| Good wildlife safari photography is not only about | | | | whole host of antelope, crocodile and hippo in the |
| composition and camera equipment because you | | | | course of a single trip including a variety of insects |
| first need to find your subjects before you can | | | | and reptiles. |
| even lift your camera. | | | | On the bird front you will be spoiled with a |
| This best five African wildlife destinations list helps | | | | seemingly never-ending supply of eagles, hawks, |
| you do that. | | | | water birds and a host of migratory and |
| Once you have been going on wildlife photography | | | | indigenous species to the tune of about 510 |
| safaris in Africa for a number of years you begin | | | | different varieties. |
| to realise and recognise that certain areas are | | | | You can easily do a self drive safari photography |
| better than others for generating good animal | | | | holiday here and still see a decent amount of |
| picture opportunities on a consistent basis. | | | | wildlife especially if you stick to the central and |
| The ranking is based on over twenty years of | | | | southern portions of this massive park (larger |
| my safari photography experience, forums, | | | | than Ireland). The north has fewer animals due to |
| countless trip reports and travel journals, travel | | | | dryer conditions but also less tourists which |
| magazines and prevailing wisdom in the Africa | | | | makes for a more isolated and intimate wildlife |
| travel industry. | | | | experience. |
| 1. Serengeti NP - Tanzania | | | | 4. Okavango Delta and Moremi GR - Botswana |
| One of the best safari parks in Africa bar none, | | | | The Okavango Delta must qualify as the most |
| the Serengeti is a safari photography dream | | | | unique and varied safari area in Africa and |
| destination. | | | | photographs of the landscape here are almost as |
| The wildlife viewing on a photographic safari here | | | | prized as the wildlife pictures themselves. |
| often borders on the spectacular aided by the | | | | The delta lies in the North of Botswana and it |
| fact that the vegetation is predominantly | | | | consists of narrow water channels lined by |
| grassland which makes spotting animals from a | | | | papyrus, floodplains covered knee deep in water, |
| distance considerably easier and provides less | | | | hippo filled lagoons, forest glades and savannah |
| obstacles like bushes and trees to obscure your | | | | grassland. |
| subjects. | | | | You can go on outstanding safari photography |
| The grassland is also able to sustain a multitude of | | | | expeditions here on foot, using a 4x4 vehicle, a |
| herbivores like wildebeest, zebra and gazelle which | | | | mokoro (dug-out canoe) or a motorised boat. |
| in turn sustains a large population of predators to | | | | Vast herds of buffalo, elephant, gazelle and zebra |
| feed on them so it's no surprise that the | | | | roam this rich ecosystem which is fed by the |
| Serengeti is often referred to as "big cat central". | | | | Okavango river which has its source in the |
| In the Masaai language Serengeti means "endless | | | | Angolan highlands and floods the delta every year. |
| plain" which is very close to the truth. | | | | This treasure trove of available prey attracts the |
| Two extraordinary events occur here that make | | | | predators too and lion, leopard, cheetah and wild |
| it an even more remarkable place to take a | | | | dog thrive here. The dry season is the best for |
| Tanzania safari. The annual wildebeest migration | | | | game viewing because the animals are drawn to |
| and the birth of hundreds of thousands of | | | | the permanent water sources. |
| wildebeest foals. | | | | The Moremi game reserve consists of strictly |
| The migration occurs as the massive herds of up | | | | controlled, privately managed concessions and it |
| to a million individuals begin their search for better | | | | falls within the Okavango delta area and has no |
| grazing by moving north. The exact timing is | | | | fences which leaves the animals free to roam |
| dependant on the seasonal rains but they travel | | | | around as they please. |
| across the Serengeti en masse roughly between | | | | There are a number of upmarket Botswana |
| April and August. | | | | safari lodges in Moremi such as the Vumbura |
| In February - March, months before they begin | | | | concession which contains both wetland and |
| their epic journey, the wildebeest give birth within | | | | savannah areas for the best of both worlds. |
