New user looking for advice

[Robert snary]

Hi I am an enthusiastic ( sometimes over enthusiastic) amateur photographer and I am after advice about best time for a safari in South Africa for 2019. I  obviously will be looking to do a lot of wildlife photography the trip I am looking at is South Africa with Kruger and other reserves but unsure best time of year so thought I would try and get advice from people who have been there there are trips available Jan, Feb, March, May, June, July September October & November so any thoughts please

 

the trip is small group not more than 18 people and includes 15 game drives.

i plan on having 2 camera bodies with different lens including my 150-600

 

advice and hints please

[Rob Wood (Admin)]

@roberts – check out some of the videos of Thomas Heaton on Youtube – he recently put up a bunch of wildlife and landscape stuff from a trip to Africa.

[Kent DuFault]

Talk to @Tobie. Send him a message here on Lightstalking. I’m quite certain he could give you some valuable tips.

[Tobie]

Winter (May – September) is always a safe bet because then it’s dry season and the wildlife tend to not wander too far away from the drinking spots. It obviously is also a good time to not get stuck in mud and/or severe thunderstorms common to the northern parts of our country.

In general I prefer early morning game drives because then the cats get active and you’re likely to see a few kills (mostly after the event but most people prefer it that way). You might do one night drive just for the hell of it but I’ve found that you only get value for your money in about 1 out of 10 drives. Sometimes you see absolutely nothing worthwhile.

The 150-600 on a full frame body is a good choice and you’ll use that most of the time. I’d keep a 24-70 and a 70-200 close by for its f/2.8 capabilities when it’s getting darker on afternoon or night drives. As long as there’s a flash light on the vehicle (which is standard) to light up your subjects, you’ll be able to take shots if you push up the ISO’s.

You’re welcome to contact me closer to the time (or earlier) for more info. tobiepsg@yahoo.com. Tobie

[Robert snary]

Tobie and all many thanks for your advice, I will be going to a travel show in London early Feb so can book up and get early booker and show discount and also start arranging what jabs I need, I had an arm and body full in 99 for a work trip to Kenyabut they will all need redoing and need to seek advice as I am diabetic. But it’s good to get great advice from such a friendly and helpful group

thanks again

 

[Robert snary]

I haven’t had a chance to update as the salt mine ( work) has kept me busy but all booked for South Africa Safari May/June 2019 visiting Kruger and Private Game Reserves and already stockpiling SD cards on the basis that it is better to bring back some unused than run out mid trip

thanks to all for your advice

 

[Dahlia Ambrose]

Wow! That’s great to hear Robert. Would be nice to see what you photograph there and to hear about your experience there. Enjoy!

I think it is also good to have an external hard drive (a compact one) so that you can have a backup of the images in your card 🙂

[Robert snary]

I will take the iPad mini with me and back up daily but I never reuse the memory cards so I keep those as masters. I will post photos but before the Safari I have a trip to Japan planned so I am hoping to do some portraits of Geisha and Maiko as I haven’t done much portraiture

[Dahlia Ambrose]

Very nice Robert. I had to google “Geisha and Maiko” to see what they were. You will be getting some beautiful and colourful portraits. Sounds very exciting as well! 🙂

[Robert snary]

This was taken at the Cat Survival Trust in the UK on a private photo shoot, totally from the camera no image manipulation

[Tobie]

Welcome in advance Robert!

I prefer an external hard drive for backing up. SD cards can easily get lost. Not so a HDD.

Be sure to inform yourself re. how to stay safe in SA. Don’t get caught off-guard!

Twelve British tourists robbed in Mpumalanga

 

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