TIPS & TRICKS | The Safari Playbook: An Essential First Timer's Guide
- ptotravelpro
- Aug 25, 2023
- 8 min read
Updated: Oct 21, 2023
ALL OF THE QUESTIONS YOU NEED ANSWERED AS A SAFARI FIRST TIMER
Going on Safari is one of the most unique travel experiences out there. That also means it can be one of the most intimidating trips to prepare for because it’s hard to know exactly what to expect. Combine that with being “off-the-grid,” so to speak, and you’ll need to do a little bit more preparation than you might do for other trips. The good news is, it’s completely worth it!
If you’re a first-timer on Safari, this guide seeks to answer some of the questions you may have - and some that you haven’t even thought about! The guide has top tips for how to plan your trip, how to prepare before taking off, and what to expect once you’re on the ground.
PHASE I: Planning
18+ MONTHS OUT
1. Book early
I highly recommend booking your safari as early as possible. This is particularly true if you are hoping to go during the peak season (in July / August for East African destinations). From personal experience, the timeline shapes up to be at least 18 months in advance. At that point some of the small, popular lodges will already start to fill up or even be unavailable.
2. Decide if you want to use a travel agent
I'm not typically one to use a travel agent, but going on safari is a trip that opened my eyes to how an agent can be valuable. This is especially true if you are heading out on safari for the first time.
A travel agent can provide first-hand experience to help guide lodge selection
You'll be spending a lot of money on the trip, mostly on your lodge, so you really want the choice to be right. Most lodges aren't run by the major hotel brands you might be familiar with in the rest of the world, and a good experience hinges more on the guides and service than just the facilities. A good agent can give you their account of how each lodge fits in with your needs and wants.
A travel agent can also help with some of the safari-specific logistics
The guides on this site aim to help, but there is still a natural level of uncertainty with your first safari. Booking bush flights and coordinating drivers can feel daunting and a travel agent can handle this for you.
A travel agent can be there for when things go wrong
Hopefully you won't have to worry about this, but things can always happen. A good travel agency can help provide support and some even have staff in-country or at least in a closer time zone that can support you in the event that a flight gets cancelled or you need to arrange a COVID test.
3. Choose the right safari destination
Africa is a vast continent with many, many destinations to choose from for your safari, each with their own personality. Make sure you think about what you want from your trip and then do your homework to make sure your destination matches that.
Think about what animals you want to see.
Most of the really popular destinations have a variety of fan-favorite species and will keep almost anyone satisfied, but some popular places are niche. For example, Rwanda and Uganda are known for gorilla trekking, so you're going to have a very different experience at Volcanoes National Park or Bwindi Impenetrable Forest than in the Serengeti.
If you have a specific species you're dying to see, a field guide like The Safari Companion or The Kingdon Guide can recommend the best places to find them. Understand that hinging your trip on one specific animal can be risky. A specific area can be the "best" place to see a species, but that species can still be hard to spot - set expectations accordingly!
Think about the unique experiences you're envisioning.
There are so many once-in-a-lifetime experiences you can have on safari, but your destination will guide this to an extent. For example, if you dream of gliding along on a water safari, you'd be better off in Zambia or Botswana vs. the Mara. Similarly, you aren't going to find the Great Migration of Kenya & Tanzania in South Africa and or see red desert sand dunes, like those you'll find in Namibia, in the Okavango.
Think about what combination of seclusion and luxury you want.
Some places are very commercialized with lots of lodges and infrastructure, which can make them easier to visit. But, this can have a dilutive effect on the experience and may even have a negative impact on the environment. On the other end of the spectrum, there are some naturalist paradises with unique, unadulterated ecosystems but fewer luxury camps. Somewhere in the middle, you can find places that limit tourism to select, high-quality providers, aiming to preserve the environment while offering an exclusive experience. This can be an epic option, but comes with a matching price tag.
