10 Tips and Tricks For Photographing Your First African Safari

Venturing on your first African safari is a dream come true for most travelers and photography enthusiasts, and usually serves as the opportunity to check something off the tippy top of your bucket list. Planning a trip to the continent can be overwhelming, with so many options for destinations, travel providers, and camps to choose from. With the help of Ultimate Africa Safaris and Natural Selection Travel, your first trip to see the incredible landscape and wildlife offerings of Africa can be tailored to your particular style and interests while supporting local communities and staying at sustainable camps. For a more under the radar spot without the crowds, head to the unspoiled country of Botswana, where a wide array of wildlife awaits to make your jaw-drop. 

For those interested in photographing everything from lions and hippos to epic sunrises and vast African terrain, a good camera and lens combo can make all the difference in capturing the beauty of Botswana. Many of the smaller airlines that you'll need to take have weight requirements for luggage (typically around 44lbs total for southern Africa), so a mirrorless camera is your best bet for a solid balance of quality imagery and lightweight design. The Sony Alpha 7 IV full-frame camera body is an unbeatable foundation to shoot with; all of these photos were shot on this camera with the Sony FE 200-600mm OSS full-frame telephoto lens. Take note, these tips, tricks, and insight on what lenses and other accessories to bring will help you make the most of photographing your first magical African safari.