| a six week period to hundreds of thousands of | | | | The Delta is at its most impressive in August |
| calves, taking advantage of the sweet grazing | | | | when the water is at its deepest and most of the |
| available in the Serengeti at that time. They all foal | | | | young are born between November and March |
| at the same time to cause a glut of prey | | | | when the vegetation is lush and dense so it might |
| opportunities for the predators who make full use | | | | be a good idea to plan any Botswana safari |
| of the bonanza while they can. | | | | photography trips to coincide with these events. |
| And so can you with some remarkable picture | | | | 5. South and North Luangwa NP - Zambia |
| opportunities in the offing. | | | | Some experts have branded the Luangwa |
| 2. Masai Mara Reserve - Kenya | | | | National Park as one of the greatest wildlife |
| This is one of the places where your camera will | | | | sanctuaries in the world because the density of |
| start steaming from overuse especially if you are | | | | game you can find here mixed with the isolation |
| after big cat pictures. | | | | and pure unadulterated wildness of it is almost |
| Along with the Serengeti in Tanzania, this is | | | | without compare. |
| without a doubt the premier game viewing | | | | Because it is reasonably undiscovered except to |
| destination in Africa because of the quality and | | | | the locals in the know and a select few foreign |
| quantity of wildlife sightings and safari | | | | visitors, it hasn't been overrun by masses of |
| photography opportunities to be found here. | | | | tourists yet and you can experience a safari |
| This sometimes works against it because in | | | | photography vacation here as it should be and |
| certain places it can be overrun with | | | | some say that is the best Africa has to offer. |
| photographers and tourist in safari vehicles all | | | | There are over 60 species of animal here with |
| jostling for the best position around a bemused | | | | the unfortunate exception of rhino because they |
| lion pride or leopard in a tree. | | | | were poached into extinction and over 400 |
| But if predators are what you seek from a safari | | | | different kinds of birds. |
| photography trip then this reserve will deliver | | | | They all rely on and are drawn to the winding |
| them in spades in the form of lion, cheetah, | | | | Luangwa river which is crowded with some of the |
| hyena and even regular leopard sightings if you | | | | biggest concentrations of hippo and crocodile you |
| know the right areas. | | | | will find anywhere in Africa. it has been estimated |
| Taking a hot air balloon ride over the plains will | | | | that there are 50 hippos per kilometre of this |
| provide a unique perspective for your safari | | | | congested river. |
| photography efforts not to mention an amazing | | | | The South Luangwa was the birthplace of the |
| experience. | | | | walking safari and it is still a very popular way to |
| 3. Kruger NP - South Africa | | | | explore the area from a quality collection of safari |
| The Kruger National Park has to rank as one of | | | | lodges and camps. Night drives are another |
| the best South Africa safari photography | | | | excellent way to see leopard which are reputed |
| destinations, only slightly behind the Masai Mara | | | | to be more regularly seen in this park than |
| and Serengeti when it comes to wildlife viewing | | | | anywhere else in Africa because of the high |
| because the vegetation in Kruger can be dense | | | | concentrations of the predator. Lions and even |
| and sometimes mars the ability to see longer | | | | rare sightings like honey badger, civet and wild |
| distances and get clear wildlife pictures. | | | | dog are likely to be seen. |
| But the variety of animals, birds and ecosystems | | | | To take the true Zambia safari photography |
| that you can experience here are unparalleled | | | | adventure a step farther, the northern luangwa |
| anywhere else in Africa and the accommodation, | | | | area is even more remote, wild and isolated than |
| roads and facilities are top notch and all at a very | | | | the south and the wildlife and bird viewing |
| affordable price. | | | | experience is from the top draw. Definitely one |
| It's not unusual to see lion, leopard, cheetah, a | | | | for the safari cognoscenti. |
| pack of wild dog, rhino, elephant, buffalo and a | | | | |