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Top tips for a Safari holiday

What have you got?

Thanks in advance

the lions r fine

it’s the fooking tsetse flies u wanna watch out 4. most violent, horrific, things on earth, straight from the darkest malebolge 

Oooh I have a few for this:

  • This is the one holiday where you get proper camera envy if you turn up with your iPhone expecting decent wildlife pictures. I would say (given the price of Safari holidays in any event) that it is worth investing in something with a decent zoom as a minimum, and expanding to your budget suitably from there (a mirrorless or DSLR with proper long lens, and maybe a 1-day course on how to use manual settings if new to photography).
  • I can't remember if you were already a bit of a camera nerd, I as remember there have been a few camera advice threads on here before so I won't go on too much about it but to re-enforce the above, you're generally looking for animals during the 'golden hour' on each side of the day so you can end up with some coffee table book quality shots with the right camera and settings and hardly any actual skill.
  • As someone else said, private reserves are best. Guided safaris are best too.
  • Looking for animals only happens at dawn and dusk when they are most active so you need a plan something else to occupy the day (lounging by a pool, reading etc.) Outdoor activities (hiking etc.) aren't really feasible if you're in a reserve with actual dangerous animals around, but see if the package offers anything like this, or bushcraft survival/tracking etc. I would sign up. Going it alone and driving around a massive reserve on your own, while companions whinge about not seeing anything is shit.
  • Get some kind of book of wildlife or history of the area or whatever piques your interest before you go. In a good reserve they'll know roughly where all of the big 5 are so you can check it off your list, but generally the smaller things can be just as interesting if you take some time to get a bit of background (same tip for any travel really). A good guide will point things out too, the lizards and birds etc. all have a story. One of the coolest thing I saw was a chameleon going mental and flashing its colours angrily in a tree which we would never have spotted without a guide.
  • Really, you only need about 4 days before you get Safari fatigue (i.e. same old routine driving around looking for animals with not much in between). The best way is to mix-up the trip with with a general tour of that part of Africa, or otherwise hopping between reserves just to get a mix of different scenery, dining and board options.
  • Stars are incredible. See if you can do some star gazing either off your own back or a guide again. If doing it without a guide, a green laser pointer (i.e. something with a visible beam) can help you + family make sure you're all looking at the same thing.
  • Winter trips = colder, drier, less foliage (so better view into the undergrowth where animal cubs are) but more crowded. Summer = less crowded, but more rain, more mosquitos, more baby animals (but harder to see).
  • Summer or winter, take some warm clothes because even if the days are hot, the safari driving and nights are cold. I remember being in an open top jeep with a blanket and hot water bottle and still feeling the wind bite.

Can't think of anything else but it's an amazing holiday if not done before. Nothing else like it and memories will be with me forever.

Whatever you do, under no circumstances leave a light on at night and the window open unless you want half of Africa's insect life on your ceiling when you return.

And under no circumstances ignore the sign in the room which tells you to keep the French windows closed because the baboons will venture in if you dont, because they WILL. Possibly the scariest thing that has ever happened to me.

But my wife always knows best.

 

Also, spend the entire holiday in character as Prince Phillip (when he was alive). The locals love that sh1t. 

If, as happened to me in Nairobi, you are asked how you want your chicken cooked, saying 'well done' does not offend the chef.

It’s not difficult to get to Bridgnorth but watch out for the baboons playing with your windscreen wipers.

If you want to advertise that you gave money to go on a safari holiday, do piss off.

1. Book with a proper Africa specialist eg Expert Africa etc. this is not the time to go with likes of Audley.

2. 2-3 nights per camp. Do not end up flying around all the time.

3. if you dont have suitable clothing get it from a charity shop, no need to spaff £££ . Also you wont need much, two to three changes of clothes max.

4. if you are not a photographer dont be bullied into becoming one. 
 

Do not suggest to your tent-mate that the multi Oscar-nominated actor you dined with that evening 'isn't much of a looker' and that you 'dont understand why he is so well regarded'.

Using a "carrying" Welsh baritone.

With said actor in the immediately adjacent safari tent.

You know who you are....

Hi Elfffi

I'd invest in a good pair of binoculars rather than a camera.  You can spend a lot of time behind a camera lens trying to get the perfect shot, rather than just enjoying the moment. 

Use a reputable local tour operator - they're far cheaper, a bit more rustic, but the guides / owners are passionate about their parks and want to make sure you have a great time - see if they offer walking treks as well as drives.

Go at the end of the dry season, since the animals will congregate at the receding water holes. 

Recommend Etosha / Okavango Delta in Namibia / Botswana around August and Tanzanian parks around October  - Lake Manyara, Tarangire, NgoroNgoro and Serengeti

Some great tips here on cameras and clothes, but make sure you take as much care and research in choosing which rifle you will want to use, and what calibre suits you best. Everyone wants to think they're a 375 H&H man, but sometimes a basic 308 Winchester is best if not as fashionable.

