Taking photos while on an African safari adventure is something that every safari goer just knows they are going to do. Whether they plan to use their handy cellphone camera or if they are coming prepared with a DSLR or point and shoot with a decent room lens, knowing how to take good photos is something that every traveller to Africa must know how to do.

When you stay at Toro Yaka, you can expect to have a luxury Africa holiday experience that will truly bring you peace and serenity. Not only is our lodge built to be closer to nature but it is also the perfect place to stay if you want to take incredible photos, sometimes right from the comfort of the lodge. With elephants and other wildlife coming up close, there are very few other places where you can take such intimate and candid images.

But to take those stunning photos, you need to know your way around your camera, whatever type it might be.

What to do before your safari trip

Getting the best types of safari photos starts well before you head off on your holiday. As they all say proper planning is the key to success, and here is what you can do before your trip.

Choose a camera that won’t make a noise

A quiet camera is best because loud shutters and other gadgetry noises can spook animals, which in turn will scare the animals off. If you are thinking about bringing along a DSLR camera, make sure that you have the right lens too. A 200 to 300mm lens is best.

Pack an extra battery and memory card

You will be amazed at just how many photos you will take when on safari and naturally, the more photos you take the more battery power you will need. Instead of being disappointed when out safari because you have run out or power and space, pack extra batteries and cards.

Get to know your camera

Even a cellphone camera these days has settings that you need to get used to before you start taking photos. Rather than waiting until something amazing shows up and then trying to figure out how the settings work, take some time to learn the photography basics before you go on safari.

What to do on your safari 

Once you are on a safari game drive, there are some other things that you will need to know in order to take that amazing shot.

Turn off the flash option 

During the day, you don’t need a flash as it is just going to annoy the wildlife, especially if the flash is really bright. When you take your photos, keep the sun behind you and it will provide you with more than enough light to brighten up your subject.

Use the long lens 

Most wildlife will be a fair distance from where you are and when you see something interesting that is quite far away, you will be really happy that you brought along that long lens. Keep in mind that a lens can be super heavy, so having a tripod is going to be helpful. If you are shooting with your phone, look for lens lengthening add-ons.

Try out the rule of thirds method

If you are having a hard time setting up your subject, try using the rule of thirds technique. Think about your image as divided up into a grid of 3×3 squares and then line up your subject in an area where the lines intersect. This composition is known to be one of the most used and the result is really easy on the eye.