Lessons from safari
Natalie Williams, February 2012
Staring out the hotel room window for the first time in broad daylight was my first ‘wow’ moment in Kenya, and definitely not the last. 24 hours before I’d been abruptly woken by my alarm clock at 3am in a cold London flat and just a day’s travelling later and I find myself watching a gazelle-like animal feeding on the grass as the sun rises in the sky over Nairobi National Park. As I said, wow.
This is my first time on safari and my first visit to sub-Saharan Africa – I’ve been to Morocco twice before but they are such vastly different parts of the continent, I already know it will be a completely different experience to any trip I’ve ever taken. My real world wildlife photography experience is fairly limited too, so I’m expecting to learn a lot in this sense as well. I blogged about a wildlife photography workshop I attended (here) a few years back, but that was in a zoo so I’m expecting this photography experience to throw me in the deep end.
Learning how to game drive
As a first-timer, I really don’t know what to expect when it comes to wildlife in the area. Yes, I know about ‘the big five’, but I’m intrigued to find out what other weird and wonderful animals I’m likely to see, how much wildlife will there actually be and how close will I get to the action?
Our little plane touches down safely on the grassy airstrip in the middle of the Maasai Mara National Reserve and we’re greeted with a cold drink and a warm local welcome.
If only every plane journey ended like this!
I didn’t expect to be pulling out my camera during the 10 minute drive from the airstrip to the camp, but I find myself scrambling to get the lens cap off after we spot a kingfisher perched with a fish in its mouth, a red bok stopped to have a drink, with a lovely reflection in the pool of water below and a silver-backed jackal scampering through the long grass.
Lesson 1: Always have your camera ready to go. You never know what photographic opportunities you’ll be surprised with.
After settling in and getting the full safety briefing back at camp – it is unfenced after all and you never know what might be hiding in the bushes (which I found out for myself later in the evening) – I saddled up for the first game drive of the trip.
The largest elephant I’ve ever seen crosses the path of our truck as we head off the road to get a better look. Although he’s in musth and therefore has the potential to be aggressive, the bull shows no signs as such and is completely chilled out as he passes right by the truck, mere metres away. As I sit there with my Canon 100-400mm lens attached to the front of my camera, I’m thinking I would rather have the Tamron 10-24mm on in instead, he’s that close. So, 5 minutes in to my first game drive and one of my questions has already been answered quite succinctly: how close will we get to the animals? Very!
Lesson 2: It’s not just about the telephoto lens, keep a wild angle or standard-zoom lens very handy too!
As the afternoon game drive continues I’m completely blown away by everything – the big open blue sky (don’t see that often in London), the vast plains and all the different wildlife I’m seeing for the first time in their natural habitat: warthogs, giraffes, buffalo, zebra, gazelle, a sleeping cheetah and a whole other list of bird & butterfly species. It’s all an incredible experience and the sheer numbers of animals we see are impressive too.
We spend some time photographing zebras in a spot where there are just so many of them. We’re parked up in an area that’s full of them and you can see them in all directions, which answers another one of my initial questions: how much wildlife will there be? A lot! It helps that the zebras are fairly docile creatures too, as I have the freedom to take my time thinking about the shots I want to get and composing them accordingly. With other animals, like the warthogs for example, I desperately try to get a decent photo but they constantly seem to be running about and popping up all over the place, so I need to be a little more opportunistic.
Lesson 3: Get used to watching the TV. No, not that TV, the Tourist View, otherwise known as the rear-view of the animal, which is what you’ll see a lot of as they turn away from you when you park up. You’ll just appreciate the photos where they’re looking straight down the lens that much more.
The exciting part
The sun dips below the horizon and both the temperature as well as the light drop off rapidly, so it’s time to head back to camp. After a full afternoon’s driving, we’re back near the zebras again and our guide notices them huddling together in the distance and looking very alert so we head over to check it out (if you’re squeamish, look away now!)
