Questions about my first Safari Trip
 

I've enjoyed reading this forum as my first ever trip to Africa approaches.

Three of my friends and I are headed to southern africa for a 13 day safari through Botswana and Victoria Falls. Itinerary is as follows (It's Wildernes Safari's 'Untamed Lands' trip):
1 night JNB (staying with friends)
2 nights Camp Kalahari
2 nights Naxi Pan
2 nights Xigera Mokoro Trail
2 nights Lechwe Island Camp
2 nights Chobe
1 night Linyanti Trails Camp
2 nights Victoria Falls

I have a few questions for those of you who have done safai in Botswana before.

1) What is the best support for my digital SLR? Tripods don't seem practicle. I do have a SafariSack (beanbag), but it seems bulky, especially with the weight and size limit on our bags. Any other suggestions?

2) I have a 28-300mm zoom lens. Will this be enough or should I invest in a larger (500mm) lens?

3) Are night vision bionoculars necessary? They are included on our packing list and it does appear we are doing some night safaris. I do have a regular pair of binocs.

4) Our packing list says we should bring a large flashlight (torch) with at least 2 C or D-cell batteries. I have a newer LED headlamp that is much lighter and just as bright. Will this be good enough, or do we really need to bring that large flashlight?

5) How cold (and hot during the day) should we expect it to get in May? Our safari is mid-May. Also, how bad are the mosquitos this time of year?

6) Shoes. What is really practicle for safari? Our agent says Tevas are fine.

Any other advice or tips you have would be appreciated. Thanks.

Hello Buzztechie,

It sounds like you have a great trip coming up. In answer to your questions:

CAMERA SUPPORT:
For shooting from vehicles I use a monopod with a shoulder brace -- this has worked very well. For a beanbag I bring some empty Ziploc bags and ask the camp to lend me some rice or beans to fill one of them up with; I then tuck it inside another bag for leak insurance. Since you're on a mobile and supplies will be limited, if you want to do this you may want to tell your agent so they can tell Wilderness.

LENS LENGTH
An area of considerable controversy -- it's hard to make a recommendation without knowing what you like to shoot and what your shooting style is. Personally I love my Canon 70-200 f/2.8 IS and use a teleconverter for extra reach when I need it, but I don't tend to shoot birds -- other people prefer something longer. You'll definitely want one fast lens for low-light shooting, and personally I'd highly recommend IS.

NIGHT VISION BINOCULARS
Your night drives will be done with a spotlight so your normal binoculars may be fine. I have a pair of Leica 10x42s and never felt a strong enough need for night vision binoculars to justify the extra weight and space.

TORCH
I'd recommend a compromise - bring your headlamp and a smaller torch.

WEATHER
Daytime highs rarely exceed the low 30s?C (mid-80s?F). Nighttime lows average between 10 – 15?C (50 to 59?F). Days are usually clear and dry. There may be a few mossies but not huge numbers of them.

SHOES
I'd definitely recommend close-toed shoes for any bush walks you do -- open-toed sandals are an invitation to rocks, thorns, etc. Sandals are fine when you're in camp.

Enjoy your trip!

Cheers,
Julian

Hi!

Your trip sounds great! What Jasher didn't mention is that his website has some great packing tips:

http://www.timelessafrica.com/index.cfm?L1=planLuggage

Moira

Howdy buzzlechie -

Great Safari you have planned we are totally envious you are going this May!!
:)

In answer to a couple of your questions
3) I asked same question about night vision binocs a couple of weeks ago and got some good advice - link here
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34948209

5) How bad are mosquitos? - We were in Bostswana in mid-April (2005) anti-malarial prophylaxis and DEET based repellant is required but with the repellant and long trousers and socks at night we were not bothered by mozzies at all. Actually, the mozzies are worse here in our backyard in Australia - but they aren't the malaria kind(Anopheles).

6) Closed comfortable walking shoes are a must. With good grip - we climbed a rocky precipice in Savute to view San paintings and were VERY glad of the decent tread on our shoes. One thing we intend to pack for our next trip is "gators" small sleeve like things that go over the cuffs of trousers, socks and top of shoes. We did get some insistent very "sticky" grass seeds on our walk in Xigera. every night we picked seeds out of socks - not just in Xigera.

For the quintessential packing list and a good laugh - you can't go past LyndaS Packing List here
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34802443 :))

You won't be the last to struggle with a decent packing list - there was also a useful thread that posed the question "the one thing you didn't bring on safari, but wish you had"
Link here
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34929931
Cheers and happy travels
Thembi

hi, all,

thanks for the tip about closed shoes - i'd never have thought of that!! [truly!]

regards, ann

Julian, Moira, & Thembi - Thanks for the great feedback and links.

