Africa Safari - Typical Day

A typical daily schedule at a game lodge will go something like this:

One hour before sunrise: there is a wakeup knock at your door or call to your room
30 minutes before sunrise: enjoy a light breakfast at the lodge
Sunrise: Head out on a game drive in a six-passenger open Land Cruiser/Rover
8:30 am: Your guide sets up a tea break on a camp in the bush
10:30 am: Arrive back at the lodge to wash up and replace batteries and photo card
11:00 am: Enjoy a beautiful buffet brunch - All you can eat!
12:00 noon: Grab a quick nap or relax by the pool (if they have one)
3-4 pm: Enjoy quiche, pie, sandwiches, and other high tea items
4-4:30 pm: Depart on the afternoon game drive in your open Land Cruiser/Rover
Sunset: Your guide sets up table with alcohol, drinks and snacks
Sunset+1 hour: Drive back to camp with spotlight, looking for predators in action
Sunset+2-3 hours: Enjoy an enormous buffet dinner and drinks
Watch the watering hole for wildlife and get to bed as sunrise starts another day!

The biggest surprise on a trip like this is how really good the food is. You are in the middle of the bush enjoying lamb with mint sauce and a fine imported beer. Eating five meals per day makes sense if you were spending 12 hours per day toting a heavy rifle through the bush. It isn't such a great idea when all you will be doing is sitting in a Land Rover. So watch what you eat or you might be surprised at how weight you gain on an African Safar!.

We suggest you stay two to three nights at each lodge. For the best photographic results, try to stay a minimum of three nights in each location. The first day or two is great for figuring out what is worth photographing on the last day or two.

The Challenges

Here are the fundamental challenges to taking pictures as good as what you see in books or on television:

Animals don't usually do anything very interesting and, often the most interesting activity is at night
Animals tend to be skittish and keep their distance from humans, even when those humans are sitting in Land Rovers
Objects that are far away require high magnification (long telephoto) lenses
High magnification lenses magnify camera shake
You are in a vehicle on springs with a handful of other people, some of whom may be moving about and adding camera shake
High magnification lenses offer very limited depth of field, especially at the wide apertures required for high shutter speeds to freeze camera shake (see above)
The environment tends to be dry and dusty, increasing the risk of getting crud on the sensor and in your camera. So try to keep your camera protected when you are out driving and not using your camera.

Let us customize your Africa Safari Tour. Pease contact our office at 817 481-8631 / 800 766-2911 or info@dynamictravel.com