What we find are two female lions and a young hyena feeding on a fresh zebra kill (hopefully not one from the photo above!) which it seems we’ve just missed by minutes. Although it isn’t ideal photographic conditions in such dim light, it’s one of the most incredible events I’ve ever witnessed (or heard for that matter). Nothing is more eye-opening to the wild nature of these animals than seeing one literally tearing its prey limb from limb only metres away. Close enough to hear that the zebra is still alive and close enough to learn that lions make a very similar growling sound to domestic cats when they eat (just a bit louder and less adorable, more terrifying). If I was in any doubt after the elephant encounter earlier in the day, there is definitely no second-guessing as to how close to the action we would get: pretty damn close indeed.
Lesson 4: my Canon 450D is not cut out for this kind of low light shooting. If I ever go on safari again, I’ll be upgrading…
Meanwhile, back at camp…
As I head off to my tent after dinner to turn in for the night, I discover that the adventure is still not over for the day. I meet the security staff, who are resposible for escorting guests to and from their tents in the evening (remember, it’s unfenced) and I’m told that the main path is being blocked by a family of elephants. It’s another ‘wow’ moment in the Maasai Mara as we (very quietly and carefully) take the long route to the tents and keep one eye on the family of elephants happily feeding along our usual path.
Lesson 5: there’s always another surprise just around the corner, even trying to sleep at night is an adventure!
I must admit my first night in the Maasai Mara was not the soundest sleep I’ve ever experienced. It’s certainly not my first time camping, but it’s definitely the first time I’ve heard hippos roaring and elephants trampling plants and knocking over barriers in the middle of the night. Of course, being in a tent means it sounds like it’s just outside the relative safety of my four canvas walls. Another (slightly sleep-deprived) wow moment.
Hippo on the menu
The next few days follow the same pattern of heading out before dawn for several hours of morning light photography, trekking back to camp to make the most of the shade in the middle of the day, then an afternoon game drive and taking advantage of the evening light before watching the sun set over the plains.
One of the really interesting photographic opportunities we encounter during this time is an old dead hippo that’s floating in a watering hole filled with bright green lily pad type plants. As expected, a large number of hyenas have discovered the hippo too and they take it in turns to swim out to where the hippo is to get their fill of protein for the day (and probably a fair bit of fat too).
The dead hippo is not particularly photogenic but it’s a great chance to get some hyena portraits as there’s quite a few of them just milling about near the game vehicles. The sun is starting to get low in the sky and so I experiment with taking some backlit portraits. The hyenas swimming back and forth from the hippo are another fantastic photographic opportunity and the dense coverage of the green pond plants creates an interesting background to more hyena portraits.
Bird photography beginner
I must admit I’ve never been very interested in photographing birds nor have I ever really had the right gear to give it a proper go, but to my surprise I find myself turning my 100-400mm lens to the many avian subjects that the Maasai Mara has to offer too.
Probably not the beginning of a career as a bird photographer, but I really enjoyed shooting a new subject
From the beautiful rainbow feathered lilac-breasted rollers to the not particularly good-looking vultures crowding in the trees, there’s a huge number of interesting birds to photograph. Although the Canon 100-400 lens I had with me may not be long enough for many seasoned bird photographers, it was perfectly fine for me. Many of the larger birds that spend more time on the ground than in the air are often fairly close to the game vehicles so close-up portraits of them are possible too.
Lesson 6: it’s not all about ‘the big 5’, make a point of noticing and photographing all the other wildlife on offer, from colourful birds to very large bugs.
Sun stories
Santorini has nothing on this one, by far the most breathtaking sunset I've witnessed
As with many people, one of the earliest lessons I learnt after becoming really interested in photography was the benefit of shooting in ‘the golden hour’ – the short time just after the sun rises and before it sets. Nowhere have I found this to be more true (or beautiful) than when I was out in the Maasai Mara, the light really was as golden as it gets. I made sure to take the time to ignore the animals for a moment to try and capture that incredible sky and without any graduated filter sets with me on the trip I feel like I still managed to do it justice.