Unless you a keen photographer don’t bother spending your  time taking half arsed pictures of animals - take a few of the scenery your camps your guides and companions but hundreds of shots of badly framed and focussed animals will be of zero interest in years to come - better off spending your time with bins enjoying the moment rather than a camera 

Unless you a keen photographer don’t bother spending your  time taking half arsed pictures of animals - take a few of the scenery your camps your guides and companions but hundreds of shots of badly framed and focussed animals will be of zero interest in years to come - better off spending your time with bins enjoying the moment rather than a camera 

Incakenito, I almost prefer not to remember it.

First day at a lodge in the Samburu. 

fooking big warning by the windows, not to leave them open as the baboons will venture in. Room not airconditioned, rotating ceiling fan for cooling.

Head back up to the room after lunch.

Mrs Prodigal complains room too hot and that she is going to open the French windows. I disagree.

She tells me not to be such a wuss. 

I start to snooze as she starts reading a book. 

A few minutes later, she tremulously says 'Prodigal there's a baboon at the end of the bed', and

THERE fookING WELL WAS,

WITH ITS GLISTENING WHITE TEETH,

NEVER MIND ITS COCK AND BALLS POINTING AT US.

I blast Mrs PS with a volley of invective that was probably audible in neighbouring Uganda, and the baboon nonchalantly exits the window, not even bothering to nick the camera.

All over in a matter of extremely scary seconds.

Mrs PS agreed to keep the windows closed thereafter. Most unlike her not to protract an argument.

 

 

Thanks.  Very useful.

We are booked for Tarangire, Ngorongo, Serengeti.  Fly-in. Two days at each.  

l agree with not spending all the time peering through a camera. And have gone for a 200mm rather than 300mm.

It seems that the best part of the game drives are dawn and dusk.  What do you do in between?  We are going week after next: weather seems typical for time of year.  If/when it rains, is it a splash or an absolute downpour?

Elffi they say get some rest but somehow despite being dog tired I never can.

i didnt like ngorogoro, too much like a theme park and the journey down and back is back breaking jolty and dusty 😐. And yet they say it has to be done.

serengeti - are there still cheetahs? Also i seem to remember tanzania doesnt allow evening drives unless in a private concession.

if you end up stopping in nairobi, try endokoko (sp?) inside the local national park. Nairobi is an absolute dump.

Hi Elfffi - not been to Tanzania at this time of year.  End of rainy season can lead to dull overcast days, as well as typical days of monsoonal mid afternoon showers.  One benefit will be the lack of dust, although tracks will be muddy and may limit where you can travel in the parks.   

Recommend taking Collins pocket book guide to the stars - invaluable if you have clear nights, and may be a highlight of the trip.  It will be very cold if you're staying on the Ngorogoro Crater ridge line so you'll need beanies, gloves etc.

Wouldn't get too fixated on seeing all the big 5 - Lions, Cape Buffalo, Leopard, Rhino, Elephants as there will be lots of foliage and dispersed water holes.  You'll see loads of elephants in Tarangire (along with Baobob trees), and you should also be able to spot Cape Buffalo.  There are lions and rhino in Ngorogoro and leopards in all 3 parks, but you'll be incredibly lucky to see one given the season. 

Your safari can end up in a convoy circus, as each truck congregates on a pride of lions and circles them, to try and get their passengers the best camera angle.  Talk to your guide before you head out, and say you don't want to be jolted around the bush as they chase after the Big 5.  There will be loads of other birdlife / wildlife to spot - and ask your guide about what happened a couple of months before, and what will happen a couple of months hence.  They're there all year, so can provide context of what you're seeing.  If you do see any of the Big 5, ask them to wait 10 minutes before contacting the other trucks, and ask them to take you to where any of the Big 5 were spotted earlier, on the return journey (when all the other trucks have gone).

If you have a fellow passenger who's a keen photographer - ask them if they could share their pictures after the trip.  That way, you're not competing with them to take a photo on the same side of the vehicle (and enables you to enjoy the moment).  Agree with leaving screens / phones at home - a safari's an ideal time to detox.  If you feel bored, ask your guide to teach you some Swahili songs.

You'll be invited to a Masaai kraal (village) in Ngorogoro and shown a dance, given some traditional food before they try to sell you their rungu (club), beads etc.  Try and find out what the prices are at the government souvenir store in Arusha beforehand, and aim to pay about half that. 

Have a great trip.

 And have gone for a 200mm rather than 300mm.

If you can undo this decision, undo it.

You want the longest zoom you can manage. This a fortiori if you get lucky, and come across a leopard. Also without a long zoom you won't be able to get decent shots of birds (and the birds in Africa are ridic).

If you have a digital SLR, you should be able to set up a black and white mode - use this from time to time to photograph monochrome animals (elephants, hippos, cape buffalo, zebra). The same wildlife scene which in colour looks a bit meh can be transformed into amazing image in black and white.

And before you go, practice taking photos with your digital SLR so you can learn how manipulating the F-stop, ISO and shutter speed produce different effects. 

 

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