How thrilling is this? You’re going on a photo safari in Africa! With a fantastic location, an amazing guide, luxurious lodges, and the best vehicles, you’re in for a real treat, especially if you’re with Gettle Photography! Let’s dive into African safari packing tips — one of the most important parts of your adventure.
African Safari Packing Tips
Camera Gear Essentials
First things first: your camera gear! Africa is brimming with photo opportunities, from stunning wildlife to breathtaking landscapes and rich cultures. So, you’ll want to bring a variety of lenses to capture it all. Here’s what my partner Nicole and I typically pack, keeping our focus on wildlife photography, but also incorporating landscapes and a bit of culture too.
- Camera Bodies:
- 2 Nikon Z9s
- 1 Nikon Z8
- Lenses:
- 600mm f4 (with a drop-in 1.4 tele-converter)
- 180-400mm (with a drop-in 1.4 tele-converter)
- 100-400mm (or a 70-200mm I bring the 100-400mm because it covers roughly the same focal range but also acts as a back-up for my precious 180-400mm)
- 24-70mm f2.8
- 14-24mm f2.8
- 105mm or 200mm macro lens
Africa Safaris 2025 – Actual usage of each lens brought
This year has been incredible for us! We’ve enjoyed 8 trips to Africa across 9 different countries, with a total of 70 days spent there in this year. During all of those trips I’ve taken around 60,194 images!
Here’s a quick breakdown of the lenses used for all of those 60,194 images*:
- 600mm: 24,678 images
- 600mm with 1.4 tele-converter: 3,197 images
- 180-400mm: 17,180 images
- 100-400mm: 6,619 images
- 200mm macro: 76 images
- 100mm macro: 273 images
- 24-70mm: 7,600 images
- 14-24mm: 571 images
* Important note regarding the number of images I shoot: I have been to Africa many many times and at this point I am very selective about what I shoot, not shooting a lot of portraits or other “tier one” images much anymore plus I am often busy making sure clients get the images. You will shoot a lot more images on a trip than I do! For instance on a recent 11 day trip to Zimbabwe I created about 9,000 images while a client of ours made nearly 150,000 images, which may be a bit excessive LOL but you get the point.
Most of our clients come prepared with:
- 2 camera bodies
- 150-600mm or 200-600mm zoom
- 70-200mm lens
- 24-70mm lens
- 1.4 tele-converter
- A sturdy camera bag for easy transport
This kit will cover about 90% of your needs! Having two camera bodies is key—just in case one breaks—and it helps minimize the hassle of changing lenses in potentially dusty conditions.
Additional Gear
We also recommend bringing a few other essentials:
- A tripod for shooting in the lodges Most of our clients don’t bother with this if you have big heavy glass you might want to consider it.
- Two beanbags for stabilizing your shots
- A Visal Echos Panning Plate to assist with moving subjects (Optional but not necessary)
- Plenty of batteries and memory cards
- A computer and card reader for downloading images
- All necessary chargers and cables
- Correct plug adapters for the countries you’ll visit
- A multi-plug because some lodges have limited outlets
- A headlamp, as many lodges might have low lighting
- Binoculars for wildlife viewing
- Sunglasses and a hat for sun protection
- Toiletries
Photography Safari Clothing Tips
For clothing for a photography trip to Africa of two weeks or less, keeping in mind that virtually all of the lodges will have laundry service, we suggest:
- 3 pairs of pants (including one with zip-off legs for versatility)
- 4-5 short-sleeve tees and 3-4 long-sleeve shirts for sun protection
- A warm jacket for chilly mornings (layering is key, as mornings can be cool and afternoons hot!)
- Clothes in natural, muted colors to blend in with the environment
- A couple of pillowcases to cover gear from dust in the vehicle
How to pack all of this safari gear?
Here is a link to our Gear Page Where you will find info about all of the camera bags and luggage we use. Also another useful bit of information an article about our packing strategies.
With these tips, you’ll be well-prepared to make the most out of your unforgettable photo safari experience in Africa!
