First Time Safari Trip Report- Tanzania and Uganda June/July 2023

[Alex The Lion]

@Miss Biscuit

 

I think you are going to struggle to find a pop top vehicle in Southern Africa, as most are open. Most photographers prefer these vehicles as they provide better shooting angles and the experience is a lot more immerse in terms of sounds and smells.

 

I appreciate that many will "swear" by Kruger, though its probably not the destination of choice for most on this forum, perhaps we are just safari snobs. Many repeat visitors begin to look for more wild and secluded experiences, which unfortunately can start to become expensive. Once you have mobile camped in a remote area of Moremi for example, it would be very difficult to return to a large lodge with 40 Tents or the public rest camps in Kruger, where you may have to share sightings with multiple vehicles.

 

The other consideration about the private concessions, especially around Kruger are that drives can be "radio controlled". I don't have an issue with sightings being communicated, though sometimes it can be very frustrating being "queued" for a sighting then being rotated out once you've had your 10 minutes.

 

For most of us, without unlimited funds, you are always compromising to find the perfect experience.

Edited September 6, 2023 by Alex The Lion

[wilddog]

I agree with Alex, in particular about pop up vehicles. I had those in my first 2 safaris some 20 plus years ago.

The open sided land cruisers are much better. Apart from the obvious benefits for photography you are much more immersed in the bush. Having a lion or elephant walk past the vehicle, and look at you is memorable and of course standing up is not permitted in that situation, for obvious reasons.

I would suggest you make the change.

Alex other comments are equally valid. 

[madaboutcheetah]

I think pop tops can be useful for photography in places like the Mara …. You park far away enough and get good angles ; the window can give you low angles ….. you close the pop top during a heavy downpour (it can rain far more than in Southern Africa ) ; shut it off in high tse tse zones etc etc ., m

 

however I haven’t been in one of those in over a decade. 

[Alex The Lion]

48 minutes ago, madaboutcheetah said:

I think pop tops can be useful for photography in places like the Mara …. You park far away enough and get good angles ; the window can give you low angles ….. you close the pop top during a heavy downpour (it can rain far more than in Southern Africa ) ; shut it off in high tse tse zones etc etc ., m

 

however I haven’t been in one of those in over a decade. 

 

True, though I think you would need a 600mm to even out the viewing angle. The flip side is that unlike Southern Africa, the rolling/undulating landscapes can negate some this affect with the right positioning. You have no chance in Botswana 

[Miss Biscuit]

@Alex The Lion I couldn't have hand held the 200-500 for very long. I don't see how people hold equipment in those open vehicles. Perhaps I remembering incorrectly.

Our night game drive was in one of those open vehicles. When we got to the leopard in the tree, I had to ask the guide if I could get up from and try to use the bar to give me some stability with that lens. Do people use monopods or tripods in those vehicles?

[inyathi]

@Miss BiscuitYou can certainly use a monopod, I only have a 100-400mm lens which is not too heavy, so I'm quite happy to take most photos handheld, but I do use a monopod when I'm shooting a bit of video, holding the camera steady for long enough handheld is difficult, because then even my lens quickly gets too heavy. But on my last safari, that was in Chad, the vehicle wasn't full of other photographers, I'm not sure how well it would work if everyone was trying to use big lenses on monopods. I think probably the better solution is to use a bean bag, but in an open vehicle, it does depend a bit which seat you are in, you need a convenient bar in the right place to balance the beanbag on, it does give you more flexibility to move around than a monopod, a few safari camps may provide bean bags in the vehicles, but most don't. If you buy a bean bag, if it is one that you can open, then when you travel rather than can carry it full, you can take it empty and fill it at your destination with dried beans, lentils, rice or some such, which you can then leave behind, better for the environment than polystyrene beads and they should still be edible, so someone should still be able to make a meal out of them. 

 

    

 

[Whyone?]

On 8/21/2023 at 7:27 PM, Miss Biscuit said:

 

Why can’t we get Stoney’s in the States??!!! The only soft drink I drink is regular Coke. I love regular Coke but I don’t drink it often. I wasn’t going to try these but was convinced by Achmed and then I had one every chance I got.

 

Sorry to jump to the mundane...I am very much enjoying your trip report and wonderful photos @Miss Biscuit ....but did you try ice cold lager lager with a splash of Stoney's?   Wonderful on a warm afternoon, and if you didn't, here is your excuse to return to Africa at the earliest opportunity! 

[Miss Biscuit]

@inyathi Thank you! I did bring a bean bag which turned out to be unnecessary as our TO provided several and I did use them extensively. I'd just throw them on the edge of the pop top slide my shoes off, stand on the seats and was good to go. Used them some shooting out the windows but that was a less than ideal. Just trying to imagine it though in an open vehicle without anything to brace. I'm obviously in the minority as it sounds like it is what is preferred.  But I will hopefully I will actually have this "problem" and get to go on safari again!

That 200-500 is not the lens I'd bring again.

