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