Over the past 10 years there have been a rapid growth in travel influencers and blogging careers and more travelers are entering into wildlife and landscape photography either as a side hustle or for contents in their social media handles and blogs.  With a longlist of attractions ranging from excellent landscapes, beautiful coastline and plenty wildlife and birding ecosystems; Africa is undoubtedly the best choice for both established and amateur photographers. In this article we are going to provides important points that will guide you through a successful photography safari in Africa.

Important points for complete beginners

If you are a complete newbie you ought to understand that photography is a skill you develop overtime. The learning process will be quite easy when you follow the following steps.

• Ensure you have the best camera. Wildlife photography is way different from normal photography as it not only calls for quality photos but also a high focusing speed and autofocus to ensure you are able to take a perfect shot of the subject in the quickest time possible. It is also preferable that your camera is adjustable to burst mode to help you capture several poses at a go.
• Get the best lenses. Your lenses must match your focus range preferably not anything more than 600 mm. It should also have a wide aperture to fetch enough light in low light conditions.
• Learn how to operate your camera. This includes knowing how to operate in low light condition.
• Practice with your home environment. Take some photos of flower gardens, plantations and pets. This will grow your familiarity with your camera body.

Experts guide for Africa photography safari

How to plan

With most of the wildlife films you might have come across set in Africa, the continent is undoubtedly the best place to capture those moments that will earn you the photography badge. To achieve this planning and understanding your potential destinations is as important as making that sharp photo. In this section we shall discuss different consideration you should make when planning your trip.

• Whether the parks allow open sided or rooftop 4×4 safari vehicles. Open-sided vehicle are better for photography. However, you will still capture the moments in a rooftop 4X4 safari land cruisers. South African destinations allow open sided vehicles in public reserves. However, in East Africa there are more restrictions especially in major parks where there are climbing animals like leopards and baboons.
• Whether the destination allows off-road driving. Most parks in East Africa restrict safari vehicles from off-road driving. This informs the necessity of going for a 300 mm to 400 mm Lens. You should as well fit your camera with a teleconveter to capture scenes beyond.
• Whether you can go for walking safaris. You may not be able to take shots of smaller animals and birds from the rooftop. In East Africa bush walk unauthorized in major public parks. We recommend that you go for the private reserves.
• What a destination offers. Most of the attractions in East Africa not only offer great wildlife sights but also dramatic landscape. This ranges from kopjes, lava flows, Lakes, craters and springs. Look at destination guides for each of the prospective attractions.

How to shoot the best photos

Photography in equatorial countries is quite different from Europe or America. Here the light brightens up and diminishes so quickly. This means a lot to the quality of images you will be getting. You will also need to understand animal behavioral patterns. In this section we shall cover things you should do for a successful photography trip.

1. Take several destinations in different ecosystems. This grants more unique photo scenes to capture. Destinations in different ecosystems are quite diverse with varieties of fauna and avifauna species as well as flora. The landscaping is also quite unique in different regions.
2. Wake up early, Keep till evening. Wildlife in Africa are more active in the morning and evening. The sunset golden light also creates some of the most picture-perfect scenes. Where possible go for a night game drive after dusk. This will enable you to capture the big cat when they are actively hunting.
3. Keep the burst mode on. You may not always get the perfect pose and it would be ineffective taking one photo at a time. Motion scenes will also come in different perspectives. Even though multiple shots overfills your storage with unwanted images you will be able to sort out the best.
4. Go for a private safari. This will enable you have the entire vehicle space for yourself. And you are able to switch positions and get the best angle for your photo. You will also have the laxity to specialize in a single spot with no one else in the vehicle to feel short charged. If you must join a group let it not be more than 4 other photographers.
5. Focus on the eye. Focusing straight into the eyes creates highly appealing images especially when your subject is at close range. This is especially when you are capturing the big cats stunningly intense gaze that asserts dominance.
6. Know when to zoom in and out. Zoom out when capturing herds of wildebeest or antelopes. Zoom out to capture finer details like the tears mark in a lion headshot.
7. Make stopovers in scenic places. Africa is seemingly a separate world with a lot to see outside main parks. For instance, most of the national parks in East Africa are set on the floor of the great rift valley. As you cruise between different national park you will come across features like escarpments, valleys, lakes, hills and mountains. Some sections of the roads are set in great viewpoint that gives you that sweeping view of dramatic landscapes and extensive tropical flora.
8. Get close to the tribesmen. While on a safari especially in East Africa where most of the premium park, there won’t be a more perfect photo than a picture of the landscape with a Masai warrior at the front. Pictures of Masai men at the rim of the Ngorongoro craters with the background touching on the floor has created some of the most detailed photos about East Africa. You can as well request your driver to take you to a nearby cultural village for a photoshoot.
9. Don’t deter the animals. When driving ensure you are at least 10 metres from the scene. if you are in walking safari, besides wearing a camouflage you can hide in thickets. There should be no noise from the engine or shuffling.