| Good wildlife safari photography is not only about | | | | migratory and indigenous species to the tune of about |
| composition and camera equipment because you first | | | | 510 different varieties.You can easily do a self drive |
| need to find your subjects before you can even lift | | | | safari photography holiday here and still see a decent |
| your camera. This best five African wildlife destinations | | | | amount of wildlife especially if you stick to the central |
| list helps you do that.Once you have been going on | | | | and southern portions of this massive park (larger than |
| wildlife photography safaris in Africa for a number of | | | | Ireland). The north has fewer animals due to dryer |
| years you begin to realise and recognise that certain | | | | conditions but also less tourists which makes for a |
| areas are better than others for generating good | | | | more isolated and intimate wildlife experience.4. |
| animal picture opportunities on a consistent basis.The | | | | Okavango Delta and Moremi GR - BotswanaThe |
| ranking is based on over twenty years of my safari | | | | Okavango Delta must qualify as the most unique and |
| photography experience, forums, countless trip reports | | | | varied safari area in Africa and photographs of the |
| and travel journals, travel magazines and prevailing | | | | landscape here are almost as prized as the wildlife |
| wisdom in the Africa travel industry.1. Serengeti NP - | | | | pictures themselves.The delta lies in the North of |
| TanzaniaOne of the best safari parks in Africa bar | | | | Botswana and it consists of narrow water channels |
| none, the Serengeti is a safari photography dream | | | | lined by papyrus, floodplains covered knee deep in |
| destination.The wildlife viewing on a photographic safari | | | | water, hippo filled lagoons, forest glades and savannah |
| here often borders on the spectacular aided by the | | | | grassland.You can go on outstanding safari |
| fact that the vegetation is predominantly grassland | | | | photography expeditions here on foot, using a 4x4 |
| which makes spotting animals from a distance | | | | vehicle, a mokoro (dug-out canoe) or a motorised |
| considerably easier and provides less obstacles like | | | | boat.Vast herds of buffalo, elephant, gazelle and zebra |
| bushes and trees to obscure your subjects.The | | | | roam this rich ecosystem which is fed by the |
| grassland is also able to sustain a multitude of | | | | Okavango river which has its source in the Angolan |
| herbivores like wildebeest, zebra and gazelle which in | | | | highlands and floods the delta every year.This treasure |
| turn sustains a large population of predators to feed on | | | | trove of available prey attracts the predators too and |
| them so it's no surprise that the Serengeti is often | | | | lion, leopard, cheetah and wild dog thrive here. The dry |
| referred to as "big cat central". In the Masaai language | | | | season is the best for game viewing because the |
| Serengeti means "endless plain" which is very close to | | | | animals are drawn to the permanent water |
| the truth.Two extraordinary events occur here that | | | | sources.The Moremi game reserve consists of strictly |
| make it an even more remarkable place to take a | | | | controlled, privately managed concessions and it falls |
| Tanzania safari. The annual wildebeest migration and | | | | within the Okavango delta area and has no fences |
| the birth of hundreds of thousands of wildebeest | | | | which leaves the animals free to roam around as they |
| foals.The migration occurs as the massive herds of up | | | | please.There are a number of upmarket Botswana |
| to a million individuals begin their search for better | | | | safari lodges in Moremi such as the Vumbura |
| grazing by moving north. The exact timing is | | | | concession which contains both wetland and savannah |
| dependant on the seasonal rains but they travel | | | | areas for the best of both worlds.The Delta is at its |
| across the Serengeti en masse roughly between April | | | | most impressive in August when the water is at its |
| and August.In February - March, months before they | | | | deepest and most of the young are born between |
| begin their epic journey, the wildebeest give birth within | | | | November and March when the vegetation is lush and |
| a six week period to hundreds of thousands of calves, | | | | dense so it might be a good idea to plan any |
