%3Amax_bytes(150000)%3Astrip_icc()%2FTAL-kenya-cheetah-lauren-botswana-SAFARIPHOTOTIPS0725-12b0f9b0fc024a89ab6e111d59d9e050.jpg&w=3840&q=100)
I'm a Professional Photographer and These Are My Safari Photo Secrets
By the end of the trip, I hadn't touched the wide-angle lens I packed; the tripod in my bag was unused. Over 10 days, I also got a real-world education in camera settings, working in dusty conditions, and with the very real threat of running out of space on my memory cards. And to think that I had already been doing this for a living for several years.
Since that fateful first trip, I've gone on several other, more successful safaris—during which I've honed the following strategies for maximizing my time in the field. Zebras in Botswana's Makgadikgadi Pans.
While I'm careful about overpacking, one thing I won't compromise on is traveling with two camera bodies. I carry two Sony full-frame mirrorless cameras, an Alpha 7R III and an Alpha 7R V. I fit each one with a different lens so I don't have to swap lenses in the middle of whatever action I'm trying to capture. I typically use a 24-70 mm for wider shots of the landscape, animal herds, and creatures that come close, and a 200-600 mm super telephoto for tighter shots. I also bring along a 70-200 mm, just in case.
When it comes to rare sightings—a cheetah feasting on a fresh kill, a hyena, a sable antelope—you might only have a split second to capture the moment. 'Too often, guests arrive in Africa with brand-new camera equipment they have never used,' says Shaun Stanley, the founder of Stanley Safaris. 'Practice prior to your arrival and consider investing in a photography course.'
I always carry Zeiss lens wipes, microfiber cleaning cloths, and a rocket air blaster for removing dust without the risk of scratches. My lenses are also fitted with UV filters, which protect them from scratches and harsh sunshine.
For sharp images, stability is key—but a traditional tripod is cumbersome inside the confines of a safari vehicle. I've learned to love the Kinesis SafariSack, a beanbag-style pouch you can rest on the side of a Land Rover or over a seat. 'Many lodges and camps have them, but you can never be certain, so I always bring my own,' says Ian Proctor, a member of the T+L A-List and president of Ultimate Africa Safaris. 'I pack it empty and then ask the lodge for some beans to fill it when I arrive.'
I've gotten the dreaded 'SD card full' message many times, and it always seems to happen when I'm capturing some thrilling moment. 'It is not out of the norm to shoot upwards of a thousand images per day,' says Julian Harrison, another A-List advisor and the CEO of Premier Tours. Many lodges stock extra memory cards, but I've yet to find a solid camera shop in the bush—and you don't want to run short of space mid-game drive.
Every safari is different, but I tend to rely on a few common settings. To capture fast-moving wildlife, I use quick shutter speeds, typically 1/1000 or faster. Burst mode, which takes a series of rapid-fire shots, is also essential. Fast shutter speeds often call for higher ISO settings, but too much sensitivity can create 'noise,' so I try to stay at 1600 or lower. When taking close-up or zoomed-in photos, I always focus on the animal's eyes, using an f-stop between f/2.8 and f/6.3 to give a shallow depth of field that makes for a beautiful blurred background.
Whether your equipment cost $2,000 or $20,000, you'll want to protect that investment: camera-specific plans from Lemonade, Progressive, and State Farm cover your gear almost anywhere in the world. Some homeowner's policies also include coverage.
'If you're serious about photography, I suggest paying extra for a private safari vehicle,' Stanley says. 'That way you can bring all your equipment without imposing on other guests.'
With their plentiful game and spectacular scenery, big-name national parks are famous for a reason—but also draw larger crowds. 'Photographers should seek out private concessions, where no more than three vehicles can gather around a particular animal sighting,' Stanley says. These also tend to have fewer restrictions on access, meaning you can arrive before sunrise or stay out after sunset to capture wildlife in the dreamy light of dawn or dusk.
I'm certainly guilty of spending too much time behind the lens, so I've made a point of, every now and then, simply putting down my camera and soaking it all in.
