About the Author

Rich Laburn

Head of Digital

Rich is the driving force behind Londolozi’s online storytelling and the founder of the Londolozi blog. His passions of digital media, film and photography have seen him build Londolozi's online ecosystem into a unique platform for advocacy of the restoration and rewilding of ...

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19 Comments

on The Best Photographic Equipment To Bring on Safari

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Richard this post is amazing! I deal on daily basis with guests at Londolozi who arrive with brand new very expensive equipment and no clue how to use it. This should really help guests arrive knowing a couple of the basics and help them to at least hit the ground running. Keep it up!!!

Thanks Chris, hopefully guests at Londoz, travelers to Africa, avid photographers and even beginners will be able to take something out of it in whatever form. Keep posted for more comments and info to follow on this post as well as different tips and techniques in the weeks to come.

Mark
Guest

An excellent article!

Regarding beanbags I can recommend the “Beanpod” from

http://www.Beanpods.co.uk

Cheers,
Mark (UK).

Great idea Richard, I look forward to the articles. Another great website is as follows –

http://www.7dayshop.com/catalog/default.php?cPath=777

Great for batteries, memory cards and ink for your printers amongst other photography extras.

Thanks again

Sue
(Uk Base)

Will be there in November. With luggage weight limits hounding me I wonder about packing a bean bag for the trip from Hawai’i. I did purchase a ‘pod’ of some sort but find it cumbersome to use. Oh, my…what to do. Bringing a Nikon d70s …largest lens I use is 70-300mm. For backup I have a lightweight Olympus SP-590-UZ. Weight is my concern using various planes in Botswana before Londolozi. Any suggestions. BTW….absolutely can’t wait. Last time at Londolozi was 1984.

Don’t worry about bringing a beanbag as that will weigh you down and you will be able to use one provided here. Bring the D70s and the 70-300mm, not sure you need backup but feel free to bring it along anyway. Would suggest packing light and essentials only. Make sure you have spare memory cards as you will be able to store all your pics on them without having to bring a download device with you such as a laptop. Glad you are looking forward to your trip. 1984 was a long time ago!

debby
Guest

Loved Londolozi. (Sept 2010). Am a Nikon shooter. wouldn’t recommend the 80-400 lens – its AF is TOO slow.

Have a blast – I wish i was going back today!

Thanks for that advice Debbie, I’m sure many of us wouldn’t have known that otherwise. I believe that there is a really nice 80 – 200mm f2.8 Nikon lens which also might work well in place of that.

Gavin
Guest

Hey Rich

I think you mean the Nikon 70-200 VR2. It is a phenomenal lens. Based on how close the interactions with the animals are at Londolozi, this is probably the only lens one would need.

Teleconverters also help to add versatility and are relatively cheap.

The Nikon 200-400 VR2 F4 is also a great lens and some professionals think this is the greatest wildlife lens available, based on its versatility and sharpness.

Just my 2c worth, hopefully see you guys soon.

Thanks Gav, thats exactly the lens I mean. Glad to hear that you speak so highly of it and specifically as getting reasonably close to animals isn’t a problem at Londoz it sounds like just the lens to bring for us on safari here.

My personal choice is the 100 – 400 mm Canon lens simply for the versatiliy and I think that the 200 – 400 Nikon would probably be right up there although I can’t speak from personal experience.

Thanks for your thoughts and comments, much appreciated. See you soon!

filipe pereira
Guest

Helpful article…

Anyone has experienced a Safari with a Canon EF 400mm 5.6L USM?

Thanks

Hi Filipe, I can highly recommend the Canon EF 400mm 5.6L USM for wildlife photography. Not only is it a lens with great clarity but it is probably the most versatile lens for photographing wildlife considering its reach to 400mm. I have also found that the lens is quick to autofocus and performs extremely well in low light.

Henry Smith
Guest

Rich – this is a really helpful blog, thanks. I just spent a few days at Londolozi and love the fact that so many of your rangers are so into photography! It is great to be able to compare settings, framing, etc. with other people out in the field (especially those who know what they are doing!) By the way, I agree with Debbie – the Nikon 80-400 has been disappointing. I’ll have a 70-200 VR2 with me next time!

Denise Wilson.
Guest

Disappointed about the comments re. The Nikon 80 -400 VR.lens. I have one of these. I am going to Africa for the first time soon. I also have a Nikon 300 f4 Prime lens and the fabulous little 18-200 lens.,I have two D 90 camera bodies but carrying both may be a problem as I am seventy and somewhat arthritic. I would love to hear your comments and advice. I wasn’t really bargaining on getting another lens as my cash supply is rather limited after paying for the trip but I don’t want to be disappointed either .

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