Another opportunity that’s too good to miss is to take advantage of the brilliant sunset colours and photograph some of the African landscape silhouetted against the colourful sky. One photograph that’s quickly becoming one of my favourites from the trip is one of those images that at first you think is no good at all. There’s a bird in a tree that I’ve tried to capture side on so the full outline and beak can be silhouetted against the sky, but in one of the shots he’s looking in the opposite direction to me, which means there’s no definition in the head whatsoever. So, at first I think it’s a bit of a dud photo. Looking back on it now that I’m home, I realise how funny the shape of this large bird is when you can’t see the shape of the head or beak, almost cartoon-like and I’ve actually come to really like it.
This funny looking bird is fast becoming one of my favourites from the trip
Lesson 7: don’t pass judgment on your photos until you’ve looked at them again on a larger screen, you might find a gem in there that you’ve overlooked.
One complete oversight I made when packing my photography gear is the lack of lens hood for my 100-400mm lens. To be fair, I borrowed it from a friend and he didn’t give me the hood along with it but if I had been better prepared I could have fashioned one out of something I’m sure. The sun is just so bright here and during the morning when it’s low in the sky I have a bit of trouble focussing without more shade for my lens. It hasn’t stopped me getting some good photos though, I just have to be a bit more patient.
Lesson 8: Always pack a lens hood!
Lions in the grass
Can you tell he just woke up from a nap?
We spend quite a significant amount of our time on safari with the lions and with a fresh buffalo kill nearby; they are out and about a lot, providing some fantastic photography opportunities.
As I soon learn, lions sleep a lot during the day to conserve energy in the heat (as they don’t sweat but pant instead, thus using up a lot of their water reserves) and at first we mostly see them sleeping in the long grass or under trees. This makes photographing them quite challenging as sometimes you can barely see them with the grass so high around them.
Instead of giving up and taking a rest, I make the most of a situation where the lion isn’t moving very much apart from a flicking tail every so often to keep the flies at bay, which allows me the time to imagine the photo in my head that I want to capture instead of just snapping away opportunistically – which can happen a lot of the time with so much going on. I think about the composition, where abouts in the frame the tail will be flicking up into, the shape it makes as it curls back and forth, and I take the time to obtain and test the right settings. So I sit there patiently waiting to take the photo I’ve pictured in my head and while it’s certainly no masterpiece, it’s a significant photo for me because it’s the result of another lesson learned.
Lesson 9: slow down, think about the photo you want to take and make it happen.
Home time
We head out on one last game drive and spend most of the morning with the lions again, who have made some serious progress getting through their buffalo meal overnight. Even in the short time I’ve spent in the Maasai Mara, every day has been so varied, and this morning is no different – I’m not expecting to see the lions leaping in the air to bat away vultures with their giant paws and I’m afraid to admit I wasn’t nearly fast enough to capture the action. I did finally get a photo of the warthogs running about that I wanted (and bonus points for getting some baby warthogs in the frame with tails in the air too!)
Lesson 10: enjoy every minute, you’ll be home before you know it!
As I watch the sun break over the horizon I take a moment to appreciate the last sun rise I’ll see out in the Maasai Mara. In 24 hours time I’ll be back in snow-covered London, where lions tearing apart zebras, swimming hyenas and elephants trumpeting in the night will be a surreal memory – and one that I’ll be recalling for a long time yet as I look over my favourite photos from Kenya many times over.
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Nice Images – great sunsets and I love the hyena shot! I travel to Africa regularly for work but it is tough ( and frustrating) because I do not get much time to take photographs. Although the 100-400L is heavy it is a very versatile lens ….steve
steveLovely photos – sounds like a fantastic trip. Massai Mara is on my go-to list for photography. The photo of the hyena is my favourite!!
NahumThese are some lovely photos – I especially like the bird on the wood branch – you’ve captured the colours ad in such vivid clarity. And, as you say, sometimes the best pictures come from the smaller details which may sometimes be missed.
Lynn ArderneFantastic work. I can only dream and hope one day I will experience it all.
FelixThe pictures are amazing and you have provided some good tips. Wow!! that sun surely look massive. Is it worth taking a compact / bridge camera with you?
