How to Shoot Africa’s Big Five Safari Animals (with a Camera)

Not many different journey holidays are as alluring as an African safari that comes with the promise of seeing Africa’s Big Five animals up shut and within the wild. The thrill of coming into contact with wild animals is tough to beat. The following article will present important concerns in your subsequent Big Five safari journey to the African continent.

In case you’re not aware of the time period, the “Big Five” recreation animals in Africa are the leopard, African bush elephant, African buffalo, black rhinoceros, and lion.

Table of Contents

Booking an African Safari Trip

To lay the muse in your photograph safari, you’ll first want to e-book a journey. You’ll need to take into account three issues: when to go, how lengthy it is best to keep and what firm or clothing store to use.

The finest time of 12 months varies relying on the area of Africa you’re touring in and what animal sightings are most vital to you. The sheer measurement of the continent makes it tough to make generalizations about peak viewing instances. However, most vacationers agree that late spring and early summer season are perfect for wildlife viewing as a result of they coincide with calving season when giant numbers of infants (and subsequently their moms) are seen within the open directly.

The calving season additionally implies that predators are extra seen as they hunt child animals and moms alike. If you’re fascinated by pictures, summer season could also be the very best time due to the longer sunlight hours and nice climate situations. Winter will also be a good time for photographing the animals and experiencing them firsthand when the grasses are shorter, making it simpler to spot the massive 5.

African Safari Packing Tips

As you intend your safari, take into consideration the tools you’ll want to seize the Big Five on digital camera. The kind and measurement of digital camera tools you choose could also be decided by many elements, akin to how a lot weight you possibly can carry, what sorts of pictures you need to get, and whether or not you’ll be occurring foot via the reserve. You’ll additionally need to take into account bringing spare batteries and a small tripod.

When choosing clothes in your safari journey, select colours that mix with the panorama—khaki or camouflage colours are finest—and garments made out of materials that dry shortly after rainstorms however nonetheless shield towards thorny bush branches and scratchy grasses. A hat or cap is sensible when traversing within the scorching African solar. It is sensible to take important eco-friendly lotions and sprays that shield you from bugs in Africa’s wilderness areas.

The Day of The Big Five Safari

1. Get the gear prepared the night time earlier than to make sure you’re properly ready.

2. Get up early with the intention to be capturing within the first mild when the massive 5 are lively.

Plan your day round your shot record: if you would like to get a explicit animal or habits, be sure you are there on the proper time of day. Check with the rangers on the camps for the newest huge 5 sightings on the day.

The finest time to shoot is when the sunshine is softest, simply after dawn. You shall be within the automobile for a number of hours so convey additional batteries in your digital camera and lots of reminiscence playing cards. An extended telephoto lens (400mm and above) and a shorter zoom lens (24-70mm) are perfect for safari capturing. If you wouldn’t have these focal lengths, borrow them from buddies or lease them from a native digital camera retailer.

Finally, don’t overlook sunscreen. Wear comfy garments that won’t distract from the sport drive expertise; intense colours like crimson can frighten animals away, whereas earthy tones are higher suited to camouflaging your setting. Bring plenty of water and snacks as a result of there gained’t be any choices accessible in the course of the drive.

Shooting Tips for Each Big Five Animal

To seize probably the most partaking picture of animals, you could attempt to get shut to your topic. If you’re approaching a giant animal like an elephant or rhino, ensure your information is with you. But don’t method too shortly and frighten them away—keep in mind, these are wild animals. If they sense worry in your half, they might assault. You may also decide their consolation stage by watching their ears and eyes; in the event that they’re calm and alert however not tense or aggressive, it’s a signal that you simply’re okay to proceed shifting ahead slowly with warning.

Keep a watch on the sunshine when taking images of animals within the wild. Since lighting can change on a dime relying on the place the solar is regarding your topic and environment, at all times maintain your digital camera prepared for motion—and don’t overlook to use your LCD display. The again of our cameras are like tiny screens that permit us see exactly how our photos will look from any given angle, so hunt down these golden moments when all the weather come collectively for the right shot.