| taking advantage of the sweet grazing available in the | | | | Botswana safari photography trips to coincide with |
| Serengeti at that time. They all foal at the same time | | | | these events.5. South and North Luangwa NP - |
| to cause a glut of prey opportunities for the predators | | | | ZambiaSome experts have branded the Luangwa |
| who make full use of the bonanza while they can.And | | | | National Park as one of the greatest wildlife |
| so can you with some remarkable picture opportunities | | | | sanctuaries in the world because the density of game |
| in the offing.2. Masai Mara Reserve - KenyaThis is one | | | | you can find here mixed with the isolation and pure |
| of the places where your camera will start steaming | | | | unadulterated wildness of it is almost without |
| from overuse especially if you are after big cat | | | | compare.Because it is reasonably undiscovered |
| pictures.Along with the Serengeti in Tanzania, this is | | | | except to the locals in the know and a select few |
| without a doubt the premier game viewing destination | | | | foreign visitors, it hasn't been overrun by masses of |
| in Africa because of the quality and quantity of wildlife | | | | tourists yet and you can experience a safari |
| sightings and safari photography opportunities to be | | | | photography vacation here as it should be and some |
| found here.This sometimes works against it because in | | | | say that is the best Africa has to offer.There are over |
| certain places it can be overrun with photographers | | | | 60 species of animal here with the unfortunate |
| and tourist in safari vehicles all jostling for the best | | | | exception of rhino because they were poached into |
| position around a bemused lion pride or leopard in a | | | | extinction and over 400 different kinds of birds.They all |
| tree.But if predators are what you seek from a safari | | | | rely on and are drawn to the winding Luangwa river |
| photography trip then this reserve will deliver them in | | | | which is crowded with some of the biggest |
| spades in the form of lion, cheetah, hyena and even | | | | concentrations of hippo and crocodile you will find |
| regular leopard sightings if you know the right | | | | anywhere in Africa. it has been estimated that there |
| areas.Taking a hot air balloon ride over the plains will | | | | are 50 hippos per kilometre of this congested river.The |
| provide a unique perspective for your safari | | | | South Luangwa was the birthplace of the walking |
| photography efforts not to mention an amazing | | | | safari and it is still a very popular way to explore the |
| experience.3. Kruger NP - South AfricaThe Kruger | | | | area from a quality collection of safari lodges and |
| National Park has to rank as one of the best South | | | | camps. Night drives are another excellent way to see |
| Africa safari photography destinations, only slightly | | | | leopard which are reputed to be more regularly seen in |
| behind the Masai Mara and Serengeti when it comes | | | | this park than anywhere else in Africa because of the |
| to wildlife viewing because the vegetation in Kruger | | | | high concentrations of the predator. Lions and even |
| can be dense and sometimes mars the ability to see | | | | rare sightings like honey badger, civet and wild dog are |
| longer distances and get clear wildlife pictures.But the | | | | likely to be seen.To take the true Zambia safari |
| variety of animals, birds and ecosystems that you can | | | | photography adventure a step farther, the northern |
| experience here are unparalleled anywhere else in | | | | luangwa area is even more remote, wild and isolated |
| Africa and the accommodation, roads and facilities are | | | | than the south and the wildlife and bird viewing |
| top notch and all at a very affordable price.It's not | | | | experience is from the top draw. Definitely one for the |
| unusual to see lion, leopard, cheetah, a pack of wild | | | | safari cognoscenti.wildlife photography tips and advice |
| dog, rhino, elephant, buffalo and a whole host of | | | | about the best nature cameras, lenses and techniques |
| antelope, crocodile and hippo in the course of a single | | | | to improve your pictures on safari.African primate |
| trip including a variety of insects and reptiles.On the bird | | | | pictures taken on safari of chimpanzee, gorilla, baboon, |
| front you will be spoiled with a seemingly never-ending | | | | vervet, mandrill and colobus monkeys. |
| supply of eagles, hawks, water birds and a host of | | | | |