7 top tips for taking photos on safari

1) You don’t need the latest and greatest camera to take brilliant pictures. Nor do you need to huge amounts of equipment. While a quality digital SLR camera and lenses can help you get professional-looking shots, a decent compact camera is a perfectly suitable for a less experienced photographer. Often the best moments out on safari are captured by keen-eyed amateur on a modest camera who have pointed and shot the action at just the right moment.

2) If you do have an SLR camera, the most important extra lens to bring is a long lens. This will allow you to zoom in on distant wildlife with clarity. Carrying a tripod is likely to be an unnecessary burden – carefully resting your lens on a solid surface such as the side of a safari vehicle is usually adequate to prevent excessive wobble.

Karen lines up a holiday snap.

3) Remember to take enough spare batteries or recharging facilities and extra digital storage, or film if you’re using this medium. Don’t underestimate how many photos you might want to take. The low price of compact flash cards makes it well worth investing in the extra capacity should you need it.

4) Prepare for the conditions of the African bush. The dusty air can present problems for your equipment, especially in the drier seasons, so it can pay to take a soft cloth wrap with which to cover everything, and a small paintbrush or specialist blower to clean off dust particles when changing lenses out on safari. Heavy rain can be another issue so waterproof camera carrying bags are a sensible precaution.

Professional photographer and Africa House guide Bob Demchuk
 shows his work to Pokot tribesmen.

5) Get familiar with your camera’s functions before you get to Africa, especially if it’s new or you’re out of practice. Out on safari, you’ll want to concentrate on the action and sights around you rather than struggling to figure out what all the buttons on your SLR do.

6) If there’s one technical aspect of photography worth mastering for wildlife photography, it’s controlling the depth of field through your aperture setting. A larger aperture (lower f-number) keeps the subject in sharp focus while blurring the background, ideal for wildlife shots. For landscape photos it’s usually better to keep everything in focus by using a smaller aperture (higher f-number). The right choice here can transform an ordinary shot into a professional-looking image.

7) Experiment and use your imagination when taking shots. As well as taking the more predictable, conventional photos, use unusual angles and think about overall composition, not just the main subject in view. Try juxtaposing foreground and background objects in novel ways. You'll come home with photo album which is unique and personal to you.

Go low

If the end of the Christmas holiday has left you looking forward to spring and summer for your next chance to get away, you might want to consider planning a trip to East Africa. The April-June period is often overlooked as a time to visit the region because of the wet weather it brings. But those in the know realise that, in many ways, that the low season has several compelling advantages. It’s certainly one of our favourite times to explore both our favourite haunts and unknown reaches of East Africa.

The fact is that the rain which deters most isn’t as forbidding as some would expect. It doesn’t pour continually and is nothing like monsoon rainfall in intensity. Undeniably, it’s wetter during these months, although there’s no guarantee of enjoying drier weather outside the wet season, as last year’s unpredictable seasonal timings attested.

And there are some persuasive upsides. Firstly, the low season means lower prices. Great discounts are available at many hotels and lodges and even on some flights. Even more alluringly for travellers who like their space, it means lower tourist densities. So it’s easier to secure bookings at the best lodges and camps – which may be a telling factor as our accommodation contacts are reporting an especially rapid uptake of places for the high season later this year. And even the most popular game parks and conservancies can be relatively quiet. There’s also less competition for frequently oversubscribed activities such as gorilla trekking.

Baby elephants - one of the attractions
of our imminent Spring Break Safari

Coming in the off-peak months definitely doesn’t mean compromising on the experience. There will still be amazing game viewing, and the plethora of other cultural and adventure pursuits which complete a safari holiday. In fact, with fewer other tourists about, the spring can be the best time to soak up the atmosphere of Africa in serenity and to really appreciate its wilderness with minimal distraction.

And talking of the spring, we’d like to remind you that there is just time to book a place on our Special Spring Break Safari from March 3-10. We’ve compiled an extraordinary selection of wildlife watching, cultural encounters and sublime luxury at some of Kenya’s finest camps and hotels. So if you’re still looking for your dream holiday this spring, grab one of our limited places while you still can. Click here for full details.

Easy luxury at private lodge

One of the perks of designing safari adventures is the opportunity to take time out ourselves to try out the lodges we consider for our guests’ itineraries. Ol Donyo Lodge in Kenya is a long-standing favourite with Africa House, so it was with optimistic anticipation that we returned there for a short stay last month.

A comfortable bedroom tent at Ol Donyo

And we weren’t disappointed. One of our most striking impressions of this popular lodge on this latest visit was the pure, gratifying comfort of the accommodation. Big, comfy beds, feather pillows, and spacious bathrooms make it hard not to feel relaxed. We enjoyed plentiful hot water supplied by a solar unit and we loved the choice of an indoor or outdoor shower. The private dip pools which most of the cottages have are a particularly indulgent touch. And the striking architecture and attractive design throughout the Ol Donyo property create a beautiful aesthetic experience.

The trip was also a reminder of how special Ol Donyo’s surroundings are. This south-western corner of Kenya is blessed with extraordinary views. The area’s curiously rounded hills roll out into a staggering expanse of savannah while Mount Kilimanjaro lurks beyond. Recent rain brought a green richness to the scene while we were here. These open landscapes and glorious sights make the location apt for the horseriding safaris also available to guests here.

Horse riding at Ol Donyo

With its off-the-track location, Ol Donyo is not at the hub of Kenya’s game-viewing scene (although we did spot cheetah and lion whilst there). But with the Masai Mara nearby, serious safari action is within easy reach. So the lodge makes the ideal retreat for relaxing at the start or end of a more wildlife-focused itinerary. And with its serene, remote location and beautiful, intimate features, we think it is perfect for honeymooners. With so much going for it, Ol Donyo will certainly remain a firm fixture in Africa House’s line-up of top wilderness properties.