4. Choose the right safari lodge
WHY THIS IS SO IMPORTANT
Your choice of lodge matters more than anything else you'll because your choice of lodge really determines everything else about your day-to-day experience. You will eat, sleep, and drink at the lodge, but perhaps most importantly, the lodge will also provide your game drive guides. Staying at a lodge is about the location and facilities of course, but on safari, the level of service and experience are uniquely important. Given the cost associated with this once-in-a-lifetime trip, you really want to make sure you choose the right lodge.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR
As you research potential lodges, look for these key features:
A reputation for great guides
I cannot stress this enough. You spend so much time with your guide, and they are such an integral part of the experience that triggered you to travel around the world. They know where to go and what to look for to help find the most incredible sightings. Seriously, they can spot the tiniest glimpse of an animal a mile away. Then once you're there, they have a wealth of knowledge about the animal you're viewing or how to best capture the moment on film. Plus, they're a ton of fun!
I want to note - we did not have a bad guide, so I can't really say what the experience would be like with a "bad" one. Perhaps getting a "bad" guide isn't actually a concern. But, I was blown away by how good our guides were and how much they enhanced the experience. If I'm going to spend the time and money demanded by an African safari, I'd want to hear the lodge I picked had a reputation for knowledgeable, personable guides.
A private game reserve / conservancy
During planning we were advised how a private concession could improve our experience. We didn't fully see the importance of this until we arrived, but it is so worth it. Not only will the crowds be thinner, but the rules are different in the private concessions, which makes the experience better for you and the environment.
The private nature of a concession will limit the number of guests and the tourist density on your game drives. This has a big impact on your experience. There are less vehicles driving around to interfere with your viewing; you might be able to see a leopard all by yourself instead of jockeying with a host of other jeeps to get the best viewpoint. You'll also see the animals in their most natural state, without the influence of many vehicles.
The rules in these conservancies are also often different. I found this played out as a better experience for us as guests, for the animals, and for the locals. As guests, we were allowed to go off-road, which allowed us to get up close and personal to many of the animals we saw. For the animals' benefit, vehicle limits were in place. Only a handful of vehicles could view an animal or group of animals at a time - max. They are a lot less likely to be disturbed when they aren't encircled by a dozen or so jeeps. This was definitely enforced; the jeeps had GPS trackers and we also saw rangers monitoring the viewing of a family of cheetahs one day. Finally, the locals were allowed to live out their lives, maintaining their herds of livestock in balance with the wildlife as has been done for generations.
Private game vehicles
Even after being advised how a private vehicle could improve our experience, I'm still not sure we fully understood. After experiencing first-hand, we couldn't imagine doing it any other way. Think about the alternative. Imagine a scenario where you get in a car with a group and your only goal for the day is to see a migration crossing no matter how long you need to wait, but the people with you are only on safari for a few days and want to quickly checkoff as many animals as possible. It's very likely neither of you is going to end the day happy. With a private vehicle, you can see whatever you want for however long you want; there's no fighting for the "best" seats; and you build a great relationship with your guide.
A small number of rooms or tents
Choosing a lower-volume lodge impacts both your guest experience and your lodge's impact on the ecosystem. On our stay, our lodges all had 8 rooms or less, which allowed for a very personal level of attention and a feeling of seclusion.
Also keep in mind that the number of game vehicles a lodge sends out each day grows proportionately with the number of guests at the lodge. There were some lodges that were notorious for just how many vehicles they sent out each day. It was noticeable even as a guest from a different camp exploring in the same general area because you'd often find a group of their vehicles crowded around an animal (again, especially when we crossed out of more restrictive reserves). This is somewhat unavoidable, but to the extent camps can be smaller and more dispersed, the more guests (and animals) will feel uninterrupted.
Local and eco-initiatives
Look for a lodge that gives back! Do some homework on your lodge to see if and how they contribute to the surrounding communities. You'll also find some lodges are more eco-friendly than others. This shows up indirectly in some of the factors listed above. Some facilities are also more "green." For example, Singita opted for our pool in the Serengeti to be at its natural temperature instead of using resources to heat it and eco-friendly toiletries were used on property to limit chemicals in the groundwater. Finally, many lodges will actively contribute to conservation efforts through various programs.