Pablo Alonsosome cracking photos, love the one of the lion standing, as you say during the day many where lying down, we where there Sept 20th to Sept 30th 2011, the tree you shot on it’s own, sure it is the one we had a picnic under. Having learned from previous Safari’s in South Africa, where I miessed shots through having to change lenses I invested in a Sigma 50-500 not only for Kenya but for home use. One thing I achived in Kenya, that I failed on many hours on Safari in South Africa was seeing my first leopard almost the first animal we saw, we saw another on our last day. Did you go on the balloon trip, AWESOME
Alan CharltonYou took some wonderful images. I loved reading about your trip. Kenya is one of my all time favourite countries to visit. There are so many wonderful places in Africa and each one has something different to offer you.
LauraWell done – I love the hyaena surrounded by green weed. I went to Kenya on safari 16 years ago armed with a paltry 200mm lens together with a Minolta X700 body filled with very slow Kodachrome – 64 ASA. A roll didn’t last long.
Historic Lesson 11: take twice as much film as you think you need.
I now use the Canon 100-400, too. You picked a versatile wildlife lens. Oh how I wish I’d had something like it back then.
JCIn reply to Pablo take the best camera you can!
Steve DunhamA compact or bridge camera will still get great scenic shots or photographs when the light is good. They tend to struggle when the light levels fall as their smaller sensor size means the images often show a lot of noise compared to a dSLR. Much of the action can happen just after dawn or before dusk when light levels are lower – think of it this way – would you rather run after your next meal when it’s cooler or in the midday sun! Compacts are generally not so great for capturing the moment because of shutter lag (you press the shutter release but it takes a little while to take the photo). Having said that my wife took a Lumix TZ7 when we went on honeymoon and got some good shots, also had the advantage of taking some nice video. I lugged my D3 and 200-400mm zoom, better for getting the photos but used up much of my luggage allowance!
Hi Alan,
Natalie (author)Thanks very much for the kind words! Changing lenses was a bit of a pain sometimes and with all the dust, probably not the best for the camera – the Sigma 50-500 would be a great solution. I’m envious you got to see leopards, I didn’t see any unfortunately – maybe next time
And no, I didn’t do a balloon ride either, looks like an amazing experience though!
Thanks,
Natalie
Great Photo’s. I am off to Tanzania next Friday to go to the Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater and Zanziubar. I will be armed with my D300S, NIkon 70-200 2.8, and my Nikon 18-200. I also have the 2x teleconverter. Can’t wait and if i can get some photos as half as good as yours I will be happy. I was on Safari in South Africa and Kenya last year which produced some great photos. If anyone is reading this and you haven’t been on Safari, go. It does not have to be expensive as you can drive yourself in Kruger National Park and also you can get an all day tour for £40. Accommodation is cheap also with the added bonus of amazing wine and food.
Dan BarkerI am going to Kenya in June and found this article very interesting Thank you, I am also thinging of buying a Tameron Lesns 18 – 270 for my Nikon 1500 do you think this will work. Thank you Anne Tubb
Anne TubbHi Anne,
Natalie (author)Great timing! I’m sure you’ll have a wonderful time in Kenya. I haven’t used the Tamron 18-270mm myself but it was reviewed on the blog a little while back if you want to read it here: http://blog.warehouseexpress.com/the-lens-most-travelled-tamron-18-270mm-review/
As another commenter (Alan) mentioned earlier, that will stop you having to change lenses too often and the 18mm wide end will be useful for landscapes too.
All the best!
Natalie
hi i have thoroughly enjoyed reading this article, it has brought home to me a bit of what is needed for a safari. i have one year left before i retire and my intention is to go on safari when i do retire. SO thank you for your article.
john heaneyThanks for the post and the pictures Natalie, a really good read and some useful points. I’m off to Rwanda to see the Gorillas, followed by the Masai Mara next week and am taking a newly purchased 70-200mm F2.8 Cannon lens and a x2 extender. I’ve had a quick practice at a wildlife park and can’t wait to see the real deal in their rightful home.
Nicola DaviesBeautifully captured images.
Jano JeyaratnamMore than imagination.
You were there at the right place at the right time.
I hope one day I would capture like your work.
I am in the process of buying a Nikon D 800. Any comment about the lenses I should go for re Photo & Video!
