Bean Bags Provided in Camp Vehicles?
 

I'll be traveling to 3 camps in Botswana soon - Banoka, Chitabe and Duma Tau. Wondering if the safari vehicles have bean bags for photography provided? I really don't want to travel with one from home - nor hassle trying to get one after arriving in Africa. On my trip to Tanzania our private vehicle had a couple and they made a huge difference even in my amateur photography, so I'd hate to think of not having the use of one.

Not an expert on safari vehicles, and I suppose the answer might depend on your outfitter.

But, we brought zip lock bags and small stuff sacks with us from home on our Tanzania trip. Had our guide stop in a market and buy a few pounds of rice and made our own bags. This took ten minutes and they worked great. Gave the rice to the staff at the end of the trip.

I always bring my own, and I haven't seen bean bags at either Chitabe or Duma Tau before. I would hedge your bet and bring your own.

We went to Duma Tau in early June 2008 -- we brought empty bean bags and asked for some rice to fill them. We really enjoyed Duma Tau; if interested, my photos are posted at www.marysuefarley.com/Africa

Some rangers who are into photography have them. We will do the same as Nelson in the future. Rice or beans work.

My husband used a "Gorillapod" on our trip. It worked great. You can hang or sit it anywhere.

http://joby.com/gorillapod

Bring a zip lock and fill it with the fine Kalahari sand. Put the zip lock inside a purple crown royal bag for extra class!

Craig Beal - owner - Travel Beyond

What is class?

Well... I won't be in the Kalahari for that coveted sand, and don't know what a crown royal bag is :-) But it sounds like I should bring my own bag and try to find something to fill it after I get there - thanks everyone!

Zip lock bag would work but I'd be bit concerned it would pop open? I don't use a bean-bag often but last time I made one from a zippered allergy proof bedding pillowcase, $5(?). Sew pillowcase to the size bag you want, keeping the zipper. Trim off the excess leftover. Use leftover to put camera in when encountering dusty game drives.
http://tinyurl.com/3nt6ybo

regards - tom

We used those blow-up, travel, neck pillows. Worked great for photography, take up no room and are much appreciated on the flights to and from.

TC - yeah, great idea!

I would not use a ziplock plastic bag as I think the chances of having something poke a hole in it is too great.

To clarify on the zip locks: we used double bagged zip locks, the sliding lock type. Those were placed inside a cloth stuff sack, similar in size to the classier Crown Royal bag. They worked, un-punctured, for two weeks of hard use.

Have a great trip, show us your photos!