5. Plan for both commercial and bush flights
LOOK AHEAD FOR COMMERCIAL FLIGHT SCHEDULES
You likely won't be able to book your flights at the same time you book your accommodations (since you should book lodges early); however, you should still consider flight schedules when booking. Depending on your destination, airlines may offer limited routes, which may mean that a certain flight is not available every day. Make sure to check typical flight schedules at a site like Flight Connections to make sure that you aren't planning to need a flight between locations that won't be available.
PLAN TO FLY TO YOUR LODGE ON A BUSH PLANE
You'll be staying in truly remote locations that are either not accessible by road or would be incredibly difficult to access by road. The standard method of transportation is to arrive via bush plane. If you choose to book on your own flight, make sure to confirm with your lodge which airstrip you should fly into because it's not always obvious. Additionally, one of the staff members will plan to meet you at the airstrip.
These flights can either be private or part of a shared charter. Shared charters have a somewhat standardized schedule between the regional airstrips. The shared charter will operate somewhat like a bus; you'll pick up and drop off passengers at short stops along the way with just a few minutes in the air between each. If you want to avoid traveling with others and make it to your destination in less time, opt for a private charter.
Flying on a bush plane can be a new experience for most people. For some people the experience is a thrilling opportunity to see the African landscape from above; for others, the flights can be a little nerve-wracking. You'll quickly get used to the flights but knowing what to expect can be helpful.
Prepare yourself to fly on small (~12 seat) propeller planes
You'll board from the ground and have to hunch somewhat to navigate to a seat, which can be more of a challenge depending on your size. The small size is why bush flights have such strict weight limits for passengers and luggage. It is also why the planes can be somewhat bumpier than a typical commercial flight.
Prepare yourself to land into dirt airstrips often just marked with a few rocks and a windsock
Some have bathrooms, but most don’t. Some have a person stationed to chase animals off the runway, but even this isn't always the case. We had this happen, but our pilots found it old hat; they simply flew low so the animals could hear the plane and then circled back around once they cleared the runway.
If you're nervous, consider bringing something to distract yourself on the flight
Download a movie on your phone, take photos, read a book, etc.
If you easily become motion sick, opt for a seat in the front where you can see straight ahead
For most people, that will likely be enough, but in some cases, you might consider prepping with medication.
PLAN YOUR LONG-HAUL FLIGHTS & ACCOMMODATIONS WITH BUSH FLIGHTS IN MIND
Make sure you leave enough time to make all the logistics connect smoothly. If your long-haul flight is landing late in the day, you're likely not going to be able to hop on a bush flight immediately afterwards, and you probably don't want to. You'd be better off booking a hotel room nearby after your long-haul flight and then waking up the next day to hop on a bush flight and arrive at your lodge with a nearly full day to explore. The same thinking applies when you depart Africa. Bush flights are the best way to get around, but they can still involve delays. Don't schedule a long-haul departure too soon after your bush flight is supposed to arrive. Between the possibility of the bush plane being late, changing airports, security, etc., it could add a lot of stress. Again, it can be more comfortable to add a buffer night at a hotel near the international airport.
PHASE II: Preparing
6 MONTHS OUT
6. Consult your healthcare provider & check requirements
Start by checking online at your destination's official site, the US embassy, and a site like Sherpa, which has a handy travel advisory map, to know what health requirements exist for everywhere you are going in Africa. Then schedule an appointment with your doctor. You may want to consider a travel health specialist since not all practices are versed in the latest requirements and carry all the relevant vaccines.
Most likely you'll need a yellow fever vaccine, which is good for life, and your doctor will prescribe malaria pills and potentially some emergency antibiotics for travel diarrhea. Some other vaccines may be recommended but depend on the nature of your visit. If you're working in healthcare or will be in close contact with animals, it will be recommended you receive more vaccines.
