC/Europe/Africa. You will be flying two different airlines (save money but lose time), and perhaps going through customs/immigration...If need be just get a hotel room in the airport and stay overnight...or use the high end CC to get lounge access and spend time there. Lounges usually have showers and places to sleep (cubicles). The Turkish Airlines lounge in Istanbul is our favorite one for that...
Think outside the box...look where no one else is looking...We're off to Northern Minnesota for Great Grey Owls Monday - it is an irruption year.
I'll second Ethiopian. I flew Vancouver-Toronto-Addis Ababa on Ethiopian and it wasn't bad. The plane was a bit tired but the service and food was good (Ethiopian injera for dinner was such a nice departure from typical airplane food!). Transferring at the airport in Addis was a bit of an adventure, though.
Turkish's lounge in Istanbul is a very nice place to pass time as well, I agree. I have a high status with Air Canada (Star Alliance) but I've found Air Canada/Lufthansa to Africa, which is the most common path for where I am, is not competitively priced. Add to that most of Lufthansa's planes still have their old business class setup which is terrible value for money compared to pretty much every other airline.
rdcny wrote:
Deb and I have flown business class via Lufthansa NYC-Germany-Namibia. The Germany-Namibia segment was not a great experience (narrow seats that did not allow me to lie completely flat because the foot area was too narrow and not long enough...and I'm 6"1').
I have this same flight coming up in June and also flying business class. From what I can tell, the flight is operated by a budget branch of Lufthansa. I won’t have the same issue as you did since you are tall, but I do hope that they don’t go too far of the budget aspects.
Yes...a subsidiary airline flys that Germany to Namibia segment- so if you get FF miles, check where you can deposit them. I remember something odd about how the process worked...or the mileage earned...different than Lufthansa proper.
"I have this same flight coming up in June [Germany to Namibia] and also flying business class. From what I can tell, the flight is operated by a budget branch of Lufthansa. I won’t have the same issue as you did since you are tall, but I do hope that they don’t go too far of the budget aspects." Abuttolph
Getting close to my safari date. Flying out on the 25th. I decided to go "all out" since I've never been to Africa and experience has taught me that you never know what the future holds. Since I'll be going during the rainy season and it sounds like there should be good birding activity, I decided to go against the grain and rent the 600 f/4. I'll be doing the Chobe stay at their hotel (Pangolin.)
Gear List
a1 gripped (version II wasn't available for rental in time)
a7r V gripped
16-35 f/4
70-200 f/2.8 II
600 f/4
1.4 tc
I'm getting excited and hoping that my decision to take the 600 pays off with some good birding opportunities.
40Driggs wrote:
Getting close to my safari date. Flying out on the 25th. I decided to go "all out" since I've never been to Africa and experience has taught me that you never know what the future holds. Since I'll be going during the rainy season and it sounds like there should be good birding activity, I decided to go against the grain and rent the 600 f/4. I'll be doing the Chobe stay at their hotel (Pangolin.)
Gear List
a1 gripped (version II wasn't available for rental in time)
a7r V gripped
16-35 f/4
70-200 f/2.8 II
600 f/4
1.4 tc
I'm getting excited and hoping that my decision to take the 600 pays off with some good birding opportunities....Show more →
Good list! Enjoy your trip!
I, too, have decided to take my 600mm f/4 given that I expect to shoot some birds and also given that I do like close-up shots of animals. And it is hard to beat the IQ out of the 600/4. So my gear will include three cameras, A1, A7RV, and A9II, attached to three lenses, 600/4, 200-600, and Tamron 35-150. I have 16-35 f/2.8 but I really don't see myself ever going wider than 35mm in Africa, or I can use 28mm with our travel "point and shoot" Leica Q.
As for battery grips, I have them but I'll probably leave them at home. It just adds weight and offers marginal benefit, if any, for handheld wildlife shooting, IMHO.
Good list! Enjoy your trip!
I, too, have decided to take my 600mm f/4 given that I expect to shoot some birds and also given that I do like close-up shots of animals. And it is hard to beat the IQ out of the 600/4. So my gear will include three cameras, A1, A7RV, and A9II, attached to three lenses, 600/4, 200-600, and Tamron 35-150. I have 16-35 f/2.8 but I really don't see myself ever going wider than 35mm in Africa, or I can use 28mm with our travel "point and shoot" Leica Q.
As for battery grips, I have them but I'll probably leave them at home. It just adds weight and offers marginal benefit, if any, for handheld wildlife shooting, IMHO. ...Show more →
Thanks!
I rented the grips so I wouldn't have to stress about battery life or messing with changing out batteries. We'll see how I like them, since I have never owned a battery grip actually for the reasons you mention.
