African Photographic Safaris

African photo safari tours are perfect for a range of enthusiasts, from solo travelers, couples or groups of friends who wish to sharpen their photography skills, or have a shared passion for photography with an added advantage of ensuring everyone has space and time to photograph at their own pace without feeling rushed.

Our African photo safaris are designed for passionate photographers and less skilled beginner wildlife photographers. Everyone was a beginner once and everyone still has lots to learn; so whether you’re a beginner just learning a few tricks here and there or a semi-professional with some solid foundation in wildlife photography, Kenya photo safaris offer a learning-rich environment.

To those who are new to wildlife photography, we are offer plenty of African photographic itineraries that will not only improve your skills during this African holiday safari with us but also allow you enjoy wildlife & the landscapes  for the same reason, leaving you prepared and confident when you’re out in the field on your next adventure.

Having the right wildlife photographic equipment’s can make a big difference on an African photo safari however, what you bring in the long run is up to you. Most travel operators allow you to bring your own gear (highly recommended), while some offer photographic equipment rentals.

From our African safari photography tips and advice on the essential gear and settings, you will be expected to have an SLR (Single Lens Reflex), DSLR (Digital Single Lens Reflex) or mirrorless camera, as opposed to a point-and-shoot.

It’s a good idea to have at least two lenses on a photographic tour, including a telephoto lens. How big a telephoto lens you need depends a little on where you will go on your African safari. If off-road driving is allowed, you’ll be able to get quite close to animals and in these cases, a 200mm or 300mm lens will be satisfactory. Even better is a 400mm or 500mm capacity lens, especially in main national parks where off-road driving is not allowed.

It is great if you can avoid having to change lenses by having your lenses permanently set on different cameras. That way, you don’t lose time changing lenses during fast-moving action. Another downside of having to change lenses is that dust gets in and settles on the sensor. An off-camera flash set-up is great for night safari photography in Kenya. For more on photo safari equipment’s, reach out and we see how we can assist you with a guide on the best cameras for safaris and the best types of cameras for safari photography.

The cost of photographic safaris in Africa is much dependent on when you want to travel, where you want to visit for photographing wildlife, and what level of luxury you would like on your African safari trip.

“The price of a Kenya photo safari ranges between US$3500 and US$4000 per person, greatly depending on the safari destinations you want to visit, accommodation levels, duration of stay, and must-see and must-do activities.”

Some of our photography tour packages are at times hosted at safari lodges and camps that favour the wildlife experience above everything. We truly put the effort in ensuring our guests are comfortable, and more than happy with a comfy bed, hot water on tap, delicious home-cooked food, and plenty of wildlife photography opportunities!

As Vulture African Safaris, the type of photographic safari vehicles used are the customized 4×4 land cruiser safari jeeps which are open sided providing you with that 360° degrees view and ability for improved views, all enhancing the photographic experience. Additionally, this will allow you to simply pivot into the perfect position with adequate room for your lens support, improving opportunities to capture that sought after shot when the action takes place.

Still on our photo safari packages these specially designed and equipped photo expedition vehicles, provide photographers with essential features; Beanbags, foam camera support props, and battery charging ports are always available.

We welcome non-photographers on all of our photo tours in Kenya, maybe it’s your partner or involve cases where couples don’t share the same interest in photography, yet would prefer to go on safari together.

That said, partners are allowed to join the tour as long as they understand that the tour will be focused on photographers and their specific needs. However, we still have to remember that first and foremost, this is a wildlife experience whether you are travelling with camera equipment’s or not. Whatever you’re looking for be it photography safaris for beginners, pro level safaris, or just doing it for fun – we will be here to make it happen for you.

We believe that Africa is worth visiting throughout the year. When you should travel is very much dependent on what you would like to see and photograph. For example, if you’re into bird’s photography safaris, the right time ranges from January to March when the migratory bird species are in residence. As for photographing wildlife, it is good all year round.

The advantage you have is that you will be on a private photo safari, giving you the flexibility you need and control of what you would like to focus on as compared to joining a group photo safari which limits your freedom due to different traveler tastes and preferences on what to do.

Wildlife photography takes preparation, patience, and persistence. Below are just some of the few beginner tips to help you get high-quality images on your safari every time.

Know your gear ; reason being that some of the best wildlife sightings and action-packed safari moments often last for only a few momentary seconds, and if you’re not familiar with the settings of your camera or the abilities of your lens, you’ll end up missing out on fantastic photo opportunities.

Always be prepared; when photographing wildlife, you have to be ready at all times. Always keep your lens attached to your camera, and ensure that your camera settings are already in place; the faster you can react, the more likely you’ll be able to capture an incredible moment.

Use the light to your advantage; the prevailing light is key, and your guide does everything possible to ensure you are perfectly positioned to snap the most evocative colours. Keep in mind, wildlife is typically more active during the morning and late afternoon periods, making these the favoured times for most photographers. Some of the best animal sightings while on an African photo safari are enjoyed in the early evening when the light of the fabled ‘golden hour’ paints all it touches in a soft and warm glow. Catch the breathtaking African sunsets on our famous bush sundowner with cocktails and snacks as you wind up your day.

Know your subject; understanding your subject and animal behavior is another key to being a good safari photographer, this is especially when your subjects are completely unpredictable. Before you go on any safari, read up about the animals you’ll be photographing to get a clue of what you will do when the moment comes.

Boasting unbeatable vistas, an astounding amount of wildlife and impressive big-5 game viewing, Masai Mara Park and Serengeti National Park are two of Africa’s best national parks for a photo safari.

1. Masai Mara Park is the best destination for wildlife photography, boasting a good number of Lions, cheetahs, elephants, zebras, and hippos which wander around their natural habitat, and the famous wildebeest migration safaris which takes place every year. This can be your chance to go on a wildebeest migration photo safari.
2. Serengeti Park in Tanzania is another top safari destination for photographic tours with awe-inspiring Great Migration moments and Ngorongoro crater views, not forgetting beautiful moments at Tarangire where you can capture the tree climbing lions.
3. Kruger National Park is another fantastic destination for photographic safari holidays; this famous game reserve is home to the big five, as well as the cheetah and the endangered wild dog.

The most popular African photo safari destinations include:

1. Kenya; which as far as safari tours go, it’s hard to beat Kenya’s abundance of wildlife and incredible natural beauty makes Kenya photographic safaris even more memorable.
2. Tanzania; Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park is no surprise known as one of the best photographic safari destinations in the world.
3. Botswana; This is one of the most expensive safari destinations and for a reason, Botswana’s unique landscapes and dense concentrations of wildlife make it a haven for nature lovers.
4. South Africa; South Africa’s Kruger National Park is a popular choice for those heading to Africa for the first time safari.

Explore Africa with us; our photo safari planners are on hand to help you choose the right photo safari for you so please feel free to reach out using the contact button at the top of this page or filling out our enquiry form.

Our passionate safari guides go above and beyond to ensure photographers capture unforgettable wildlife moments from the comfort and flexibility of specially designed 4 x4 safari vehicles.

Capture jaw-dropping wildlife action at some of the top wildlife photography destinations in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Rwanda. Hosted by our resident wildlife safari guide, your photo safari itineraries can be customized to suit your specific wildlife photography goals.