African Kenya wildlife photographic safari tour information. Blank or distorted prints after a photo safari tour can be your worst nightmare. Taking pictures in the wild is different. This guide helps you take some necessary equipment and lenses for your digital, film or video camera. Get the best pictures of animals in Kenya-read before you pack up.
Photographing people remains sensitive issue in Kenya. Some tribal groups request money for you to take their photo.
You should never get your camera out at border crossings or near government or army buildings; even bridges can sometimes be classed as sensitive areas.
Availability of Film and Equipment for your camera in Nairobi Kenya
You'll find Kodak and Fuji 100, 200, and 400 ASA (ISO) print and slide film widely available in Nairobi, but even 100 ISO slide film is hard to find in Mombasa. If you plan to use 64 or 800 ASA film, bring it from home. As an indication of price, 36-exposure slide film in Nairobi is about Kshs 400; 36-exposure colour print film is cheaper at Kshs 250 to Kshs 350 but again, only 100,200 and (less frequently) 400ASA are available. Watch out for out -of-date batches.
Video animal photography
Both VHS and Hi-8 video film is available in Nairobi and Mombasa, but it's relatively expensive. You may also be able to find memory cards and other accessories for digital and DV cameras, but again prices are high and quality is not guaranteed. If you don't have the inclination or resources to buy expensive equipment but do know abit about photography, it's possible to hire SLR cameras and lenses in Nairobi.
Film Processing in Kenya
Shops and booths offering film processing are popping up in small towns and villages all over Kenya. In addition, there are plenty of one-hour film-processing labs in Nairobi and at least one in all other major towns. They can handle any film speeds, but results can vary.
Depending on the print size, processing and printing costs about Kshs 480 to Kshs 650 for a 36-exposure film.E6 slide processing can only be done in Nairobi and costs around Kshs 450 for a 36-exposure film.
Taking Pictures of wildlife
As the natural light in Kenya can be extremely strong, morning and evening are the best times to take photos. A plain UV filter can also be a good idea to take the harshness out of the day light pictures.
For serious wildlife photography an SLR camera that can take long focal length lenses is necessary. Zoom lenses are best for wildlife photography as it is easier to frame your shot for the best composition. This is especially important because the animals are almost constantly on the move.
The 70mm to 210mm zoom lenses are popular, and 200mm is really the absolute minimum power you'll need to get a good close up shots. The only problem with zoom lenses is that they absorb about 1.5f-stops of light, which is where 200 and 400ASA film starts to become useful.
Best animal camera lenses
Telephoto (fixed focal lengths) lenses give better results than zoom lenses, but you're limited by having to carry a separate lens for every focal length. A 400mm or 500mm lens brings the action right up close, but again you need fast film to make the most of it. Another option is to carry a 2x teleconverter, a small adapter that doubles the focal length of your lens.
Using zoom Lenses in Wildlife photographic safari
When using long lenses, you'll find that a tripod can be extremely useful, and with any lens greater than about 300mm it's a necessity. Within the confined space of the hatch of a safari minibus, you may be better off with a folding miniature tripod, which you can then rest on the roof. Remember to ask your driver to switch off the engine to avoid vibrations affecting your photo. If you've got a large lens but no tripod, lying your camera on a small bean bag or cushion can help reduce camera shake.
A decent bag is essential to protect your gear from the elements and the rough roads-safari dust gets everywhere, particularly in parks like Samburu and Tsavo. It's also vital to make sure that your travel insurance policy covers your camera gear should it get stolen or damaged.
Robert is a travel expert with Landmarksafaris.com. Degreed in tourism management, he has authored more than 1000 articles on Kenya East Africa travel. More on Kenya photo safaris and tours: http://www.landmarksafaris.com/tours/wildlife.php
About the Author
Robert Muhoho is a tour consultant with Landmark safaris. To tailor your own Kenya itinerary tour safari visit them @ http://www.landmarksafaris.com/tours/wildlife.php