Regarding COVID, the requirements are constantly changing, be sure to check all official government requirements. Again, Sherpa is a helpful place to start, but I would triple check against both your destination's official site and with the US embassy. Since traveling post-COVID, I've an experienced a case or two where even official sources have had conflicting info as requirements evolved. Better to be safe than sorry!
7. Check your passport expiration & obtain your visas
This is true for any international trip; just double-check you have the extra six months of validity past your trip dates. Make sure to start early, as there have been big delays in processing passports recently! The US Embassy publishes current passport processing times. At the time of writing, you should expect ~3 months for regular processing and ~2 months for expedited. I would 100% recommend paying for expedited processing.
Once you know your passport is good to go, start thinking about your visas. Once again, Sherpa can be really helpful with visas. It gives overview of requirements for each country and official links for where you need to get started. There is such a thing as getting these too early, but I advise getting them as early as possible because some countries can take a while to process the paperwork, and the process can be a little complicated.
8. File all paperwork to fly a drone (if applicable)
You may have seen some epic drone photos that you're hoping to replicate, but make sure you check all restrictions and requirements in advance. These vary country to country and are subject to change. Some places will require that you file paperwork and / or have a license while other places restrict drone use entirely (some places even restrict having a drone in your luggage). Regulations can vary for recreational vs. commercial which can be defined by the size of drone, the purpose of filming, etc. Almost anywhere you go will have restricted or no-fly zones and general flight rules that you need to abide by.
9. Sign up for International Day Pass
I remember the first few times I traveled abroad, using the phone was so expensive, you couldn't make a call unless it was an absolute emergency. Even then, you started to feel the pressure to wrap up the call after just a couple minutes as you imagined the dollars racking up. Text and data were out of the question. Our past few trips we've signed up for International Day Pass with AT&T which makes things so much easier. It's just $10 a day ($5 for additional lines on the same plan) for unlimited text, calls, and data, and it's seamless. One beauty of safari is disconnecting, which I still strongly encourage, but having access to data definitely helped for last minute needs at the airport and such.
PHASE III: Packing
JUST BEFORE DEPARTURE
10. Jumpstart packing with my complete guide
Make sure you are packing everything you need while staying within your bush plane's weight limit. In my guide, I lay out every item I packed and offer up gear recommendations. Click here to check out my COMPLETE SAFARI PACKING GUIDE! (Coming Soon) There are also some overarching tips for packing for safari - stick to these and you'll be off to a good start.
Know the weight restrictions for bush flights.
In East Africa, you'll most likely only be allowed 33 pounds of total luggage (aka your duffel and personal item have to be 33 pounds total). In other places in Africa, the limit can be somewhat softer but still a challenge - make sure to check no matter what! This will mean that you have to pack strategically, not bringing more than you need, optimally bringing items that can mix and match. This is not much, but the good news is that most lodges offer laundry so you can re-wear things!
It is possible to bring more weight, typically for very heavy camera gear, but you'll need to plan in advance and book a "cargo seat" for your bush flights.
Pack in a soft-sided duffle
This is another requirement of the flights. Your bag will be packed along with others in the cargo hold and may need to be "squished" somewhat so that everything fits easily. You can also bring a very small (lap-sized) personal item in the cabin, which is ideal if you have anything fragile (e.g., your camera).
Pack neutral colors
Not only does this really help with mixing and matching, but it also serves some important purposes on game drives. Neutral colors help blend into the environment, making you less obvious to animals. In this case, white isn't the best option - it's "brighter" than you might realize and will quickly get dirty with dust. Additionally, colors like navy and black can attract bugs including tsetse flies.
Wear layers, long sleeves, and long pants
I think there can be a misconception that Africa is always overwhelmingly hot, but that's not the case. It can be rather cold in the mornings and then continuously heat up throughout the day. Some lodges provide blankets and warm water bottles, but layers really help you adjust! Lightweight, long clothes also help protect you from the sun and bugs!
