Do I need a second camera body?

Yes. Changing lenses in a dusty safari vehicle is a recipe for getting dust on your sensor. Keep a second body with a shorter zoom or wide-angle lens attached to capture scenery and close-up interactions.

Should I bring a drone?

In most national parks and reserves in East Africa, drones are strictly prohibited or require expensive, difficult-to-obtain permits. Leave it at home to avoid fines and gear confiscation.

Choosing and Packing Camera Gear for an African Safari

Prioritize a long zoom lens (at least 400mm) and a sturdy beanbag rather than a tripod. Protect your gear from fine dust with high-quality dry bags and lens cloths.

Select the right lens. Bring a lens that covers the 100-400mm range. Animals are often further away than you expect; a fixed 70-200mm will leave you wanting more reach, while a prime 600mm might be too restrictive inside a vehicle.
Ditch the tripod. Tripods are useless inside a safari vehicle. Instead, bring an empty heavy-duty canvas beanbag that you can fill with beans or rice once you arrive. This provides a stable base on the roof or window frame of the vehicle.
Seal your gear. East African dust is incredibly fine and invasive. Use a dedicated camera backpack with a rain cover, and keep your primary camera inside a dry bag or a sealed plastic bag when the vehicle is moving through dusty terrain.
Maximize your memory. Shoot in RAW format. Bring at least 256GB of total storage capacity, preferably spread across multiple 64GB cards to mitigate the risk of losing all photos if one card fails or is lost.

Do I need a second camera body?: Yes. Changing lenses in a dusty safari vehicle is a recipe for getting dust on your sensor. Keep a second body with a shorter zoom or wide-angle lens attached to capture scenery and close-up interactions.
Should I bring a drone?: In most national parks and reserves in East Africa, drones are strictly prohibited or require expensive, difficult-to-obtain permits. Leave it at home to avoid fines and gear confiscation.