A version of this story first appeared in the July 2025 issue of Travel + Leisure under the headline "Animal Magic.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Forbes
2 hours ago
- Forbes
Colorado Innovates Wildlife Crossing System To Deter Crashes
Colorado Department of Transportation staff views remote camera photos of wildlife crossing under a ... More highway structure. As Colorado leaders recently toured a half-way point on building a massive overpass wildlife crossing above Interstate 25, state police were warning drivers about the dangers of crashing into animals after two recent fatalities. U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet (D) joined with state officials recently to see what is billed as among the world's largest wildlife crossing built over a major highway. Located in Douglas County, the Colorado Department of Transportation is managing the project called the I-25 Greenland Wildlife Overpass. The goal is to reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions with such big game as elk, pronghorn and mule deer by creating a six-lane-wide overpass. The location is where large movements of big game animals occur. Bennet commented July 25 in a social media post about his visit to the Greenland Wildlife Overpass project: 'Colorado continues to be a model for the rest of the Western United States. By building the largest wildlife overpass in the U.S., we are protecting wildlife and keeping Colorado drivers safe.' Rendering of the wildlife overpass above I-25. The overpass was designed with wide sloped entrances that gradually rise above the highway to appeal to big game. Elk prefer traveling in wide open areas and avoid tunnels and underpasses. The $15-million wildlife overpass is expected to reduce wildlife/vehicle collisions by 90% on I-25. After completion slated for December, the structure will compliment an existing I-25 wildlife crossing system of underpasses and fences and connect 39,000 acres of habitat on both sides of the interstate. Images of wildlife using Colorado's wildlife crossing underpasses. The 200-foot-wide, 209-foot-long overpass will link into the state's current 18-mile wildlife crossing mitigation system called the I-25 South Gap project. This area is between Denver and Colorado Springs. Before Colorado created its wildlife crossing mitigation system, drivers along that stretch of I-25 crashed into an average of one wild animal per day trying to pass through the highway corridor. Each day some 87,000 motorists drive on that 18-mile section of I-25 just south of the Denver metropolitan region. With abundant animals and people living among its mountain areas, Colorado sees about 4,000 wildlife-vehicle crashes yearly that cause $80 million in damages. These accidents also result in injuries and fatalities to people and wildlife. Wildlife killed include moose, deer, black bears, elk, mountain lions, raccoons, hawks, coyotes, porcupines, red foxes, bobcats, owls, rabbits, Canadian geese, beavers and badgers. Although the new overpass is mainly meant for larger animals it will likely be used by other wildlife as has been the case with Colorado's wildlife underpasses. Animal footprints at a Colorado wildlife crossing. A variety of animals have been seen on cameras using the underpasses, including wild turkeys. Colorado State Patrol have held a summer public awareness campaign about wildlife-vehicle crashes to deter collisions. Already this year through July 17, state troopers have responded to 1,600 animal-involved crashes causing property damage in 95% of the accidents. In these collisions, 63 people sustained injuries and two died. Shortly before midnight on July 11, a driver collided with a moose before three other vehicles hit the animal. One of the drivers lost control of the vehicle and died. Then on July 20 just before 6 a.m., a motorist swerved to avoid crashing into a deer and veered off the road. The vehicle rolled and the driver was fatally injured. 'Drivers in the mountain communities know to expect wildlife, but these animals can show up in more unexpected locations everywhere in our state,' Col. Matthew Packard, state patrol chief, noted in a press statement. The Colorado State Patrol has determined the third most common factor in all vehicle crashes last year were wildlife collisions. In 2024, troopers investigated 3,573 of these wildlife-vehicle crashes. Statistics showed 96% of those crashes last year resulted in damaged vehicles, while the majority of the injured wildlife died. 'According to the Rocky Mountain Insurance Information Association, the insurance industry pays nearly $1.1 billion yearly in claims for all wildlife collisions nationwide. The average property damage cost of these crashes is estimated at over $3,000,' Colorado State Patrol says. Colorado troopers have listed steps drivers can take to mitigate accidents with wildlife. They suggest motorists: When encountering wildlife while driving on a roadway, police say the most important advice is to maintain control of your vehicle.
