That is the second half of my two-part article on photographing Etosha Nationwide Park in Namibia. This second half issues gear and pictures. (When you missed the first chapter, it issues the park, the very best interval to go to, and why Etosha is a deserving place for pictures.)
Tips on how to Discover Wildlife in Etosha
Within the first a part of this text, I defined why it’s thrilling to have the ability to self-drive in Etosha Nationwide Park. I loved it a lot that I can’t wait to do related drives somewhere else sooner or later. However there’s a problem related to it: You need to discover the animals your self!
In Etosha’s dry season, animals are sometimes discovered close to the waterholes, which provides you place to start out. However you continue to have to make use of your scouting expertise. Even a pleasure of lions just isn’t straightforward to identify when resting within the shade of some bushes lots of of meters away.
Based mostly by myself expertise trying to find animals, I can provide a ready adventurer the next bits of recommendation:
- Purchase a big map of the park, and carry a pen with you to mark the areas you see and what you discover, together with the time of day.
- Share your info with others on the lodges, and hearken to the place they went and what they noticed throughout the day. Use your map to take notes.
- Use your binoculars often and ask these in your automobile to do the identical.
- When searching for predators, you need to take note of the place herbivores look, the place they’re operating, or if they’re concentrated someplace within the reverse space of the waterhole. You’ll be able to usually infer the situation of the predators from this info!
- Keep prepared at a second’s discover; issues occur quick generally.
- Suppose ahead. Nothing is extra rewarding than forecasting an animal’s habits, shifting accordingly, and being in the very best place to take your pictures.
- Take a look at different automobiles. A vacationer jeep on the roadside usually means one thing attention-grabbing to see.
- If a spot is crowded or the sunshine is horrible, transfer on. Etosha is a giant park, and it’s not value ready round if there may be nothing particular for you.
- Respect animals, different vacationers, and photographers.
- Keep on the licensed roads.
- Don’t get out of your automobile exterior the licensed locations.
I’ve prevented making a listing of “finest waterholes” to examine as a result of such a factor doesn’t exist. I had a lot luck with lions at Rietfontein, for instance – on the time of my go to, the resident Pleasure of Lions had some cubs so younger that they meowed like home cats! However that was a transient occasion and doubtless is already gone. For all I do know, Rietfontein won’t be a promising spot subsequent time I go to.
My expertise on this location additionally spoke to the significance of watching animal habits. For probably the most half, I used to be not photographing these lions close to the waterhole, however really about 1 km away. I solely discovered them as a result of I seen a lioness with swollen mammary glands strolling purposefully in a single course away from the water.
One other time, I noticed a dot of purple within the distance, and binoculars confirmed that it was a cheetah with two cubs and a kill! I spent all day photographing them and solely left when it was essential to return to the lodge. We have been in the midst of nowhere and in whole solitude!
Really helpful Images Gear
The primary piece of drugs I like to recommend is a merely beanbag. Resting and stabilizing the digital camera on the automobile’s open window is obligatory. That is how you’ll {photograph} wildlife right here – no tripod or monopod is required. In case you are space-constrained, think about flying with an empty beanbag and filling it upon arrival.
The second software I counsel you to deliver is an efficient set of binoculars. It is extremely helpful for recognizing and observing the animals comfortably.
As for the cameras and lenses, my finest recommendation is to take with you:
- Two cameras, letting you’re taking pictures with two completely different lenses with out swapping them too usually.
- One regular zoom, akin to a 24-120mm, to shoot candid pictures and photos of the panorama.
- One lengthy zoom, akin to a 100-400mm, for bigger and nearer wildlife.
- A supertelephoto lens, akin to a 500mm, 600mm, or 800mm.
In case you are constrained on area, you may exchange the 2 longer lenses and canopy most affordable wants through the use of a 180-600mm or 200-600mm lens. Since Etosha closes at night time, and dawn/sundown pictures just isn’t actually an possibility, even an f/5.6 or f/6.3 lens captures sufficient gentle for wildlife pictures.
That mentioned, I consider 500mm at least and 600mm+ as ultimate for Etosha. Since you aren’t allowed to go away your automobile, and the automobile should keep on designated roads, it’s common to search out animals which are additional than you would possibly want. A digital camera with a excessive pixel density helps right here, too.
That mentioned, I disagree with a frequently-recommended concept of renting an unique lens earlier than this sort of journey. Whereas an unique lens might help take memorable photographs, there’s a studying curve no one ought to underestimate. They’re additionally heavy and costly. When you don’t have a longe sufficient already, I might fairly lease a 180-600mm or 200-600mm as an alternative of an unique 400mm f/2.8 or 600mm f/4.
By the way in which, relying in your style, a smartphone can substitute the brief zoom with good outcomes, particularly whether it is current. Etosha is extra in regards to the wildlife than the landscapes,
What about different tools? Nicely, electrical energy just isn’t an issue in Etosha, so you may deliver an inexpensive variety of batteries and cost them when wanted. My recommendation is that 4-5 batteries will likely be loads even for capturing all day with two cameras (or three batteries with a gripped digital camera just like the Nikon Z9 or Canon EOS R3). Simply ensure you have sufficient chargers to fill all of them in a single day! Namibia makes use of a selected plug, so deliver sufficient adapters, too.
Don’t overlook to deliver a blower and a few microfiber towels to deal with the mud! (I spent 5 minutes cleansing up my lenses each night time throughout safaris). I don’t often transfer my gear in and out throughout the day to keep away from filling the backpack with mud. Truly, I favor to maintain the gear out more often than not, prepared to make use of, lined with a pillow cowl.
As for storage, I personally preserve the whole lot in a GuraGear Kiboko 30L backpack. The vital factor just isn’t the actual backpack, however that you’ll be able to match all of your gear and nonetheless deliver the backpack on an airline.
Whereas I normally deliver my laptop computer on photograph journeys, I go away it again dwelling for a visit like this. I need to dive into the environment of the place, which I can’t do by spending hours on my pc. I additionally use the accessible time to talk with folks and share details about animals and areas. Or possibly relaxation with my buddies and think about the pictures we wish to take tomorrow.
My final recommendation is to deliver double the dimensions reminiscence card you discover affordable at dwelling. I averaged 4k pictures per day of safari. By capturing RAW information, that rapidly pushes you over the 1TB territory after 4-5 days. Your storage wants will fluctuate, however do your self a favor and keep away from falling wanting area. Who is aware of, hopefully you might have a fortunate week!
I hope you loved these essays about Etosha Nationwide Park and find out how to take rewarding pictures there. You probably have any questions or suggestions, please don’t hesitate to go away them within the feedback part under.