11. Check with your lodge to see what items they offer
Some lodges have lots of helpful items available - more than you might expect. Depending on the lodge we were offered yoga gear, painting kits, and board games and playing cards while back at the lodge and safari hats, blankets, sweatshirts, guide books, binoculars, water bottles, TP, and even full-fledged DSLR cameras to use while out on game drives. If your lodge offers these items, you might be able to save the weight when packing your bag!
12. Do a last-minute check for anything important
Before taking off, do one final run-through of your essentials checklist. I recommend bringing the following items along with you.
Hard copies of documents
Make sure you have hard copies of your travel visas, health documents, itineraries, passport photocopies, etc. to avoid issues with tech and connectivity in rural areas. While I recommend hard copies, I also keep a copy of all of these documents in our family OneDrive (set to be available offline) - just in case anything gets lost. Redundancy really helps prevent hiccups.
Extra cash
Not only will you need cash for tipping, it's also a good idea to have some cash on hand in the event of surprise fees while traveling.
Prescriptions & health OTC kit
Make sure to have any and all prescriptions you'll need. Also put together a quick kit of OTC items since you won't be able to easily buy them. This includes NSAIDs, stomach meds, allergy meds, motion-sickness meds, band-aids, tweezers, condoms, sunscreen, bug wipes (with at least 30% DEET or at least 20% picaridin), etc.
Converter
Some lodges offer USB plugs or converters on loan, but not all do. It's good to have a converter to make sure you can keep your phone and camera charged up.
Extra camera batteries & memory cards
Make sure you have plenty of spares so that you don't miss a shot while out on a drive!
Plenty of underwear
For cultural reasons, this is the one thing that you won't be able to have washed at most lodges. Make sure you bring plenty of changes along with you.
Passport
This one goes without saying!
PHASE IV: Exploring!
AFTER ARRIVAL
13. Know what to expect for a typical day on safari
Every day on safari is unique, but there is a typical flow for the day. I know I didn't fully know what to expect before we started planning our trip, so here's a bit of an idea!
Dawn
If you didn't know it already, a day on safari starts early! We're talking before the sun comes up, early. We typically had a wake-up call where coffee and tea were delivered to our room a little before 5 AM to get that jolt of caffeine needed to feel awake. The other good news is you're on the other side of the world, so your body doesn't really know what time it is anyways - use that to your advantage. Because it's still dark, a guide will escort you from your room to the entrance of camp where you'll join your guide and head out for the day. Our camp staff also equipped us with what we needed to enjoy the chilly mornings, including blankets, sweatshirts, and "bush babies" aka long-lasting hot water bladders to hold on your lap.
Morning Game Drive
You'll probably be on the road somewhere between 5 and 6 so that you can see the animals that are active at dawn before it gets too hot to hunt. Have an idea what it is you want to see for the day, and your guide can try to make it happen. The guides also all know each other and keep in touch over the radio, keeping each other in the loop about movements of the animals. If there was a leopard up in the tree by that one bend in the river late last night, there's a chance it's still close by. If there's a pride of lions that haven't eaten in a while, there's a chance they'll be on the prowl for a meal. It's amazing to watch two guides have a split-second conversation, and then suddenly you're dashing across the landscape to some seemingly non-descript spot. You'll still be two football fields away, and your guide will announce that he's spotted something incredible. You'll have to pull out the binoculars until you get closer to see what he could possibly be talking about. Once you get up close, you'll be stunned because chances are it truly is something incredible. I'm telling you; these guides are amazing!
Depending on your lodge and what you see, you'll stay out until late morning or even early afternoon. One day we found some lions that were hunting, eating, and sparring and it captivated us for hours - even our guide was pulling out his camera to snag some great shots! When a sighting like that happens, your guide is going to help you enjoy it to the fullest and stick around.
Midday
The morning drives tended to be the longest and might creep into midday, but our guides always had snacks and a full mini-bar onboard, so you never have to worry about going too long without food. Some days they pulled out all the stops with what they call a "bush breakfast." You won't believe what they are able to pull off! We had a full spread of meats, eggs, fruits, and so much more all cooked right in front of us on the Savannah. There's really nothing like sitting down for a white-table cloth meal, popping bottles of champagne while surrounded by herds of zebras and giraffe.