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
The reverse migration: African Americans relocating to Kenya cite heritage and restoration
NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — Kenneth Harris spent most of his days in Atlanta yearning for a life in a place where his dark skin color is not a source of suspicion, but a mark of a shared heritage. His chance came two years ago when he bought a one-way ticket to Kenya. The 38-year-old retired veteran has found a community in the east African country's capital, where he now runs an Airbnb business. He loves admiring Nairobi's golden sunset from a rooftop terrace, and enjoys a luxurious lifestyle in a tastefully furnished apartment in an upmarket neighborhood. Harris is part of a growing wave of African Americans who are relocating to Kenya, citing the need to connect with their ancestors — or 'coming home," a phrase often used among the Black community. Like dozens of other African Americans who have moved to Nairobi in recent years, Harris was attracted to Kenya's tropical climate and what he describes as the warmth and friendliness of the people he believes he shares a history and culture with. In search of community and a better life 'I have always had that adventurous spirit, especially when I joined the military and got to go to different countries. So I am taking the opportunity to venture out to new places," he said. 'That is what allowed me to make a home away from home and Kenya is my new home.' Some friends have reaching out to him to explore a 'change from the U.S for their peace of mind,' he said. Several other African Americans who have 'come home' like him have set up thriving businesses in Nairobi that include travel agencies, restaurants and farms. Many African Americans who have sought a better life abroad or are considering it said President Donald Trump's administration — with its crackdown on diversity programs — isn't the main reason they want to move. Rather, most say they had been mulling a move for some time, and the current political environment in the U.S. may be pushing them to act sooner than initially planned. 'I can't say the administration is the reason why the people I know want to part ways from America. Some are planning to move for a better quality of living life,' Harris said. Auston Holleman, an American YouTuber who has lived in various countries for almost a decade, said he settled on Kenya nine months ago because people 'look like me.' 'It is not like going to Europe or going to some Latin American countries where there are not many Black people,' he said. Holleman, who often films his daily life, said he felt that the social fabric in the U.S. was 'broken." In contrast, he said he felt socially accepted in Kenya. He cited an experience when his taxi driver's car stopped, and in five minutes they got help from a random stranger. 'That made me realize I was in the right place,' he said. Growing numbers are interested in leaving the US Other African countries have attracted even larger numbers of African Americans. Ghana, which launched a 'Year of the Return' program to attract the Black diaspora in 2019, said last year it held a ceremony that granted citizenship to 524 people, mostly Black Americans. African American businesses such as Adilah Relocation Services have seen a notable rise in the number of African Americans seeking to move to Kenya. The company's founder, Adilah Mohammad, moved to Kenya four days after her mother's funeral in search of healing. She says the peace and restoration she experienced in Kenya made her stay — and advocate for those searching for the same. Her company helps clients relocate by house hunting, shopping for furniture and ensuring banking and medical services are seamless. 'There are 15 families that have come so far, and we have five more on the calendar that are coming in the next 90 days. We have people that have booked for 2026 with no date, they just know that they are leaving,' she says. Mohammad said many African Americans have been planning their move for decades. 'For me it is a movement. It is people deciding to make a choice for themselves, they are not being forced, shackles are being broken. When they say they are coming home, they are choosing to be free and it is mental freedom and so I am ecstatic,' she says. Experts say African economies are likely to benefit from these moves, especially from those willing to tackle corruption and create a healthy environment for investors. Raphael Obonyo, a public policy expert at U.N-Habitat, says the U.S is losing resources — as well as the popular narrative that America is the land of opportunities and dreams. 'This reverse migration is denting that narrative, so America is most likely to lose including things like brain drain,' he explained. For Mohammad, the sense of belonging has given her peace within. 'I love being here. Returning to Africa is one thing, but finding the place that you feel like you belong is another,' she said. _____________ For more on Africa and development: The Associated Press receives financial support for global health and development coverage in Africa from the Gates Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP's standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