The Leopard

Leopards are notoriously arduous to spot as a result of they transfer via the thick of the bush with stealth or grasp within the timber above your head. Spotting a Leopard with a telephoto lens is far more manageable. I take advantage of a 500mm f/4, however you want to get actually shut or actually fortunate to the animal to get a good shot.

For huge cats on the transfer, use a quick shutter velocity like 1/1000 second or sooner—it can nonetheless catch them in movement (with decreased movement blur) and freeze the background particulars. Use a excessive ISO for security—I normally begin at 400 for animals shifting round after which alter relying on the quantity of movement blur and noise.

The African Bush Elephant

Africa’s largest land animal continues to be fairly widespread although there are indicators of poaching in some areas. Although it’s nonetheless a wild animal, you may get shut sufficient to an elephant to get good images. The finest time to shoot them is when the solar is low in the course of the morning and night.

Try to seize elephants at eye stage and of their pure setting. Try to seize their measurement by incorporating the panorama (a mountain or a tree) in your composition. Zoom in shut to seize the attention-grabbing traces and particulars alongside the Elephant’s pores and skin and, in fact, the massive tusks of the older patriarchal Elephants.

The African Buffalo

Buffalo is especially harmful and unpredictable, so you will want to maintain your wits. Be cautious that they don’t cost, and be cautious of your environment as properly—buffalo usually journey in herds that quantity within the lots of, however predators like lions or hyenas generally accompany them. Their mammoth horns make for alluring images. Try some portrait pictures of those majestic beasts that incorporate the face and horns collectively or as a close-up summary.

The Black Rhinoceros

The rhino is probably the most harmful of the massive 5 recreation animals to {photograph} as a result of though it’s large and durable, it has poor eyesight. Their imaginative and prescient is horrible, however they’ve a implausible sense of odor and listening to—so your finest wager is to use these senses towards them. The animal can cost with out warning at what it perceives as a risk—and sometimes at you! A rhino can run up to 40 miles per hour, delivering formidable blows with its horn seemingly indiscriminately.

Any photograph of a Rhino is valuable lately due to their declining quantity by the hands of indiscriminate poachers and hunters.

The Lion

The king of the jungle. This majestic creature could make for a exceptional topic with its regal mane and highly effective prowl. Always be cautious of getting too shut to any Lion. When photographing lions, it’s important to use a zoom lens to get good pictures with out spooking them or placing your self in danger.

The finest time to see lions is very first thing within the morning when they’re extra lively than every other day. Try making your method from behind some brush, or keep close to your automotive as you snap photos—you don’t need to disturb the lions whereas they’re resting of their pure habitat. It can be finest if you happen to additionally have been certain to seek for them on shady Savannah and plains, the place they like to relaxation within the warmth of noon earlier than persevering with with their hunts after sunset.

Safari Photography Tips

One of the largest challenges in taking images outdoor is lighting. You’re making an attempt to catch a scene because it’s transitioning from shiny to darkish after which again once more. The most typical rule of thumb is to take photos outdoors in the course of the golden hour, earlier than sundown, or after dawn.

Since your digital camera isn’t going to provide you with that actual outcome each time—there shall be instances once you’ll get an unimaginable shot within the solar, however others the place you’ll be fortunate to get a good one in any respect—it’s important that you know the way to obtain the very best outcomes together with your gear.

You will goal to use the quickest shutter velocity potential with the ambient mild accessible. Often between the 1/500 to 1/2000 vary. You will want to take into account your publicity triangle (aperture, ISO, and shutter velocity) always, particularly for handheld capturing, and decide the very best digital camera mode to use akin to shutter precedence, aperture precedence, or handbook mode. Learning to shoot in handbook mode is a good concept so that you’ve a thorough grasp of publicity fundamentals.

Remain alert and attentive to the environment when within the bush. Big Five animals have a tendency to seem out of nowhere. It is advisable to study all you possibly can in regards to the habits of the animals you might encounter in your safari. The extra you already know in regards to the wildlife, the higher your probabilities of getting that excellent shot.

Most of all, be current and benefit from the expertise it doesn’t matter what animals you’re fortunate sufficient to spot on the day of your safari journey.

Image credit: Header photograph from Depositphotos