Julian, it appears we have the same camera bag. I used my Crumpler 7 mil bag on a recent x-country US trip and loved it, but how in the heck did you stuff all that camera gear you have listed on your website into it, cause I have much less gear than you and it barely fits.

Also, have you seen the new Brazillion dollar Crumpler bag? Whoa!

I'm not much of a bird photography person, so I think I will forgo the 500mm lens. I do have a 1.4xTC which I will pack along.

I know this is probably not the best safari for photography (no more than 2 days in one location and 8 people in the jeep), but this tour was the best compromise between me and my 3 other travel companions. Since this is the first time to Africa for all 4 of us, we just want a positive and fun experience.

Just from reading the posts here, I think I want to plan a solo photography trip to Africa in the future, staying a bit longer in a few camps with private guides. Probably a year or two down the road for that trip though.

Thanks again for all your advice.

Hello Buzztechie,

I actually used to fit everything (except the monopod and accessories) into a Crumpler 6 Million Dollar Home, but with the new restrictions on carry-ons out of Heathrow (the annoying one bag rule) I bought the 7 Million so I could fit a few things for the flight in it.

I've not seen the Brazillion Dollar bag, and probably should avoid looking -- I'm trying to cut down on the amount of stuff I bring, not increase it!

Believe it or not all the stuff (aside from the monopod) does fit, though the bag is pretty heavy once it's all in there. (I could theoretically stick the monopod through one of the loops on the outside, but I have to check it because it could theoretically be used as a weapon -- since the ball head, quick-release plate, and shoulder brace are pretty useless without it, I check them as well).

I do usually take one of the WA lenses out and put it in my pocket for the 'weigh-in' (airlines in the UK weigh your carry-on before approving it to be taken on board).

For carrying onto planes, I divide the bag into three compartments: a central one for camera bodies and the Epson, and side compartments for the lenses. I lay the camera bodies flat on their backs one on top of the other, and put the Epson on top. There's enough room on top of the Epson for a paperback book.

The 70-200 goes in one lens compartment, along with a few random things like my CF card case and spare batteries which can slide in next to it. I take the hood for this lens but not for the WA lenses as those hoods are pretty useless.

The two WA lenses go in the other compartment, with the 1.4x TC on top of one of them. There's enough room on top of the other lens for a few bits and bobs.

Manuals, cleaning supplies, and polarising filters go in the front pocket; batteries and Ziploc bags into the zipper pouch in the cover flap.

On safari I'll keep one camera body attached to the 70-200 and one attached to the 24-105, with the other two lenses in the bag if needed.

Cheers,
Julian

Hello again,

I realised that I forgot the 2x TC in the last post -- it goes on top of the other WA lens.

BTW, any photos you take of the camps on the Untamed Lands itinerary would be greatly appreciated for the Safari Photo Album!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jasher/sets/

Cheers,
Julian

I am sure between the 4 of us in our group, we will have plenty photos of the camps along the way and we would be happy to let you use them for your site. That's a great resource btw.

There is a weight limit out of Heahrow on the carry-on bag? Ack! I saw the one bag rule with a size limit, but I didn't see anything about a weight limit. You wouldn't happen to know what that weight limit is?

I am traveling through London on my way to JNB. Arriving on EOS via Stansted airport in the morning and leaving on SAA later that night.

This whole packing with a weight limit thing is so very stressful. :-)

Great discussion on bags. Because I'm using my American Airlines mileage for trip to JNB in May. I'm having to fly through LHR. So I run into the "annoying" (as Julian say, I use other words) one bag rule. Hopefully my last time flying through LHR and/or the EU, but lets' not get distracted here.

The LHR one bag rule says one bag no larger than 56x45x25 centimeters or in inches 22x17.5x10. But BA web site has no info regarding weight limitations. This is a large bag, get a cardboard box this size and see.

I usually carry two small bags whose total size would fit easily inside this box size. One bag for the camera and lenses and one bag for the electronic support kit (which is same size as the camera kit!!!). But no, not now. So I have to get a larger bag and put those two bags inside it which is silly. I could get a cardboard box this size, put bags in it, put string and a handle on it. A lot of tape around the edges/corners. You've seen it at airports. Perhaps I could use a large pillow case to hold the two, or even more bags, and then after check in take it all out the pillow case. Probably would not be allowed because the pillow case would be white. A black pillow case with a little handle sewn on to it might work. Oh, oh, what we have now is a small duffel bag, there's an idea. Just make sure you can squeeze it into that box size.

