Single Biggest photo safari Frustration?

[adhola1]

Hello folks,

I am traveling to Uganda, East Africa in February 2012 and am interested in discovering what the single biggest challenge or frustration is about going on or preparing for a photo safari to Uganda or East Africa generally.

Thanks and I look forward to hearing your responses,

Best

Adhola1

[Peach]

Don't get eaten, trampled, or kidnapped. Probably the biggest challenges I can think of.

Yes, smart-ass remark from Peach, sorry *shameface*

[gturner]

1. Animals spend 95% of the day doing completely nothing. If you go expecting lion kills around every corner, you will be disappointed.

2. Weather - it happens, make sure you can keep yourself and your gear dry or cool... depending on the situation. In Uganda it will rain & and it will be humid.

3. People are not part of the safari outing, think or ask before you shove a camera in their face.

4. As you are going to Uganda, you are probably going to see the gorillas. The forests are dark and you cannot use a flash, so make sure you have a really fast glass with you and a body that can handle high ISO at low noise.
2 bodies would be awesome (wide + zoom), but space might be an issue.

[SwissJon]

Don't flash your gear around.. Your gear is probably worth several years wages to some people. Flashing it about might piss someone off, but worse, might make you a target for robbery, potentially at gun point. Keep a small P&S for when you're in situations where you don't feel comfortable bringing out you DSLR.

keep several small memory cards and put a fresh one in your camera at the end of the days shoot.. If you get your camera stolen then at least you haven't lost everything.

Make sure your stuff is properly insured.. A camera valued at $x,xxx dollars might be considered a high value item and not be covered by insurance.

A waterproof cover in camoflage colors for your DSLR might make your camera less obtrusive, and will also protect it from the rain.

Take mosquito repellent containing high levels of DEET. It's about the only thing that works.. If you're going into areas which are damp, keep yourself covered up to prevent mozzie bites. Malria carrying mosquitoes and Dengie fever mosquitos fly close to the ground so no shorts or skirts.

I know I sound like a doom bringer, but if you take simple precautions and don't follow the lead of someone who's being an idiot, you're less likely to draw attention to yourself, and then you'll enjoy your trip.. Draw attention to yourself and you greatly increase the risk of something bad happening.

[Biomech]

Shooting through fences.

[i'm_lovin'_it]

Originally Posted by Biomech

Shooting through fences.

What fences?! if you go to the Masai Mara or Lake Nakuru or any of these big game parks over here, there are no fences.

[Biomech]

[qute]What fences?! if you go to the Masai Mara or Lake Nakuru or any of these big game parks over here, there are no fences.[/quote]

Just my biggest frustration, whenever I have been to places with animals - zoos, safaris, safari parks etc there is always an enormous amount of man made crap laying around in the background ruining what would otherwise be a really great shot. On occasions there are also fences - like in Africa, we were in open jeeps and drove through the lions who had pieces of roofing to lay on and various bits of fencing :P

[Jim Bryant]

Best time to take pictures is the early morning (sunrise to about 10 or 11:00 and then again in the early evenings 3 - sunset when the animals are more active.

Dust and dirt!!!!!!!!!! Need to clean your camera and lenses constantly while out riding in those tourists wagons.

[Biomech]

And turn around too, sometimes there's a good picture behind you


Safari by me, on Flickr

[adhola1]

Hello and a Thousand Thanks to,

Biomech, Jim Bryant, i'm_lovin'_it, SwissJon, & gturner for your thoughtful responses. They will all be extremely helpful in prepping for Uganda.

Happy New Year and Best in 2012,

Adhola1