After an action-packed morning, you'll return back to camp for the middle portion of the day when the heat climbs and the animals become less active. If you didn't have a big "bush breakfast," you'll have lunch back at camp. After that, the time is yours to spend. We loved just relaxing in our tent or the communal areas of camp. Some days we had cocktails with other guests; other days we retreated to our room for a nap. This is also a great time to take advantage of your camp's pool, spa, or library. If you want to be a little more active, our camps all had board games on hand and some epic places to do yoga or a quick workout.
Afternoon Game Drive
You'll head out on a second game drive again in the late afternoon not long before sunset. The animals become active again once the sun and the temperatures go down. You'll also be treated to the tradition of "sundowners" aka cocktails as you watch the animals and the stunning sunsets. Afternoon game drives are much like their morning counterparts, except they're typically shorter. You don't get the same benefits of cooler temperatures like you do in the morning, and many parks and reserves have restrictions on driving at night.
Evening
Once you return to camp, you'll likely be guided to the communal areas to enjoy a pre-dinner cocktail. Often, we didn't even bother to change out of our clothes from the drive, so we could spend as much time around the campfire as possible. Some of our favorite memories were sitting around swapping stories with other guests. When you're ready, you'll be guided to your table for dinner. Often, the camps had little tables tucked away around the property, so it felt like a private dining experience. One guest who had visited the camp before said she missed the days of communal tables, but if you did happen to make friends at camp (like we did), you could easily ask the staff to arrange to eat together.
As far as the meal itself, I didn't really know what to expect. I didn't know whether we'd have any sort of meal options, whether it would be local cuisine or something more familiar. I knew we'd be in some of the most remote places in the world, so I knew there would be major logistical challenges to pull off a dining experience. At every camp, we were absolutely blown away. The meals that came out of the kitchen were as good or better than those we'd had at fine dining restaurants in major cities around the world. The menu format was usually three courses - starter, main, and dessert - in a semi-prix-fixe format. In other words, we always had a couple of choices for main courses, and sometimes for other courses as well. The food was high-end but accessible, and it was very easy to find an option that you'd love. This means a lot coming from me because I can be picky when it comes to food!
Last thing to note - the drinks can add up! When you start with a sundowner, transition to drinks around the campfire, then have wine with dinner, you can easily have more to drink than you've realized. This is especially true since everything is included, and the staff are incredibly attentive. An empty glass doesn't stay empty long! Our first night we accepted a few too many "top-offs," and it made the start of the next day a little rougher than we'd planned. You've been warned!
14. Follow the rules of the road for game drives
It's honestly not hard, and it'll keep everyone (animals and people alike) safe and happy - just do it! Here are a few highlights:
Do what your guide says.
This is rule number one. These guides do this every day, and many have spent their lives in the bush. They know what they are doing and how to give you the best experience possible, which includes keeping you and the animals safe. Whatever they say goes; do not pass go; do not collect $200.
Don't leave your vehicle.
You'd think this would be obvious, but our guides reveled us with some stories about visitors to the bush who thought otherwise, sometimes with gruesome ends. We were told the predators think of the safari vehicle as one giant inanimate object, but they don't recognize it as a vessel with living things inside. That changes if you leave the vehicle or noticeably break its visual plane. You will have no issue getting plenty close to the action regardless. I was astounded how close we were able to be to entire prides of lions in a vehicle that essentially had no sides.
Don't alter the animals' behavior.
This is sort of a blanket statement that covers a handful of principles. Anything that alters the animals' behavior can disrupt the careful balance of being able to visit these places safely and responsibly, now and far into the future.
This can include something obvious like feeding the animals. Don't do this; you don't want big cats associating you with food. You also don't want them to become reliant or expectant of receiving food from humans. In a similar vein, don't make loud noises to scare or try to draw the attention of animals; let them be. Contain yourself when a predator gets close or the "circle of life" inevitably happens; a reactive scream could draw unwanted attention.
