| So you've booked your once in a lifetime safari | | | | allow you to get good pictures of the smaller |
| trip to Africa and now your thoughts turn | | | | animals like bushbuck, vervet monkey and the like. |
| towards photographing all the wildlife you are | | | | If you are aiming for bird photographs then a 600 |
| going to encounter on your adventure. | | | | mm lens will do the trick. |
| It would be a great shame to come across your | | | | 2. Your Budget |
| first African pride of lions and not have some | | | | It's very easy to find lenses that cost thousands |
| decent pictures of the memorable event to show | | | | of dollars but if you are primarily going to be using |
| your friends and family back home. | | | | it for your safari trip and maybe a smattering of |
| Unfortunately many people who go on safari don't | | | | wildlife photography after that, you shouldn't be |
| realize that the camera lens you take with you will | | | | spending more than a few hundred dollars. It is |
| be the deciding factor between getting wildlife | | | | possible to get a lens of high enough quality for |
| photos where the subject is an unrecognizable | | | | your purpose in that price range. |
| blob in a sea of vegetation compared to a crisp, | | | | 3. Image Stabilization |
| tightly framed image of that black maned leader | | | | It's not imperative but if you can get a lens with |
| of the lion pride. | | | | an image stabilizer it's a huge advantage on a |
| I've been practicing wildlife photography on safari | | | | safari because you can handhold the lens without |
| for over twenty years now and I've learnt which | | | | too much fear of blurring in good light which is |
| are the best lenses to arm yourself with when | | | | especially useful if you are not next to a window |
| you go into the African bush to capture lasting, | | | | in the safari vehicle or don't have enough space |
| quality images you will be proud to display to | | | | to position your beanbag or tripod. |
| anyone. | | | | 4. Zoom Ability |
| My recommendations here are for the occasional | | | | On safari one lens is better than two because of |
| wildlife photographer such as someone going on | | | | the nature of your subject. When you come |
| an African safari and not for professional wildlife | | | | across a leopard you won't have time to switch |
| photographers as they have different needs | | | | lenses on your camera body because they tend |
| when it comes to camera lenses because they | | | | not to stick around for too long so one lens with |
| take photographs for a living. | | | | a good zoom is a big advantage to capture the |
| To help you choose a lens to take with you on | | | | very shy wildlife you will encounter. Another |
| safari, here is a list of the factors you need to | | | | reason not to change lenses is that dust that is |
| take into account before putting your money | | | | prevalent on an African safari can cause the |
| down... | | | | camera mechanisms to clog up. |
| 1. Size Of The Lens | | | | So keep these four factors in mind before you |
| Anything less than a 300mm lens for the big | | | | make your purchase and if you can find a lens |
| game you will encounter on safari like lion, rhino, | | | | that conforms to all the above requirements than |
| elephant etc will be too small. A 400mm lens will | | | | you have a winner. |