These look awesome. Well done. I live the Lion just waking up. Almost could give it a stroke.
Zebras look cool. Where and how did you book? Any recommendations?
Colin Davison, Basingstoke
Colin Davison (@colindavison)Hi Natalie… some nice images there. Just out of interest, can I ask why the Mara when there are so many other parks and reserves on offer…? I am regularly in Kenya and I can assure you that whereas the Mara has a lot to offer (particularly for a ‘first timer’), the whole ‘experience’ is hugely enhanced when you actually have to go out and find the game, rather than the game coming to you as tends to happen in the Mara (due to its abundance more than anything else..!).
have you got ‘the bug’ now though…?? The real test is how long you can leave it before returning again!!
Jonathan Cooke
Jonathan CookeSorry… also meant to say that I would HUGELY recommend taking two bodies; it may be good advice to have the shorter lenses ‘to hand’ but so much easier if you have a second body on your lap already set up with the shorter lens.
…and if you are worried about dust getting on to the sensor – don’t go!! It will happen, and you will have to get it thoroughly cleaned when you get back, but it will be worth it.
From a personal point of view I am more interested in the larger game and have found that a Sigma 120-300 f2.8 is awesome for this, and occasionally I add a 1.4x converter. The second body tends to be loaded with a 70-200 f2.8… I wouldn’t necessarily recommend putting on a wide angle unless you can guarantee to be right in the middle of the game – useful for landscapes, but you tend to get more time for these…!!
Jonathan CookeGlad Natalie had a good time – which is more than I can say for my trip to Kenya. Temperatures were unbearable, even in air-conditioned lodge which is where we stayed initially before going “on-safari”. Food was absolutely terrible and I ended up with food poisoning, as did many others. Water and electric went on and off and air-conditioning frequently broke down. In fact, we had better conditions in the temporary camps than the lodge we stayed at. On top of that, it turned out we had travelled to Kenya just before the Tsunami struck although of course we had no idea about this at the time. All the local people kept saying how unusual the weather was and how extraordinarily hot it was, although no-one knew what to expect. The shock waves from the Tsunami did strike our beach but these were weak compared to what others suffered across the Indian Ocean.
On safari we saw very little, which might have been due to the heat. Zebra were common place and we did see some wild boar, but as for elephants and lions, these were non-existent. We went on our travels in very old cars provided by the tour operator, which were not up to travelling along the make shift tracks. As a consequence our transport frequently broke down and we were stranded until help arrived.
The only good news from my point of view was we went on a trip to Kilamanjaro, via light aircraft. This was fantastic as we had a great view of the land below from the air. The earth was brown and baked and we did see herds of animals running as the plane cast a shadow onto the land below. The mountain was beautiful, but it is not always possible to see the summit, since often it is shrouded in mist.
On top of the cost of our holiday we had to pay a fortune for injections (which I hate and did not know about because the tour operator did not tell us) and we had to pay for tablets to prevent malaria which were also an arm and a leg. After I returned to the UK I was very ill for weeks, I lost a lot of weight and it took me 6-8 weeks to get back to normal. I would never go to Kenya again and I would advise anyone thinking about making the trip to go on Safari to think about it very carefully. If you are used to “roughing” it, (often no water, no electric, no flushing loos, etc. ), can digest any type of food without problems and don’t mind the heat, let alone the biting insects, then great!
My heart was willing but my body wasn’t!
Susan Edwards
Susan EdwardsLove the photo of the Hyena looking out in the pond weed and the use of negative space in the Zebra picture.
A very informative blog makes you want to go there…
Paul WarwickAmazing photos and tips Natalie and a great read! Makes me want to visit Kenya again.
Kay WilliamsReally enjoyed reading your post Natalie, It takes me back to my first ever trip to Kenya in 2007 and my first safari. It wasn’t in the Mara but Tsavo and a lovely place called Shimba Hills, however when I was in Kenya I picked up a severe bug called Kenya(itus), I’m afraid once you get it there is no known cure and it makes you want to return again and again…trip 5 coming in 2013.
Anyway some great photos and glad had a great time.
