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