There is nothing to compare – anywhere in the world – with the spectacle of an African savannah teeming with wildlife weaving its way amongst acacia trees or gathered at a waterhole. For many people, going on safari is a trip of a lifetime, so it is essential to plan well ahead before departing. Before booking a safari these are some of the decisions you need to make.
Go with a group or book your own guide and vehicle. The latter can be something of a gamble on a first trip unless you seek advice from seasoned safari travellers who can recommend a good guide who is used to working with photographers or you opt for this after having been with a group.
Opt for a land only based safari or one which includes some boat trips (Lake Naivasha in Kenya, the Chobe River in Botswana or being punted in a mokoro along narrow channels in the Okavango Delta, also in Botswana).
Stay in lodges or experience the traditional safari by sleeping under canvas. Many camps have large tents in where you don't have to crawl around on your hands and knees and cope with a single candle for light. Instead, they have power plus an en suite bathroom.
Find out whether the vehicles are jeeps or minibuses and how many people will be in each one. Even though there are windows in both sides of a minibus, the action is invariably on one side, where all the passengers will converge to get their shots. For this reason, I prefer working in open-topped jeeps (not always permitted) where I have 360º coverage when working from a raised level.
Clothing
Safari clothing needs to be light-colored drip-dry cotton (khaki, beige or gray in the dry season) which reflects the sunlight and blends in with the dry grass. The secret is to dress in layers. It can be cold at first light and in the evening on safari. Avoid clothes with Velcro fastenings, as the ripping sound can disturb timid animals, although it may make an animal more alert as it looks up at the camera.
In the dry season, the biggest problem is dust. Using two camera bodies, one with a long tele lens and the other with a shorter tele zoom lens, avoids constant lens changes. A damp cloth kept in a ziplock bag is useful to wipe down dusty surfaces. A pillowcase slipped over a camera with a long lens protects the front of the lens as well as the whole camera from dust when driving. Periodically check the front lens element for dust and use a powerful blower such as the Giottos Rocket Air Blower to remove the worst.
If you want to be endorse your green credentials, use a solid pith helmet with a solar-powered built-in fan. In addition, Powertraveller make various portable solar chargers for the Powergorilla used to top up a laptop, downloader or cell phone when there is plenty of sun – even in the remotest location.
Photo tips
Most people on their first safari have a desperate urge to see and photograph the 'big five' – African elephant, African buffalo, rhino, lion and leopard – so-called by big game hunters as they were the most difficult animals to hunt. Yet there are plenty of other animals such as warthogs mud bathing or with their piglets trotting in a line behind their mother and giraffe 'necking' that offer scope for some humorous shots.
Try to avoid shooting single animals always from the side. A head-on viewpoint makes for much for impact. Also it pays to invest time with family groups, such as a pride of lions – unless they are flat cats sleeping by day. Cubs are always a joy to watch how they interact with each other as well as their parents and other adults – who don't always welcome youngsters scrambling over them when they are having a kip!
Botswana is easily my favourite safari location and we use Wilderness Safaris for all our bespoke trips, with great guides who are happy to spend a whole day with a single animal if that's what we want. We did just that with a female cheetah and were rewarded with a successful hunt as dusk fell.
Do's and Don't
Don't change lenses when following behind another vehicle on a dusty road.
Don't use a tripod if sharing a minibus. A monopod is fine.
Do use a bean bag to cradle a camera with a long lens on a window frame.
Don't talk loudly or make sudden noises
Never urge a driver to get too close to animals.
Essential safari items
Short-sleeved shirts and shorts
Long sleeved shirts and long trousers (protection against sunburn and mosquito bites)
Light sweater
Windbreaker
Sunglasses
Bush hat, Panama hat or pith helmet with inbuilt fan
Bean bag
Pillow case to cover camera with long lens
Damp cloth
Dust mask
Binoculars
Insect repellent
Anti-malarial tablets