A less obvious problem stems from how vehicles interact with the animals. You've probably seen videos of cheetahs jumping up on the hood of a car or cubs playing in the wheel wells. Sounds like a once in a lifetime encounter, right? Well think of the impact on the animals. What happens when a guide doesn’t see that leopard cub tucked behind the tire and starts to drive? What happens when the cheetah becomes "trained" and potentially reliant on using the car as a hunting vantage point?
Our guides also mentioned being careful around cubs in general because some predators can learn to associate a circle of jeeps with "something to see," either another predator or a meal, and you don’t want to draw that kind of attention to animals with high early mortality rates.
Parks and conservancies are heavily cracking down on behaviors that impact the animals negatively, and guides will also actively prevent this, but it's something to keep in your mind as a guest. No photo is worth it. Overall, remember you are a visitor in the animals' home and be respectful of that.
Dress appropriately.
For the most part, this isn't a safety concern as much as a way to improve your own experience, but I have heard stories about guests being turned back to the lodge for wearing something too flashy. The more you can blend in with the environment, the better. White can stand out and will quickly get dirty. Blues and blacks can attract tse tse flies. Earth tones are definitely your best bet. See the above tips on packing for more tips on how to dress appropriately.
15. Take amazing photos to bring home with you
Taking photos on safari is one of those once-in-a-lifetime adventures that can send chills of excitement up your spine as you anticipate coming face-to-face with a lion and trying to bottle that feeling via your lens. It can also feel rather daunting. You want to make the most of the opportunity, but you won't just be able to bring every piece of equipment you could imagine with you thanks to bush flight weight limits. Put some thought into your photography plan well before you take off so you can return home feeling as satisfied as you can when trying to faithfully represent something so elusive to capture on film as Africa.
Don't rely solely on your phone
For most photography situations these days, phones do a very passable job. Safari is different. You'll want to have a camera with the right technical specs and settings that can meet the demands for zoom shots, fast shutter speeds, and low-light conditions. You might use your phone sometimes, but you'll definitely miss a lot of shots without a DSLR. If you don't own a DSLR already, check out my bullet below about renting equipment.
Bring a versatile zoom lens
There are many things to consider when picking which lens or lenses to bring on safari, but my #1 piece of advice is to bring a versatile zoom lens that starts around 70mm and reaches at least 300mm (400mm is better). Target the lowest f-stop to help with the lighting demands, but this of course increases the price of the lens.
Most people think you want the biggest zoom possible for safari after seeing Nat Geo photographers lugging around massive lenses - this is only partially true. Zoom is definitely important, but for most situations, i.e., you're not focusing on bird photography, 300-400mm is plenty. You'll actually get closer to the animals than you think, especially if allowed to drive off road, and you'll want the wider-angle aspect of your lens to capture the full scene.
Perhaps you have two lenses that cover this zoom range and you're thinking picking one versatile lens vs. two specialist lenses can negatively impact lens quality. This is a decision you have to make. But, there is a case for mainly using one lens. First, great photo opportunities happen quickly, they also fade away quickly. If you're fumbling around for the "right" lens you might miss the shot entirely. Secondly, in an open vehicle, dust can be a problem when changing lenses, which is not only a concern for your equipment, but can slow you down even more.
Consider renting if you don't own the right equipment
Perhaps you've just read my tips above and are panicking because you don't own any of that equipment. The good news is - there are companies that will rent it to you! You can rent a full camera body and lens, or you can just try out a longer lens that you aren't ready to drop the cash on or won't use much after safari. Renting is a great way to access that next level of equipment. Also keep in mind that a camera, any camera, is better than no camera at all. So, if thinking about a bunch of new equipment makes you queasy, opt for renting or look into more affordable and user-friendly bridge cameras.