The reverse migration: African Americans relocating to Kenya cite heritage and restoration
NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — Kenneth Harris spent most of his days in Atlanta yearning for a life in a place where his dark skin color is not a source of suspicion, but a mark of a shared heritage. His chance came two years ago when he bought a one-way ticket to Kenya. The 38-year-old retired veteran has found a community in the east African country's capital, where he now runs an Airbnb business. He loves admiring Nairobi's golden sunset from a rooftop terrace, and enjoys a luxurious lifestyle in a tastefully furnished apartment in an upmarket neighborhood. Harris is part of a growing wave of African Americans who are relocating to Kenya, citing the need to connect with their ancestors — or 'coming home," a phrase often used among the Black community. Like dozens of other African Americans who have moved to Nairobi in recent years, Harris was attracted to Kenya's tropical climate and what he describes as the warmth and friendliness of the people he believes he shares a history and culture with. In search of community and a better life 'I have always had that adventurous spirit, especially when I joined the military and got to go to different countries. So I am taking the opportunity to venture out to new places," he said. 'That is what allowed me to make a home away from home and Kenya is my new home.' Some friends have reaching out to him to explore a 'change from the U.S for their peace of mind,' he said. Several other African Americans who have 'come home' like him have set up thriving businesses in Nairobi that include travel agencies, restaurants and farms. Many African Americans who have sought a better life abroad or are considering it said President Donald Trump's administration — with its crackdown on diversity programs — isn't the main reason they want to move. Rather, most say they had been mulling a move for some time, and the current political environment in the U.S. may be pushing them to act sooner than initially planned. 'I can't say the administration is the reason why the people I know want to part ways from America. Some are planning to move for a better quality of living life,' Harris said. Auston Holleman, an American YouTuber who has lived in various countries for almost a decade, said he settled on Kenya nine months ago because people 'look like me.' 'It is not like going to Europe or going to some Latin American countries where there are not many Black people,' he said. Holleman, who often films his daily life, said he felt that the social fabric in the U.S. was 'broken." In contrast, he said he felt socially accepted in Kenya. He cited an experience when his taxi driver's car stopped, and in five minutes they got help from a random stranger. 'That made me realize I was in the right place,' he said. Growing numbers are interested in leaving the US Other African countries have attracted even larger numbers of African Americans. Ghana, which launched a 'Year of the Return' program to attract the Black diaspora in 2019, said last year it held a ceremony that granted citizenship to 524 people, mostly Black Americans. African American businesses such as Adilah Relocation Services have seen a notable rise in the number of African Americans seeking to move to Kenya. The company's founder, Adilah Mohammad, moved to Kenya four days after her mother's funeral in search of healing. She says the peace and restoration she experienced in Kenya made her stay — and advocate for those searching for the same. Her company helps clients relocate by house hunting, shopping for furniture and ensuring banking and medical services are seamless. 'There are 15 families that have come so far, and we have five more on the calendar that are coming in the next 90 days. We have people that have booked for 2026 with no date, they just know that they are leaving,' she says. Mohammad said many African Americans have been planning their move for decades. 'For me it is a movement. It is people deciding to make a choice for themselves, they are not being forced, shackles are being broken. When they say they are coming home, they are choosing to be free and it is mental freedom and so I am ecstatic,' she says. Experts say African economies are likely to benefit from these moves, especially from those willing to tackle corruption and create a healthy environment for investors. Raphael Obonyo, a public policy expert at U.N-Habitat, says the U.S is losing resources — as well as the popular narrative that America is the land of opportunities and dreams. 'This reverse migration is denting that narrative, so America is most likely to lose including things like brain drain,' he explained. For Mohammad, the sense of belonging has given her peace within. 'I love being here. Returning to Africa is one thing, but finding the place that you feel like you belong is another,' she said. _____________ For more on Africa and development: The Associated Press receives financial support for global health and development coverage in Africa from the Gates Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP's standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at Solve the daily Crossword