Stuart
Stuart SmithI try to travel to Africa yearly to get my fix!! I love it there, and I have now accumulated quite a nice portfolio of images – I really like your Hyena shot – thats really unusual.
The tips are very helpful – Thanks.
I’m off to South Luangwa in May – its a great location (this is my third visit), fingers crossed I’ll get some shots as good as yours.
My camera equipment weighs more than my main luggage – 2 bodies, a Canon 7D and a 6OD, 100-400MM IS Lens, 70-200MM F/2.8 IS, 24 – 70mm and my newest edition Canon 100mm IS Macro lens -
paulaYes, lovely Natalie. Amazingly my girlfiend and i were there too, just 11 days ago.
Mike AbbottDid’nt have the pleasure of camping tho. Would have liked that (i think)
We were very lucky. Saw load of animals. Just about everything going, apart from the elusive lepoard. Took around 1200 shots.
We’re looking at South Africa for next year already.
Mike.
Susan Edwards… strange that you felt that you had to have a moan about your trip in a post that is all about how to photograph whilst on safari…??
All I can say is that if you didn’t know about injections etc. beforehand then you clearly didn’t book through a reputable tour company… and if you go to the game parks at altitude you don’t need malaria tablets!
Jonathan CookeHi Natalie, great shots….have you put them in a photobook yet ?
John StainesI love the Hyena taking a herbal bath (they need them!) and the sleepy Lion..fantastic image. I am off to Zambia soon (Emerald season) and hope that I can also do justice to the beauty that is Africa…yes I have the bug (no not Malaria!)….it,s my second visit to Zambia having been to Botswana (wonderful wildlife) and self drive around Namibia (fantastic scenery) and to Lake Malawi (wonderful people).
On the last visit I took a Tamron 18-270mm on a Canon 50D and found that this was a superb walkaround combination especially with a monopod as we were literally walking in the bush. The only drawback was the limited length for birdlife. This year I am taking a 100-400mm on the 50D and the Tamron on my old 350D….hopefully this will give me enough options. I agree with your comment about being prepared for the unexpected. A Hyena decided to chew the tyres of our landrover…he was only a metre away from me….that,s how I know they smell bad, but I got a great shot.
Being limited to 5kg carry on luggage, which the above almost weighs I have had to restrict myself to the essentials…did you have a similar problem ?… Any suggestions of a suitable bag ?
Once again, stunning photos and when’s your next visit ?
Nice shots there Natalie and v sounds exciting. We have just booked Tsavo (East&West) Kenya for September 2012. It was interesting to see the results from your 450D. I have a Canon 550D and have invested in hiring EF 100-400mm glass. I felt that having a good lens would be better than hiring a good camera. My camera has a tough time coping in dim light situations too, but your article shows that you can still make it work for you {lovely sunset}..
PS. For anyone interested : I used http://www.hirental.co.uk/ to hire the lens. There are several reputable hire companies who sometimes have introductory or special deals on, so worth shopping around.
Darran PorterThanks Natalie for the really evocative description of your safari! We have been to S Africa 3 times now and are heading back again in May – we are hooked! Before the last trip I treated my self to the Canon 100-400L and was reallly pleased with the results. I also tried the HD vodeo on my 5D on a pair of lions scrapping! Sadly I was changing memory cards when the victor go to mate with the female! Always be prepared!
David HilderI went on Safari to Kenya in 1995 and experienced the ‘which lens’ dilemna, I took a Tamron 500 mirror lens fitted to a Canoon A1 with a Canon 70-200 and 35/70 lenses and I was frequently frustrated by being caught out with the wrong lens mounted, so much so that when I returned I bought an additional second hand A1 , To this day , on holiday, I take 2 cameras fitted with lenses of varying focal length.
Frank MaddocksFor a stills shoot it may not be the obvious piece of kit to throw in the camera bag, but…I am never without my Zoom H1 mic. When running a slide show later its great to have a real soundtrack. Also if you have the space a small splash proof or waterproof compact can get you those shots you would not dare attempt with the DSLR.
itsKeefHi Natalie, it would appear I was there at the same time and I can vouch for the smell of the dead hippo!!!
