| Good wildlife safari photography is not only about | | | | never-ending supply of eagles, hawks, water birds |
| composition and camera equipment because you first | | | | and a host of migratory and indigenous species to |
| need to find your subjects before you can even lift | | | | the tune of about 510 different varieties.You can |
| your camera. This best five African wildlife | | | | easily do a self drive safari photography holiday here |
| destinations list helps you do that.Once you have | | | | and still see a decent amount of wildlife especially if |
| been going on wildlife photography safaris in Africa | | | | you stick to the central and southern portions of this |
| for a number of years you begin to realise and | | | | massive park (larger than Ireland). The north has |
| recognise that certain areas are better than others | | | | fewer animals due to dryer conditions but also less |
| for generating good animal picture opportunities on a | | | | tourists which makes for a more isolated and intimate |
| consistent basis.The ranking is based on over twenty | | | | wildlife experience.4. Okavango Delta and Moremi GR |
| years of my safari photography experience, forums, | | | | - BotswanaThe Okavango Delta must qualify as the |
| countless trip reports and travel journals, travel | | | | most unique and varied safari area in Africa and |
| magazines and prevailing wisdom in the Africa travel | | | | photographs of the landscape here are almost as |
| industry.1. Serengeti NP - TanzaniaOne of the best | | | | prized as the wildlife pictures themselves.The delta |
| safari parks in Africa bar none, the Serengeti is a | | | | lies in the North of Botswana and it consists of |
| safari photography dream destination.The wildlife | | | | narrow water channels lined by papyrus, floodplains |
| viewing on a photographic safari here often borders | | | | covered knee deep in water, hippo filled lagoons, |
| on the spectacular aided by the fact that the | | | | forest glades and savannah grassland.You can go on |
| vegetation is predominantly grassland which makes | | | | outstanding safari photography expeditions here on |
| spotting animals from a distance considerably easier | | | | foot, using a 4x4 vehicle, a mokoro (dug-out canoe) |
| and provides less obstacles like bushes and trees to | | | | or a motorised boat.Vast herds of buffalo, elephant, |
| obscure your subjects.The grassland is also able to | | | | gazelle and zebra roam this rich ecosystem which is |
| sustain a multitude of herbivores like wildebeest, | | | | fed by the Okavango river which has its source in |
| zebra and gazelle which in turn sustains a large | | | | the Angolan highlands and floods the delta every |
| population of predators to feed on them so it's no | | | | year.This treasure trove of available prey attracts |
| surprise that the Serengeti is often referred to as | | | | the predators too and lion, leopard, cheetah and wild |
| "big cat central". In the Masaai language Serengeti | | | | dog thrive here. The dry season is the best for game |
| means "endless plain" which is very close to the | | | | viewing because the animals are drawn to the |
| truth.Two extraordinary events occur here that | | | | permanent water sources.The Moremi game reserve |
| make it an even more remarkable place to take a | | | | consists of strictly controlled, privately managed |
| Tanzania safari. The annual wildebeest migration and | | | | concessions and it falls within the Okavango delta |
| the birth of hundreds of thousands of wildebeest | | | | area and has no fences which leaves the animals free |
| foals.The migration occurs as the massive herds of | | | | to roam around as they please.There are a number |
| up to a million individuals begin their search for better | | | | of upmarket Botswana safari lodges in Moremi such |
| grazing by moving north. The exact timing is | | | | as the Vumbura concession which contains both |
| dependant on the seasonal rains but they travel | | | | wetland and savannah areas for the best of both |
| across the Serengeti en masse roughly between April | | | | worlds.The Delta is at its most impressive in August |
| and August.In February - March, months before they | | | | when the water is at its deepest and most of the |
| begin their epic journey, the wildebeest give birth | | | | young are born between November and March when |
| within a six week period to hundreds of thousands of | | | | the vegetation is lush and dense so it might be a |
