by Jemma Brewitt
on November 25, 2017
3 min read

An African safari is the perfect setting to take exquisite photography, but, oh snap, there’s a lot to remember when packing. Not only have we provided you with a packing list, but we’ve also included some of the entries for Africa’s Photographer of the Year in to give you some inspiration for your upcoming safari. To make sure you don’t lose focus while packing, here’s a packing checklist for a photographic safari:

A leopard sitting in the grass during sunrise

Arnfinn Johansen: Leopard in the morning light

1. 300mm/400mm long lens for closeups of the Big 5 you’re going to spot (preferably a zoom lens)

2. A macro lens for the smaller wonders of the bush

3. Your standard lens

4. Lens filters (UV, circular polarizer and colour warming)

5. A plug adapter

6. A download cable

7. A charger

8. Laptop and card reader

9. Something to clean your lenses with (cloth/lens wipes)

10. A monopod and/or beanbag (both can be used within a vehicle)

11. A lens hood

12. A backup battery

13. Extra SD cards

14. Camera bag

15. Camera strap

16. And, of course, the actual camera body

Great blue turaco in Uganda

Claude Melde: Great blue turaco in Uganda

Crowned hornbill in Sibuya Game Reserve in the Eastern Cape of South Africa

Jean Goldstone: Crowned hornbill in Sibuya Game Reserve in the Eastern Cape of South Africa

A pack of African wild dogs play before sunrise

Alistair Swartz: A pack of African wild dogs play before sunrise

Juvenile chimpanzee at Kibale National Park in Uganda

Anil Varma: Juvenile chimpanzee at Kibale National Park in Uganda

Lioness in the evening light

Arnfinn Johansen: Lioness in the evening light

 Flap necked chameleon

Arnfinn Johansen: Flap necked chameleon.

Lioness with an ostrich kill

Arnfinn Johansen: Lioness with an ostrich kill.

Topis in the African sunset

Arnfinn Johansen: Topis in the African sunset.

Meerkats playing together.

Chris Grech: Morning meerkat mayhem.

A lion yawning in the sunset

Clement Kiragu: The golden queen.

Leopard yawning in the grass

Georgina Leith: Big yawn.

Elephant group in Etosha National Park

Jana Scherf Arnstadt: Elephant group in Etosha National Park

A closeup of an elephant eye

Jana Scherf: Elephant eye in South Africa.

A closeup of a pelican's head

Jandre Germishuizenm: Pelican stare

Rukumu silverback mountain gorilla in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest Uganda

Jane Pearce: Rukumu silverback mountain gorilla in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest Uganda

Zebra at Addo Elephant Park.

Jean Goldstone: Zebra at Addo Elephant Park.

Elephant herd walking together at sunset in the Sabi Sands.

Jochen Weissenberger: Grey giants passing by at Sabi Sands game reserve.

Three giraffes walking against blue skies.

Kathleen Byrski Reid: Phinda after the storm.

Cap fox pups playing together

Miranda Keller: Cape fox pups at play.

Elephant dust bath in Chobe.

Louise van Stuyvesant Meijen: Elephant dust bath in Chobe.

Elephant in the Chobe River at sunset.

Rick George: Elephant in the Chobe River at sunset.

Crocodile eating a bird in Samburu Kenya

Sheila Hammer: Crocodile breakfast in Samburu Kenya

African fish eagle in the Okavango panhandle.

Sibyl Morris: African fish eagle in the Okavango panhandle.

Portrait of a golden monkey in Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda.

Tony Campbell: Portrait of a golden monkey in Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda.

A lion cub lying in the grass

Arnfinn Johansen: Lion cub.

Leopard baby and mother playing

Geraldine Davies: My what big teeth you have….

A pair of lionesses survey the savannah in the serengeti from atop their post on an acacia tree.

Zhayynn James: Higher ground. A pair of lionesses survey the savannah in the serengeti from atop their post on an acacia tree.

A small herd of zebras against the light of the setting sun in the Maasai Mara.

Zhayynn-James: Tequila sunset. A small herd of zebras against the light of the setting sun in the Maasai Mara.

Featured image: Arnfinn Johansen