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:
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
Claude Melde: Great blue turaco in Uganda
Jean Goldstone: Crowned hornbill in Sibuya Game Reserve in the Eastern Cape of South Africa
Alistair Swartz: A pack of African wild dogs play before sunrise
Anil Varma: Juvenile chimpanzee at Kibale National Park in Uganda
Arnfinn Johansen: Lioness in the evening light
Arnfinn Johansen: Flap necked chameleon.
Arnfinn Johansen: Lioness with an ostrich kill.
Arnfinn Johansen: Topis in the African sunset.
Chris Grech: Morning meerkat mayhem.
Clement Kiragu: The golden queen.
Georgina Leith: Big yawn.
Jana Scherf Arnstadt: Elephant group in Etosha National Park
Jana Scherf: Elephant eye in South Africa.
Jandre Germishuizenm: Pelican stare
Jane Pearce: Rukumu silverback mountain gorilla in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest Uganda
Jean Goldstone: Zebra at Addo Elephant Park.
Jochen Weissenberger: Grey giants passing by at Sabi Sands game reserve.
Kathleen Byrski Reid: Phinda after the storm.
Miranda Keller: Cape fox pups at play.
Louise van Stuyvesant Meijen: Elephant dust bath in Chobe.
Rick George: Elephant in the Chobe River at sunset.
Sheila Hammer: Crocodile breakfast in Samburu Kenya
Sibyl Morris: African fish eagle in the Okavango panhandle.
Tony Campbell: Portrait of a golden monkey in Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda.
Arnfinn Johansen: Lion cub.
Geraldine Davies: My what big teeth you have….
Zhayynn James: Higher ground. A pair of lionesses survey the savannah in the serengeti from atop their post on an acacia tree.
Zhayynn-James: Tequila sunset. A small herd of zebras against the light of the setting sun in the Maasai Mara.
Featured image: Arnfinn Johansen