Africa really is a photographer’s dream destination. With stunning landscapes, diverse wildlife, and vibrant cultures, it’s practically impossible to point your camera in any direction without getting at least one great shot. From vast savannas to misty mountains and white-sand beaches with crystal-clear water, you’ll find here a wealth of photographic opportunities that are unmatched anywhere else in the world.
Popular Photography Safaris in Africa
Best Destinations For Photo Safaris in Africa
Africa is a bastion of beauty. With picturesque landscapes and magnificent wildlife, this region gives you countless options to take incredible photos. Here are some of the continent’s best spots for photography safaris:
Maasai Mara National Reserve, Kenya
Maasai Mara is one of the most iconic destinations when it comes to African wildlife. With its vast savannas, big cats, and wildebeest migration annually passing through these lands – it truly makes an unforgettable sight. In fact, it’s home to countless species including lions, leopards, cheetahs, elephants and many more. We suggest that you plan your visit during the dry season (July to October) as this is when you’ll have the best chance at capturing memorable wildlife images.
Serengeti National Park, Tanzania
The Serengeti is another great location with its boundless plains and acacia trees that create a picture-perfect setting for any shot you might want to take. Its large lion prides are sure to leave you in awe! On top of that there are also cheetahs, leopards and hyenas roaming around too. And if that wasn’t enough – the annual wildebeest migration occurs here as well. For optimal shots we recommend visiting during the dry season (June to October) when animals gather around water sources.
Ngorongoro Crater, Tanzania
A UNESCO World Heritage Site and also one of Africa’s most unique locations; Ngorongoro Crater is a must-visit destination for any photographer worth their salt. The crater itself stretches far and wide offering a dense population of wildlife including all members of the Big Five: lions, leopards, elephants, rhinosand buffalos.. Plus it has so much variety within it from savannas to forests to lakes – which means photographic opportunities at every corner.
Okavango Delta, Botswana
If you love water and all of its scenic beauty, then the Okavango Delta is the place for you. With a multitude of animals such as elephants, lions, leopards and African wild dogs that call this place home – your photos are sure to look absolutely breathtaking. And if that wasn’t enough there’s also winding channels, lush vegetation and sparkling water which will make for some truly memorable shots. We highly recommend visiting during the dry season (May to October) when wildlife congregates around the water.
Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda
Aside from being home to endangered mountain gorillas; Volcanoes National Park has so much more to offer photographically. The Virunga volcanoes provide an incredible backdrop with misty forests and open meadows if you’re into landscape! Gorilla trekking here is iconic but don’t think that’s all they have – golden monkeys, buffalo and elephants are just a few more subjects that wait for your camera’s shutter.
Kalahari Desert, South Africa
The Kalahari Desert holds endless possibilities for any photographer looking to capture something truly unique. This semi-arid region houses numerous wildlife like meerkats and lions… plus their beautiful black manes that make them stand out against red sand dunes or expansive salt pans stretching far off in every direction possible. If you want your photos to really pop I suggest planning your trip during the dry season (May to October) when animals are easier to spot.
Amboseli National Park, Kenya
Amboseli National Park is known as one of Kenya’s most inspiring destinations because it offers views of Mount Kilimanjaro along with large herds of elephants roaming freely across its vast plains. There’s also other interesting wildlife such as lions, cheetahs and hyenas that wander about providing even more photo ops! Again though we have to recommend the dry season (June to October) so you don’t miss out on all these amazing sights.
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is a position filled with over half of the remaining mountain gorillas. And not to mention there are a whole bunch of other primates and wildlife species hanging around too. It’s nestled in a pretty intense, challenging rainforest environment that can be difficult to navigate. But trust me when I say it’s worth the effort. Gorilla walking is what this place is primarily known for, but you’ll have no trouble finding opportunities to snap photos of chimpanzees, monkeys, and tons of bird species too.
Namibia, Etosha National Park
Desert landscapes as vast as Namibia’s are perfect to play around in for any photographer. The country also has rugged coastline and a variety of unique wildlife roaming around— including rhinos and lions! Etosha National Park is another great opportunity to see some wild animals up close and personal in Namibia’s remote wilderness. But if deadly predators aren’t your thing don’t worry… night skies look beautiful here too.
South Luangwa National Park, Zambia
It would almost feel wrong for someone who loves photography not to visit South Luangwa National Park at some point during their life. There are so many leopards there it practically holds the record! Lions, elephants, hippos? Yeah they call this place home too. With rivers running through all sorts of environments from dense forests to open savannas — you truly never know what treasure you’ll find here or where until you explore yourself.
Gear and Techniques for Photography Safaris
Wildlife photography in Africa is a unique art that combines the perfect equipment, techniques, and the patience of waiting. Here are some tips to help you take stunning images on your photography safari.
Choose the right camera and lenses
In wildlife photography, you need a camera with fast autofocus system and high ISO capabilities. A full-frame DSLR or mirrorless camera is ideal but a crop-sensor can also do great work. In terms of lenses, you’ll want a long telephoto lens (at least 400mm) to capture far off wildlife as well as wide-angle lens for landscapes and environmental portraits.
Use a sturdy tripod or beanbag
When shooting with long lens, it’s important that your camera be steady to avoid shaky shots. A sturdy tripod or beanbag can help stabilize the camera by keeping it stable. For low-light situations and long exposures, use a tripod while shooting from vehicle may require a beanbag.
Shoot in RAW format
Shooting in RAW format captures more detail than any other format but most importantly captures more dynamic range in your images which is crucial in places like Africa with harsh lighting conditions. This file type gives you more flexibility when editing exposure, color, and sharpness.
Use fast shutter speed
A fast shutter speed helps freeze motion avoiding blur. Most situation will recommend at least 1/1000th of second but faster speeds may be needed for quick moving subjects like birds in flight.
Understand animal behavior
To capture unique images of wildlife it’s important to understand their behavior as well as predict their movements. Take some time to observe them and look for patterns such as hunting or interacting with other animals.
Compose shots thoughtfully
When composing your shots think about rules such as third, leading lines, etc., so that image is visually engaging. Try incorporating an animal’s habitat rather than just focusing on its self.
Be patient and persistent
Animal cooperation isn’t always going to be at its best so you’ll need some patience and persistence. Also, light conditions changing quickly can happen as well. Take your time for the right moment and don’t hesitate to take multiple shots to make sure you got the best image possible.