Brian ElliottI also used the 100-400 plus occasionally with 1.4x extender111 and 24-105 being careful when changing the lens. I managed over 3000 images during the 7 days.
Did you suffer with the tall grass spoiling a lot of shots? Over 4ft in places ie up to bonnet height of a Land cruiser
The tented camps are luxury with flushing toilets but as you say cold during the night and when you get up early for your game drive plus the noise of hippos and elephants very close to you eating.
I would point out that all the animals are wild and there is no guarantee of seeing any.
We were lucky to see a 3 month old leopard cub and later the mother great images plus another in a tree sleeping.
Great back light images of Notch the pride male, a very impressive animal.
Thanks for all these super photo’s, and all the useful tips. It just shows what can be achieved with a fairly average kit. (not insulting I hope) Yes, a better body may be better in low light, but you have done extremely well. Jealous, me, of course I am. I wish I had done this years ago, when I had youth and heath on my side, (but no money) I now have the money, but not the youth and health, Doh.
Steve MichelleAnne Tubb. Tamron 18-270, great all rounder, works best in good light, so no probs there.
All the best, Steve.
Lovely blog, Nathalie! and the lessons, oh so very true!
Kaatje SteenhoudtBrings back the lovely times I had in Kenya and makes me want to book a flight to leave tomorrow…
Thanks for the article Natalie, I really enjoyed it. I spent a few days in the Mara last February and am going back with Paul Goldstein this August to get some expert tuition this time! Agree with Jonathan re having a second body though, vital for two reasons 1) in case your first breaks (imagine it breaking on day one and being unable to photograph all those lovely animals! and 2) so that you can get those wide shots without overly endagering your senses and lenses in the field.
Re Susan’s comments, she truly hasn’t been anywhere properly rough if she found the Mara too difficult. I stayed in a tent complete with mahogany bathroom, amazing food that I would have happily eaten in London restaurant (and Im veeeerrry fussy), unsurpassable service and had one the most amazing and luxurious holidays I have ever been on.
Photography wise, the subjects are plentiful and I so agree re using your camera more on the journey from the airstrip than you could possibly expect!
Sarah JInteresting article with some really good photos (I love the lion and hyena) and very useful tips especially for first timers. As an amateur bird and wildlife photographer I have been to Kenya twice with the same Canon lens and camera as you and know the problems of getting really good shots ( we’ve all got the rear ends of departing warthogs!). I would like to upgrade my camera body but don’t know what to go for without spending a fortune or greatly increasing the weight of my gear. Any suggestions? A shame you didn’t find a leopard. I’ve been to Tsavo West with a self drive safari vehicle twice and seen several on each trip.
DavidHi Natalie
I enjoyed reading your article and seeing your images. I especially liked the one of the sunset. I visit a game reserve for one day in April, your comments have given me food for thought, Just hope I have as many opportunities as you to get up close and capture some different images
Mary
MaryHi Natalie,
JanI think your photos are super, what an experience. My favourite is the threesome of warthogs on their way home, fabulous.
I am doing my first Safari in Kenya in October. I have a Canon 400D and I have just bought a Canon 600D which as you probably know does video too.
I was interested in what you said about dust and changing lenses. I am wondering therefore if I should take both camera bodies with a 100-400 lens and a 70-200 lens or the 18-55 lens or all three. Any thoughts on this?
Thank you
Jan
Wow Natalie, love the pictures, the hyena shot is brill
we are going to the mara next year and im really excited, seeing your photo’s just makes me buzz inside haha XD
it’s a choice out of these two….
