Safari

Frequently Asked Questions

Safari FAQs

I have been on over 150 safaris and spend several months each year in the ‘bush’.

Here you will find answers to the most common questions I get asked about going on safari. Learn what to pack, when to travel, safety tips, what camera gear to bring, how to choose your photo guide and how safaris help local communities.

If there is anything that is not covered in these FAQs or if you have any additional inquiries, please don’t hesitate to email me with your questions. I will make every effort to respond to you as quickly and thoroughly as possible.

Planning & Basics

  • While there is no specific ‘best time’ to go on safari, it is generally considered to be best during the local dry season for each area. This is because wildlife spotting is easier and wildlife is normally congregated more around often-sparse water sources.

    However, there are ‘peak’ and ‘off-peak’ seasons at most destinations that offer pros and cons for each. Peak season, often during the dry season, will typically have higher prices and more tourists due to this being either school holidays or a specific wildlife event that naturally occurs in these months. ‘Off-peak’ seasons are cheaper and often less busy though the wildlife is no less incredible.

    I provide a good guide of “when to visit” for each safari destination on my list of guided areas which you can explore here.

  • Safaris typically book up relatively far in advance. Particularly if you have limited travel windows that are similar to other tourists (eg school holidays) so it is best to try to plan roughly a year in advance.

    For my group trips I always launch these at least a year ahead of time so you will have enough time to plan.

    For my bespoke safaris, I will plan what works best for you.

  • Wildlife is never guaranteed. So ideally, you want to give yourself the best opportunity to see and photograph the animals that you are after. For one destination, usually one week is a good balance between time away and variety, and chances, of good sightings and photographic opportunities.

    Most of my scheduled trips are between 6-8 days for this reason.

  • For density and diversity (as well as ease of travel and sightings), Kenya is probably your best bet for a first time safari. There is a wide range of price points and most people speak English fluently (often as a third language as well as you or I might speak as our first).

    If combining safari and city retreats, then South Africa is an excellent alternative with near-first world infrastructure and incredible food and wine, beaches and activities.

  • A private safari is tailored to you - encompassing everything from timing of travel and destination to personalised learning and instruction. For example if you want to focus only on building a strong cheetah portfolio, a private safari might work in your favour as we devote all of our time to your goal.

    Group safaris focus on small groups with specific targets in mind and are aimed at all levels of photographer with dates and destinations pre-planned.

    I offer both bespoke privately guided safaris as well as scheduled group safaris every year. You can learn more about these here.

  • Your guide should produce the standard of images that you are looking to achieve. The real value-added by a private guide comes from their ability to teach as well as their personal knowledge of the places you visit.

    Knowing one area in Africa is not enough as both wildlife behaviour and experience differs vastly across the continent and not every country will fit your goals perfectly.

    A quality private guide will be able to explain in detail using their own experience the difference between destinations, how to combine them, and will know all the areas and camps well enough to tailor a trip perfectly.

    A good private guide will have a lot of wildlife knowledge as well and be able to predict behaviour, understand how to work sensitively with wildlife and position the vehicle to get you the best experience.

Cost & Budget

  • A quality African safari to areas that offer sufficient exclusivity and access to great wildlife opportunities can be expensive and often will average out to around $1,000 - $1,500 per person per night. A lot depends on the time of year and number of people in your group as costs generally come down with bigger parties.

    You can do guided safaris cheaper, but you will not have the same quality of experience and I would caution against only looking at cost when choosing a safari.

  • The main factors are popularity, time of year, seasons and quality of accommodation. Peak season will typically have higher prices and more tourists due to this being either school holidays or a specific wildlife event that naturally occurs in these months. ‘Off-peak’ seasons are cheaper and often less busy though the wildlife is no less incredible.

  • On my safaris, all accommodation, conservation fees, internal flights, daily activities and food and drinks (excl premium brands) are included.

  • Typically, tips for staff, premium brands of drinks, optional activities (eg, ballooning or cultural visits) are not included in the safari price. Additionally, meals if overnighting before the beginning of a scheduled trip as well as visas and any related fees.

  • With so many to choose from, it is important to use a guide or agent that you trust and who has experience. Often, unscrupulous agents will sell the camps that provide the best commissions for that they have been (often only for a night or even just a quick tour of the camp during the day) to the exclusion of others, without having taken the time to properly assess.

    Find someone or an agent you trust, someone who knows the area and has a lot of experience across many different regions and seasons who can give you the best information for the safari you want to have.

    Knowing one area in Africa is not enough as both wildlife behaviour and experience differs vastly across the continent and not every country will fit your goals perfectly. A quality guide or agent will be able to explain in detail using their own experience the difference between destinations, how to combine them, and will know all the areas and camps well enough to tailor a trip perfectly.

Wildlife & Photography

  • Despite what many may believe, the wildlife does differ between country and seasons. In spite of this, most areas will have a large overlap of the main, iconic, African wildlife such as lions, leopards, elephants, zebras and giraffes as well as antelope and gazelles.

    I provide a more in-depth look at when to visit for what in my safari destination guides here.

  • A typical focal length for wildlife photography will be between 100-500. Wide-angle lenses can be fantastic for big landscapes and skies, but your bread and butter  focal length will be between those two. Mirrorless cameras are significant upgrades on the older DSLR cameras for ease of use but there is nothing wrong with older cameras. iPhones are also fantastic for candid shots for fun and memories (I use mine a lot!).

  • Typically, it is better to rent equipment in your home country. There are many reputable companies that allow rentals to be taken overseas and these can often be a great way to use or try gear without the cost of purchasing expensive kit.