| calves, taking advantage of the sweet grazing | | | | good idea to plan any Botswana safari photography |
| available in the Serengeti at that time. They all foal at | | | | trips to coincide with these events.5. South and North |
| the same time to cause a glut of prey opportunities | | | | Luangwa NP - ZambiaSome experts have branded |
| for the predators who make full use of the bonanza | | | | the Luangwa National Park as one of the greatest |
| while they can.And so can you with some remarkable | | | | wildlife sanctuaries in the world because the density |
| picture opportunities in the offing.2. Masai Mara | | | | of game you can find here mixed with the isolation |
| Reserve - KenyaThis is one of the places where | | | | and pure unadulterated wildness of it is almost |
| your camera will start steaming from overuse | | | | without compare.Because it is reasonably |
| especially if you are after big cat pictures.Along with | | | | undiscovered except to the locals in the know and a |
| the Serengeti in Tanzania, this is without a doubt the | | | | select few foreign visitors, it hasn't been overrun by |
| premier game viewing destination in Africa because | | | | masses of tourists yet and you can experience a |
| of the quality and quantity of wildlife sightings and | | | | safari photography vacation here as it should be and |
| safari photography opportunities to be found | | | | some say that is the best Africa has to offer.There |
| here.This sometimes works against it because in | | | | are over 60 species of animal here with the |
| certain places it can be overrun with photographers | | | | unfortunate exception of rhino because they were |
| and tourist in safari vehicles all jostling for the best | | | | poached into extinction and over 400 different kinds |
| position around a bemused lion pride or leopard in a | | | | of birds.They all rely on and are drawn to the winding |
| tree.But if predators are what you seek from a | | | | Luangwa river which is crowded with some of the |
| safari photography trip then this reserve will deliver | | | | biggest concentrations of hippo and crocodile you will |
| them in spades in the form of lion, cheetah, hyena | | | | find anywhere in Africa. it has been estimated that |
| and even regular leopard sightings if you know the | | | | there are 50 hippos per kilometre of this congested |
| right areas.Taking a hot air balloon ride over the plains | | | | river.The South Luangwa was the birthplace of the |
| will provide a unique perspective for your safari | | | | walking safari and it is still a very popular way to |
| photography efforts not to mention an amazing | | | | explore the area from a quality collection of safari |
| experience.3. Kruger NP - South AfricaThe Kruger | | | | lodges and camps. Night drives are another excellent |
| National Park has to rank as one of the best South | | | | way to see leopard which are reputed to be more |
| Africa safari photography destinations, only slightly | | | | regularly seen in this park than anywhere else in |
| behind the Masai Mara and Serengeti when it comes | | | | Africa because of the high concentrations of the |
| to wildlife viewing because the vegetation in Kruger | | | | predator. Lions and even rare sightings like honey |
| can be dense and sometimes mars the ability to see | | | | badger, civet and wild dog are likely to be seen.To |
| longer distances and get clear wildlife pictures.But the | | | | take the true Zambia safari photography adventure a |
| variety of animals, birds and ecosystems that you | | | | step farther, the northern luangwa area is even more |
| can experience here are unparalleled anywhere else in | | | | remote, wild and isolated than the south and the |
| Africa and the accommodation, roads and facilities | | | | wildlife and bird viewing experience is from the top |
| are top notch and all at a very affordable price.It's | | | | draw. Definitely one for the safari cognoscenti.wildlife |
| not unusual to see lion, leopard, cheetah, a pack of | | | | photography tips and advice about the best nature |
| wild dog, rhino, elephant, buffalo and a whole host of | | | | cameras, lenses and techniques to improve your |
| antelope, crocodile and hippo in the course of a single | | | | pictures on safari.African primate pictures taken on |
| trip including a variety of insects and reptiles.On the | | | | safari of chimpanzee, gorilla, baboon, vervet, mandrill |
| bird front you will be spoiled with a seemingly | | | | and colobus monkeys. |