John Hancocki was also wondering if you would recommend the 100-400L or the newer sigma 120-400?? the specs say the sigma, as its newer, but my head says canon…
my dad said he would buy me a new lens for my 18th
Thanks, and wonderful images,
John
What a delightful blog and wonderful photos. Thank you! I don’t think I could choose a favourite: the sunsets are absolutely stunning; I love the elephant – so regal; and I like the tail-flick on the lion – who, if I’m not mistaken has one eye on you through the grass! I also love the lone tree – in terms of composition it reminds me very much of the popular shot of the tree on the limestone pavement above Malham in the Yorkshire Dales. (it’s not my shot, but you can see it on this link: http://www.rossphotography.co.uk/lone-tree-and-limestone-pavement-malham-yorkshire-dales/
Arlene HarrisI really like the ‘TV’ of the 3 zebras and wonder if it would also work cropped as a panorama, taking out the sky and some of the grass? Based purely on the images (rather than location or difficulty in obtaining the shot, etc) I think I’d choose the sillouette of the funny bird – a great shot, very different from anything else and it makes me smile!
Hi John,
Natalie (author)I haven’t used the Sigma 120-400 myself so it’s a bit hard for me to make a recommendation between them. I was very happy with the Canon 100-400, which felt extremely reliable and well-built which is what you’d expect from an L series. However, the Sigma does look great and is roughly half the price with many of the same specs/features – the product reviews from customers on the main Wex site do paint a great picture of this lens too: http://www.warehouseexpress.com/buy-sigma-120-400mm-f4-5-5-6-dg-os-hsm-lens-canon-fit/p1025302
Hope that helps!
Thanks,
Natalie
Hi Jan,
Natalie (author)I would definitely recommend taking the second body since you have one available, perhaps with the 18-55mm lens attached, which you will most likely be using much less often. I was very happy with the 100-400 for the majority of the time so I’d say that is best to keep on your 600D. I guess it will depend on weight restrictions, whether you want to take your 70-200 as well, but if you can fit it, it’s probably worth taking .
Unfortunately I didn’t have a second body to take with me, but if I had I would have kept my standard zoom or wide angle on that. In saying that though, I think dust in the Maasai Mara is just something you have to accept as inevitable and your camera and lenses can always be cleaned professionally once you’re home. Driving in the trucks from place to place was usually when there was the most dust flying around, so I tended to keep a large cotton scarf or a light sweater (which you’ll need early in the morning and in the evening as it gets a bit cooler) with me to drape over my camera during that time.
Hope that helps, let me know if you have any other questions!
Thanks,
Natalie
Great photo’s! Liked the ‘Lions in the Grass’ Thanks for sharing!
DavidHi just a little tip, it has beeen mentioned about the dust, I had a rain cover for my camera naturally for when it rained, which didn’t happen very often, but came in handy on windy dusty days as well. It has also been mentioned about taking two bodies, if you intend taking video as well, as one camera I took had a very good HD VID I also took my old hand held camcorder for the same reason, if one breaks you have another. Going to Kenya has always been a long time ambition and when we finally went I was going to make sure I had a good record of the trip. If anyone is planning a trip I would try for September/October as that is when the grass is at it’s shortest and you would me more likely to see a wildebeest river crossing, about the only thing we didn’t see, for some raeson while we where there they just stopped, but seeing a line of wildebeest stretching to the horizon is awesome. Reading all these comments makes me want to go again.
Alan CharltonWe went to Kenya about 2 years ago staying at L.Nakuru,L.Baringo,(bird watchers paradise there!),& the Masai Mara.I took 2 camera bodies,a D300 with 70-300mm lens & a D70s which was fitted with an 18-70mm nikon lens.This was an expensive way of doing it but the D70s was my old camera i never got rid of.If you want another place to go,we can reccomend the Etosha N.P.in Namibia.Best holiday we ever took,might do it again!.
ray randallI’ve just come back from the Masai Mara on a trip organised by Wild Arena. I can confirm all that Natalie Williams has written. I’ve looked out of my tent and seen giraffe and antelope just outside and we haven’t even got in the jeep yet. The guide drives out of camp and straight away there’s elephants, hippos, antelope and cheethas etc. I took two Canon 5D’s one with a 100-400mm and the other with 24-105mm, I found this just the right combination. I also took a little Panasonic SD900 so that I could get sound and vision, quite important if you visit Masai villages and hear them singing. I had 8×16gb cards and 3×8gb. I took around 4,000 photographs during the week and I would like to thank Peter Smart of Wild Arena for making it the trip of a lifetime – but I want to do it again!!
Greg