Top Ten Tips for Making the Most of Your Time and Capturing Stunning Images in Africa
Time in the field is precious in the world of nature photography, especially during an exhilarating wildlife photo tour in Africa! You want to spend as much time as possible capturing the beauty around you, and with the right strategies, you can make every moment count. Here are our top ten tips to help you maximize your time in the field and return home with amazing images.
1. Focus on Quality, Not Quantity
On your first trip to Africa, the temptation to photograph everything is strong. However, be mindful of not wasting time on less-than-stellar shots, like a poorly lit, very small in the frame, bird against a blank white sky. Africa is brimming with incredible photographic opportunities. Instead of spending time capturing average images that you’ll likely delete later, focus on subjects and situations that truly inspire you. Remember, a quick record shot is fine, but don’t linger on it. Capture it and move on!
2. Patience is Key
Knowing when to hang back and let the action unfold can be tricky, especially for newcomers. This is where a knowledgeable guide or tour leader becomes invaluable. They understand animal behavior and can sense when an exciting moment may be on the horizon, like a lioness with cubs that may make an appearance or an animal preparing to hunt. If your guide or tour leader suggests waiting, take their advice, it could lead to spectacular shots!
3. Capture Those Expressive Eyes
Eyes are essential for connecting with your audience. Most impactful wildlife images include the subject’s eyes, inviting viewers into the scene. Aim to capture both eyes whenever possible, even better when the subject is gazing directly at you. These shots are the ones that truly resonate!
4. Embrace the Magic of Light
Africa’s unique light can transform your photographs. Backlighting, in particular, creates a beautiful, ethereal quality. Although dust can be a challenge, it often adds drama and mood to your images. Africa is one of my favorite places to create silhouettes. Keep an eye out for opportunities to create these. They can be striking and memorable!
5. Shoot High – Shoot Low
In many safari vehicles, you can shoot from both high and low angles. When your subject is farther away, shooting from the roof hatch works well. However, for closer animals, shooting from the window brings you to their eye level, enhancing the visual connection. Pay attention to how your shooting angle affects the background; sometimes, one perspective will clearly shine over the other.
6. Prioritize Behavior Shots Over Portraits
While captivating portraits are beautiful, don’t overlook the importance of capturing animal behaviors and interactions. These dynamic moments often provide the most compelling stories and will make your portfolio stand out.
7. Celebrate the Wild Setting
Remember, you’re not in a zoo! You’re capturing wildlife in their natural habitat. Celebrate that through your photographs by including the stunning landscapes and environments around your subjects. This adds depth and context to your images.
8. You Came all this way to Make Images not to Edit Them
Make downloading and backing up your images a daily habit. We recommend bringing two external hard drives for backups and formatting your memory cards each day. You should also look at your images every day, checking for technical issues like dust on your sensor or too slow a shutter speed etc. We do not edit or delete images while we are travelling. If you are not shooting, you should be eating or resting up for the next day. There will be plenty of time for editing when you return home.
9. Perform a Gear Check Before Each Game Drive
As we are packing your gear or on the way out of camp for a game drive, I always do a gear check. I want to make sure I am shooting raw, my white balance is properly set, I don’t have an exposure compensation dialed in, my autofocus is setup properly etc etc etc.. A simple gear check can save you from missing a fantastic shot due to a technical mishap!
10. Be Ready for Action!
Wildlife can surprise you at any moment, so it’s essential to be prepared for unexpected action. Make sure your camera settings are configured for shooting action, allowing you to capture spontaneous moments. If we turn the corner and see two leopards fighting, I want to be able to just throw up a camera and start shooting. If we turn a corner and see a spectacular African landscape before us, there will almost always be time to adjust my settings to photograph the scene. As a reminder, once we are done photographing the landscape, I am going to reset my camera for action. Things often happen quickly in Africa, and you’ll want to be ready!
Bonus Tip 11. Don’t Forget about Black and White
The African landscape and wildlife lend themselves very well to black and white photography. Especially in the contrasty harsh light of midday. At these times, I switch gears and start looking for images and compositions that would work well as a black and white.
By following these tips, you’ll be well on your way to having an unforgettable African photo tour filled with stunning images.
Good Luck and Good Light!
Steve