 

@Whyone?Haha, no I don't like beer. Thank you! I will use that as an excuse. 

[Alex The Lion]

@Miss BiscuitThey are other alternatives too, though it can start to become quite expensive. No situation is perfect, so you need a combination of clamps, hand holding and bean bags.

 

My preference is to sit in the front passenger seat, in the open vehicle, this then gives you the space to use a bean bag. It also provides a lower shooting angle.

 

Here is another toy to consider.

 

 

[Alex The Lion]

I even have a Tilta hydra arm, which can be operated remotely. I used this in October 2022, though the results were mixed in terms of Still photography and the focusing.

 

Great for film makers.

 

Edited September 8, 2023 by Alex The Lion

[Miss Biscuit]

@Alex The LionOMG wow! don't show me this stuff. Haha, I'll want to buy it.  

[Alex The Lion]

2 hours ago, Miss Biscuit said:

@Alex The LionOMG wow! don't show me this stuff. Haha, I'll want to buy it.  

 

@Miss BiscuitYou will do eventually. You reach a point where you realise that $$$ on support systems and specialised vehicles are as important as your cameras and lenses.

[Miss Biscuit]

32 minutes ago, Alex The Lion said:

 

@Miss BiscuitYou will do eventually. You reach a point where you realise that $$$ on support systems and specialised vehicles are as important as your cameras and lenses.

I believe it. When I first started being interested in photography, I never dreamed I'd drop the money I've spent on a hobby. 

[John M.]

   I'm coming back to this report very late. You have many fine photos there (I had already posted a few "likes" a while back). The lions in the trees are awesome, and you did a good job with the leopard at night under difficult circumstances.

   The discussion about poptops and open vehicles interested me. I understand your preference. I enjoyed my poptop 4WD in Kenya, but ended up favouring the low open vehicles of southern Africa. Both types have their shortcomings, but it doesn't matter if you know what they are. You can only find out by trying both.

   I was always happy in the open vehicles. I used a beanbag or a monopod, depending on where I sat. And when the guide considered it safe, I could stand or even get out of the vehicle and get an even lower angle with the monopod as a camera steadier.  

   In Kenya, standing in the poptop was great for aiming at a leopard in a tree, because the cat was still a little higher than me.  I prefer being lower than my target. On the other hand, another leopard abandoned her kill to a hyena and came to lie down right next to our vehicle. It was impossible to get a good shot. An open vehicle would have given me a chance. 

   Another thing about open vehicles: it might be scarey for some, but I loved the atmosphere, the feeling of being with the animals, of almost being able to touch a lion walking past (but of course, you don't ). A friend of mine had a young lion stick its head in the open doorway and lick his boot. Friend didn't move an inch; a very experienced safari goer, he knew exactly what not to do.   

Edited December 18, 2023 by John M.

[JimS]

Also a late reader, as @John M.'s comment bumped the post back into my Unread Content feed.

 

Lovely photos... I'm usually drawn more to "wildlife in the landscape" compositions rather than frame-filling portraits, so I agree with John that your lion trees are awesome.

 

I didn't come across Stoney's in Tanzania, but I love a strong ginger beer so if it's sold in Zambia I'll look out for it next year. Your comment's about it remind me of my love for Chinotto (a drink which any Italians will know well but I only discovered by happy accident a few years ago). I've never found it on sale in UK shops, so I have a case delivered every now and then.

 

 

[John M.]

42 minutes ago, JimS said:

Also a late reader, as @John M.'s comment bumped the post back into my Unread Content feed.

 

Lovely photos... I'm usually drawn more to "wildlife in the landscape" compositions rather than frame-filling portraits, so I agree with John that your lion trees are awesome.

 

I didn't come across Stoney's in Tanzania, but I love a strong ginger beer so if it's sold in Zambia I'll look out for it next year. Your comment's about it remind me of my love for Chinotto (a drink which any Italians will know well but I only discovered by happy accident a few years ago). I've never found it on sale in UK shops, so I have a case delivered every now and then.

 

 

   Wildlife-in-landscape is my favourite.

   And Stoney. Have you come across Crabbie's alcoholic ginger beer, a UK product? Sensational.

[JimS]

28 minutes ago, John M. said:

Have you come across Crabbie's alcoholic ginger beer, a UK product? Sensational.

Oh yes… dangerously drinkable!

[Atravelynn]

page 1--glad this popped up.  "I could weep for beauty and uniqueness of the experience and at times I did."  That says it all!  Being greeted by such clear views Kili is sign of good luck I think. And you had it, leopards day and night (you chose your settings perfectly at night, those blue balls you wanted to photograph, lions in the tree, elephants in the mud, a leaping serval, that Serengeti rhino!  I share your enthusiasm for the cheetah, and lack of it for the balloon.  We may be in the minority, as you mentioned your research showed many people found this to be a highlight.  What a great safari you had with such variety.  I'll second your suggestion to bring a few packaged wipes just in case!  Looks like you are thinking about Kruger now.  So many places indeed.