Photo Safari: Capture the Surreal Beauty of Botswana and Namibia

If you haven’t thought about embarking on a thrilling photo safari in Africa, you don’t know what you are missing. Africa is blessed with stunning landscapes and majestic wildlife that will leave you in awe. Visiting countries like Namibia and Botswana make you realise the sheer power of nature and how wildlife and bird life create their own haven to thrive and flourish.

Regardless of your photography expertise, enjoying a photo safari will ensure you get ample opportunities to click the shutter and capture the perfect photograph.

Embarking on a Photo Safari

Photo safaris take place in custom-built vehicles. Usually, you will find the Toyota Land Cruiser 70s Series or Toyota Hilux as the base vehicle. The vehicle then gets several upgrades, transforming it into the perfect photographer vehicle.

Each photographer vehicle usually has elevated suspension so that it can travel on rugged terrain without jerking and shaking you up. The raised suspension also gives you better visibility and makes wildlife tracking much easier. You will also notice that the tires are broad to ensure optimal traction on dirt roads so that you enjoy superior handling and a safe drive.

Typically, all photographer vehicles come equipped with sunroofs, photography sliders, tripods, VHF radio, powerful inverters, USB ports to charge laptops and cameras, satellite phone, and a GPS navigation system. There are also other safety tools and equipment, including fire extinguishers, first aid kits and recovery kits.

Opting for a photographer vehicle rental offers you much more than just an excellent photography set up. You will find many comforts and luxuries of home on board this vehicle.
The vehicle also comes with camping equipment that makes your life easy and comfortable during a photo safari.

Depending on the modification of the vehicle, it could have a two-people roof tent that you can easily unfold and setup in just one minute on a specially built platform. This keeps you off the ground and also allows you to enjoy a vantage point under shade when you are trying to keep an eye out for wildlife. Also, because the tent is so quick and easy to setup, you can worry less about setting up camp before dark and focus more on capturing those national geographic worthy shots. The vehicle can also include a ground tent that is spacious enough to accommodate up to three people.

The modifications in the photographer vehicle ensure you can easily store everything in specific pockets, containers and bags so that nothing is in your way, and you can still access everything you require when the need arises.

Enjoy a Photo Safari in Namibia

A photographer vehicle rental allows you to travel Namibia like never before. You can drive along Skeleton Coast to marvel at the desolate landscape and capture stunning photos of the world’s largest seal colony. Alternatively, you can head out to Fish River Canyon and Etosha National Park to capture images of the Big Five. In fact, the national park offers the best wildlife photography opportunities in Namibia.

There is so much to do and see in Namibia that your camera will never have an idle moment. You will be able to capture beautiful pictures to show family and friends who will marvel at your photography expertise.

Thrilling Photo Safari in Botswana

The vast wilderness, desert and savannah in Botswana will give you ample opportunities to capture photos during your photo safari. You can lose yourself in the natural beauty of this country and not miss home at all!

On your photo safari, be sure to visit the iconic Okavango Delta to see hippos, crocs, migratory birds and the Big Five. You can also visit Kasane which you can use as a base during your safari to explore the fascinating Chobe National Park and Victoria Falls. Don’t forget to make use of the vehicles built-in inverter to charge your camera. It’s especially convenient if your camera battery is low and you still have so much more to see and capture.

Being Patient During Photo Safari

It is thrilling and interesting to embark on a photo safari in Botswana and Namibia. However, make sure you are also carrying a bucket load of patience as you might have to lay in wait to get the perfect picture. You may also want to check the direction of the wind so that you are always upwind from any animal that you are trying to photograph.

It is best to stop and wait near watering holes as the blazing African sun will cause animals to head to the nearest watering hole to quench their thirst. You may also want to time your photo safari in Namibia and Botswana. Animals usually head to the rivers and watering holes at sunrise and then again at sunset.

Remember, you may not be able to take your 4×4 everywhere to get the perfect photo opportunities. For instance, in Okavango Delta, you can go on a mokoro to silently come close to animals along the banks. Mokoro is a dugout canoe made from the local sausage tree wood. On the other hand, at Chobe National Park, you can navigate the Chobe River on a motorised boat to see elephants, crocodiles and hippos. Many of these boats have built-in tripods and gimbal heads to ensure you can stabilise your camera while clicking away.

Now that you know how thrilling a photo safari can be, it’s time you dust your camera off and book your safari.