Be prepared to react quickly
I mentioned being quick above in my advice for which lens to bring, but be prepared for "the moment" to pop up out of nowhere and only last for a split second. Always be on the lookout. Also, prepare your camera for what settings you think you'll need. For the more "predictable" shots, I stay in aperture-priority mode to create the right depth of field. But, I also keep my settings for shutter-priority ready for fast action shots, that way they're just one click of the wheel away in case the situation gets more lively. Action or not, I keep my camera in continuous shooting mode to always be ready to shoot a series of frames. Make sure to have plenty of camera batteries and memory cards so swapping equipment doesn't slow you down.
Practice before you leave
Don't let your vacation be the first time you're trying to learn how to use your new camera body or a setting you haven't touched before. Make sure to practice with your equipment at home and know your settings cold. This will help you be quick; it will also help you know the full scope of possibilities with your camera. At a minimum make sure you understand how to:
Change and clean your lenses
Turn your camera flash off and on
Use aperture- and shutter-priority modes
Adjust ISO and exposure settings
Manually focus and change the focal zone for auto-focus
Shoot in HDR and / or bracketed modes for landscapes
I also downloaded a pdf version of my camera's manual to my phone - just in case!
Look for inspiration ahead of time
This doesn’t mean copy (not that you even can truly copy when it comes to safari photography). But it's helpful to understand the environment you'll be shooting in. If you look up some inspiration photos online that use a certain technique you've not used (much) before, you can practice before you come home. You can also have a good idea of photos you might request from your guide, so that you can end up in front of the lens sometimes!
Prepare for dust
Dust is a challenge photographers don’t have to deal with shooting in many situations. On safari, your vehicle or other vehicles can kick up dust to the point that your clothes and camera gear can feel the impact. Beware the dust can take some time to settle even after you've stopped, so be smart about when you change lenses. Packing a light scarf can help you prepare for chilly mornings, but it can also help cover your camera from the brunt of the dust. Also pack a cleaning kit to keep your equipment in the best shape and consider a deep-clean once you get home to rid of any residual dust.
Don't forget about astrophotography
Of course, safari photography is very much focused on the amazing wildlife and vast landscapes, but don't forget about what happens after the sun goes down. You'll be under one of the darkest skies on the planet which dazzles with a blanket of stars. I didn't believe my eyes when we looked up at the Milky Way stretched across the sky, no camera or telescope needed. If you have any interest in astrophotography, consider accounting for the additional equipment, whether it's special lenses, remote shutter releases, a red flashlight, tripod, equatorial mount, etc., as you plan your packing.
Other helpful tips
We brought our GoPro along to use for videos, ultra-wide shots, and timelapses. It gives so much versatility in such a small package, which is great for safari.
Consider using a beanbag if you need to stabilize a shot on the edge of your vehicle. Your game vehicle might also have one!
Bring a dedicated camera bag to protect your gear from dust and the bumpy ride of bush planes and safari vehicles.
Many guides also enjoy photography on the side - ask them to share their wisdom! They're likely to have some good tips or at least will be happy to position the vehicle a certain way if you have a shot in mind.
16. Stay smart around the lodge
Your lodge will tell you all of the official ground rules, and there really isn't much to be concerned about, but there are just a couple of things to keep in mind to stay safe & healthy while staying in Africa.
Be aware you are in the animals' home and there's a chance one will wander into camp
It's a small chance since animals generally keep away from people, but you are still in the wild. The risk is bigger at night because animals (and humans) will react differently when surprised. At night, lodges will have an escort walk you between tents to ensure you aren't caught off guard by an animal encounter.
Make sure to only drink drinkable water around camp
Lodges will provide abundant amounts of drinking water in your room, but water out of the tap will not be potable. Just don’t forget about this when taking a shower, brushing your teeth, or going for a swim. You may also want to double-check that your drinks are served with ice made with filtered water if you are concerned.
Amazing guide. Feels like I have a MUCH better understanding of what to expect. My favorite part was (on guides) “Whatever they say goes; do not pass go; do not collect $200.”