However, I think I'll see if I can find this 6 dollar bag around here and check it out. Their web site says its size is 32x24x18cm so well within the allowed. In fact, maybe go for a bigger one like the Brazillion bag but it costs $280. Back to the duffel bag. Or cardboard box with string and tape and handle.

regards - tom
ps - is there a weight limitation??

One bit about the crumpler bags - i have a crumpler shoulder bag - and it has the biggest velcro fastener. I would be nervous about using a velcro opener in a camera bag - because of the loud "ripping" noise it makes when being opened. If you were trying for a nice photo and opened your bag - the sound might spook the subject animal or bird?

Any one with experience "In the Field" with the velcro?

Hello,

The weight limit for carry-on varies a bit from airline to airline and depends a bit on where you depart from -- flights departing from the US have larger allowances than those departing from the UK. On Virgin, departures from the UK have a limit of 6kg (a bit more than 13 lb).

As Tom said, BA do not have any info on their site. This doesn't mean they won't weigh your luggage though -- BA's site is notorious for being out of date. I'd check with them to make sure, Tom (yes, there are much more colourful ways to describe the one-bag rule, but my cat is watching as I type this and I don't want to expose her to bad language).

I've checked SAA's website (which is, IMO, one of the most annoying and confusing airline websites I've encountered) and it appears that their hand-luggage limit is 8kg, or about 17.5 lb.

Like all airplane luggage rules, the strictness with which the weight limit is enforced depends a lot on how full the flight is. If it's packed they'll weigh everything, but if it's half-empty they often don't bother. However, they do remain firm about the one-bag rule.

Cheers,
Julian

Hi Thembi,

I've taken various Crumpler bags on all of my safaris and so far I haven't found the Velcro to be a problem -- just close the lid without sticking the Velcro together and you'll be fine.

One big plus of the Velcro when you're carrying a lot of very expensive gear is that there's no way you'll fail to notice if someone decides to take an unauthorised peek inside your bag -- though fortunately I havne't had any such problems yet!

Cheers,
Julian

Then there are the intra-Africa flights and they have a weight limit for all/total baggage of 15 kg, 33 lbs, is it? This may be a little tight when including camera and electronic kit. Guess I could wear the heavier camera and lens. Anyone know the cost per Kg for excess weight?
I looked at big bags while out for lunch just now and found something like a Reebok sports duffel that is 20x11x11 inches, nice large size. (Still way under the max allowed). Cost only $20, is totally soft sided, has outside and inside zippered pockets, hand strap and shoulder strap. It would work to hold two or three smaller bags. And of course I'd make sure it smells strongly of sweaty gym soxs and shorts :-)
What I do then is at camp game drive leave in the hut/tent the electronic kit and take two small bags of camera kit. But wait, maybe better to take it all on the game drive for security? At least take a backup copy of camera cards with me. Any advice/experience on this?
regards - tom

Hello Tom,

The weight limit on most light aircraft flights in Southern Africa is 12kg (unless you're with Sefofane (Wilderness's affiliated airline) in Botswana or Namibia, in which case you get a generous 20kg). Tthis does include both your clothing and your camera kit, but in total that's about 44lb which is plenty for most people, particularly if you go light on the clothing -- there's daily laundry, so you really only need two of everything except smalls.

I've never seen anyone charged per kg of excess weight, though if you're seriously concerned you can buy an extra seat on your flights which will enable you to bring up to 70kg of extra stuff.

If the airline is concerned about the weight/size of someone's luggage they normally just tell the person concerned that their luggage is too large/heavy to fit on the plane and that they will need to either leave it behind (usually stored in the airline's office) or pay to have it sent out separately. Yes, I have seen this happen (to someone with a large wheeled dufflebag who did not heed the soft-sided bags only rule, which is why I take that rule very seriously!)

Personally, I take almost all of my gear with me when I leave camp with the exception of the camera battery charger and the batteries I've left behind to get charged, and sometimes the Epson as its batteries can only be charged when they're actually in the device. This is more because I want the gear on hand if I need it than for security reasons, though.

Cheers,
Julian

I re-organized my camera equipment in my Crumpler 7 Mil bag and I think it all fits now. Of course, I have two small pouches attached to the outside, but I need to be able to carry-on my medicines and some toiletries.

17.5 pounds on SAA. I need to find a scale and see if my camera bag makes that. Argh! Hopefully they will be a little more relaxed on that rule in First Class.

Today I did look at Crumpler Brazillion Mil bag, but it just seemed too large.

We were told by Wilderness Safari that we had the 44 pound limit which includes the inter-Africa flights as well as the GA light aircraft transfers.

Thanks again for all the info. Hopefully all the worry and stress done prior to the trip will make the actual safari go much smoother.

Cheers!