What to Pack for a Wildlife Camera Safari in Kenya

In this video, Outdoor Photography Guide’s professional photographer David Johnston takes you through what photographic gear you will need on a camera safari in Kenya. Recently, a group of Outdoor Photography Guide subscribers had accompanied David on an exciting camera safari to photograph the wild animals in the Old Pasheeta Conservation wilderness.

When you are shooting images of distant lions, elephants, and zebras, you think of large telephoto lenses. David agrees that those heavy lenses have their place. However, camera safari photographers often shoot from the safety of parked vehicles, which allow closer visibility. Therefore, it’s important to pack wide-angle lenses on your camera safari. These lenses add versatility so that you capture not only the wildlife but also the vast landscapes unique to the Old Pasheeta Conservation in Africa.

For your camera safari, you will also need a long telephoto lens. David likes his 200–600mm lens for close-ups of the animal faces and for capturing emotion in their eyes. To stabilize these big lenses, you will need to steady them on the window ledges of the camera safari vehicles. You can also use a monopod or even a bean bag. By way of illustration, David shows you images of elephants, rhinos, lions, zebras, and giraffes.

Take a camera safari in Africa with Outdoor Photography Guide’s professional photographer David Johnston for valuable tips on what cameras and lenses you should pack to get complete coverage in your wildlife and landscape photography.