  • The wildlife is free-moving. Typically we will aim to maintain a good, safe, distance from the animals. Mostly this is for their ease and comfort and to avoid having our presence impact their behaviour. We are in their world and we need to respect that and not try to alter animal behaviour via our presence. As a general guide, you will be within 10-50m of wildlife. Often closer if the animals choose, and sometimes further away such as when cheetahs are hunting to give them sufficient space.

Safety & Comfort

  • Yes! Though you should always follow the camp and guide ’s advice and rules. On arrival in camp you will be briefed on the safety principles. Most camps are unfenced so the wildlife can move freely about so, as an example, at night you will usually be escorted by an experienced staff member to and from your accommodation.

  • As with any activity-based travel, layering is key. Safari destinations, despite the exotic nature of the countries, are often cool in the mornings and evenings and warm during the day with fluctuations between seasons. Activities usually start early (eg 5am) so layering up is critical. This allows you to remove layers as the day warms.

    Camps will usually provide rain gear (eg ponchos) and blankets so don’t bother with these.

    Key items include:

    • Puffy jacket

    • Fleece

    • Trousers

    • Sturdy, but comfortable, shoes

    • Sunblock

    • Hat

    • Sunglasses

    You can see specific packing ideas for each safari destination here.

  • You should consult your doctor if you have any questions or concerns or visit your local travel doctor clinic.

  • Usually, camps are unfenced and open to the wildlife so the animals can move freely through camp.

    Rooms are typically luxury tents with large double or twin beds in a bedroom with ensuite bathroom, a closet to store clothing, and a safe is provided for valuables.

    A family suite version may accommodate two bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms and a connecting lounge area in between the two.

    Drinking water is provided in all rooms.

    Mobile camps that move with the wildlife will typically have bucket showers (these operate exactly as regular showers but requires a staff member to bring hot water to hang above your tent).

  • A typical day on safari will start early with a wake up call around 5am - often with coffee or a hot beverage of your choice provided. We will then usually meet up at the mess area half an hour later before heading out on the morning activity (usually a game drive) which lasts for anywhere between 3-5 hours. We return to camp for either lunch after which is siesta or relaxation time.

    Ahead of the afternoon activity we will meet for afternoon tea around 3.30pm before heading out at 4pm again before returning to camp in time to relax a little before dinner.

    There is usually downtime between drives where you can catch up on sleep or relax and we use this time to also go through any questions you have on photo-editing or discuss ideas and/or concepts from the morning’s shoot.

Travel Logistics

  • You should always check with your country’s Foreign Office’s published guidelines (or equivalent Government Department).

  • Most small planes require you to have packed in soft bags (ie not hard cases) so that they can fit in the small hold openings. Additionally expect to be limited to around 15kg in luggage per person, so packing light is essential.

  • I always recommend traveling with travel insurance. Safaris can be expensive and it makes sense to have insurance.

  • These will be arranged by your agent and the camps in advance. On my safaris you will also be provided with this information ahead of time.

    Depending on destination, transfers can include driving, short flights on small planes, or, where necessary, a helicopter which is often a great way to see wildlife from the air.

Booking & Customisation

  • Bespoke safaris are fully customisable and will be designed entirely around you and what you hope to achieve.

    On group safaris, these are more structured but it is often easy to add customised travel either side of these departures. Or, within the safari, to add certain bespoke experiences such as hot air ballooning or cultural visits.

    Obviously, you are under no obligation to partake in every scheduled activity and are free to relax and enjoy your holiday.

  • Your guide should produce the standard of images that you are looking to achieve. The real value-added by a private guide comes from their ability to teach as well as their personal knowledge of the places you visit.

    Knowing one area in Africa is not enough as both wildlife behaviour and experience differs vastly across the continent and not every country will fit your goals perfectly. A quality private guide will be able to explain in detail using their own experience the difference between destinations, how to combine them, and will know all the areas and camps well enough to tailor a trip perfectly.

    A good private guide will have a lot of wildlife knowledge as well and be able to predict behaviour, understand how to work sensitively with wildlife and position the vehicle to get you the best experience.

  • My groups are normally limited to 3/4 people in order to provide personalised tuition and maximise time with each guest.

    In some cases larger groups will travel, but in these scenarios I always have a second photographic guide to ensure everyone continues to receive personalised tuition and guiding.

  • You are under no obligation to partake in every scheduled activity and are free to relax and enjoy your holiday.

Sustainability & Ethics

  • Safaris and ethical operators are crucial for wildlife conservation and community upliftment. Safaris typically employ local people to guide and staff the camps. Many companies also support communities through investing in schools, medical clinics, water sanitation amongst other impacts.

  • We do not bait or call wildlife as we believe in ethical behaviour.

    Avoid loud noises that disturbs the wildlife. On open safari vehicles standing is often prohibited as it breaks the shape of the vehicle that wildlife is used to. Getting out the vehicle in a wildlife sighting is also usually prohibited without permission and expert guidance.

  • So much of the world has already eradicated its own wildlife, hunted their native creatures to extinction, or something close enough. Nature has been packaged away into tiny corners, with cities and towns sanitised.

    If the wild areas we love do not generate income, we can hardly expect them to simply be kept intact and natural at great opportunity cost by people who need food to survive. People who need income, who need jobs, who need all the same things we need - things we have at the expense of the nature around us that has been built up into housing complexes, soy bean farms, solar panels and highways. Every tract of nature that is preserved comes at the opportunity cost of industry or farming. Tourism is a valuable currency in its own right. It’s a choice to preserve nature and live off the benefits of tourism instead of farms, mines, shopping malls. If we don’t travel and explore the remaining natural world, we condemn it to the same fate. Cities and homes, farms and industrial areas all linked by highways and byways. Nature left to survive in manicured gardens and ‘green spaces’.