The Best Time for A Tanzania Photo safari
A Tanzania photo safari offers exceptional game watching in a spectacular backdrop of snowy peaks, volcanic craters, and the Masai steppe of boundless grasslands, from the great migration of the Serengeti to the more distant parks. Tanzania is well known for having an abundance of wildlife. Along the route of this Great Migration, there are several large cats, as well as vast herds of wildebeest, zebra, and Thompson’s gazelle that cross the grasslands every year.
Few nations can match Tanzania’s natural beauty and cultural richness, which includes the Ngorongoro Crater, Kilimanjaro, Zanzibar, and the Serengeti all in one place. Go on a multi-day walking safari in the Serengeti or Ruaha National Parks if you’re feeling active or daring, or try climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest peak and the tallest free-standing mountain in the world. Don’t pass up a trip to the exotic spice islands of Zanzibar to experience the architecture and scents of historic Stone Town.
The Best Time to visit Tanzania for Safari
The dry season, which lasts from late June to October, is the ideal time to travel to Tanzania for a safari. Tanzania has two different rainy seasons: the “long rains” (April to May) and the “short rains” (November to December). The nation’s “long rains,” which often occur in the afternoon, bring tropical downpours, and some safari sites may have to close. The short rains occasionally produce a quick shower.
All year long, Tanzania’s safari regions experience warm days and chilly evenings. While Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Meru experience below-freezing temperatures, the Indian Ocean coast and areas around lakes are hot and wet.
What you want to see and where you want to travel will determine the ideal time for a Tanzania photo safari. The dry season is typically the greatest time to visit Tanzania for first-time safari visitors because wildlife is simpler to track and spot. Understanding the distinction between the safari high season and low season is a wonderful place to start if you’re travelling to Tanzania for the first time.
Tanzania photo safari
Tanzania is the ideal African destination if you’re planning an African photo safari. The nation has a vast variety of cultures and landscapes that will astound you with their stunning natural beauty. With its ‘Big Five’ safaris, snow-capped mountain peaks, and stunning tropical beaches, Tanzania is captivating in its recent resurgence as a very popular photography safari destination. From the Serengeti plains and the steep-sided Ngorongoro Crater to the flamingos of Lake Manyara and the enormous tuskers of Tarangire, to idyllic Zanzibar and traditional Pemba, to the wild landscapes of Ruaha, Katavi, and Nyerere park (formerly Selous), Tanzania is home to a number of iconic photographic locations. The Mahale Mountains in Tanzania, which are home to habituated chimpanzees and are situated near Lake Tanganyika, are another uncommon area for photography. In addition, Tanzania’s numerous highlands and volcanoes, including the legendary Kilimanjaro and the restless Ol Doinyo Lengai volcano, make it a place that makes photographers salivate at the notion of travelling there.
What to expect on Tanzania photo safaris
On a Tanzania photo safari, you’ll visit some of the country’s wildlife hotspots that are most prolific. Tanzania is renowned for its annual great migration, the big five, and big cats, which include numerous lions, leopards, and cheetahs. It is also one of the best areas in Africa to watch wildlife. On your exclusive wildlife adventures, you will get the chance to photograph and explore the diverse species and vibrant scenery of the Serengeti, Tarangire, and Ngorongoro Crater.
African large cats are almost always encountered on a Tanzania photo safari, and you can take pictures of these encounters. Additionally, you’ll have the chance to capture images of lions stalking their prey while the magnificent cheetah races after its daily meal at top speed.
How to plan for Tanzania Photo safari
Due to the fact that fewer people go on a picture safari, they are always more expensive than other safaris in Tanzania. You will have an excellent time travelling from one place to another, regardless of how much the safari costs. Bring some protective gear for your cameras nevertheless, since you need to be ready for both dust during the dry season and rain during the wet season.
Our photography excursions are conducted from a private automobile with like-minded individuals who won’t move during crucial moments and are happy to leave before dawn and return after dusk. The safari is led by a professional photographer who has experience leading other photographers into the jungle. The guide significantly affects how well the car is positioned and how well the light is achieved.
To avoid any potential conflicts of interest and to ensure that you are in complete control of the situation when taking photographs, you have complete access to the car. It is much simpler to explore and take pictures on foot and at your own pace on the periphery of parks and game reserves, where dangerous animals and safety are less of a concern. Going on safari with a variety of camera bodies and lenses is a great idea since it removes the need to switch lenses, which allows dust to enter the camera. Additionally, when travelling, bring a solar charger, extra memory cards, and backup batteries (as it’s challenging to try to charge batteries halfway up a volcano).
A photography safari Equipment
A high-quality bridge camera that you carry need to have an optical zoom of at least 18–20 times and a usable wide angle at the other end of the zoom range. Make sure you bring a lot of spare batteries. In northern Tanzania, dust is a constant problem, thus cleaning supplies are crucial. A beanbag might be useful when photographing wildlife from a moving vehicle.
If you plan to use a full-frame DSLR or mirror less camera, you will need to have decent cameras with focal lengths of at least 200-600mm. Change the focal lengths if your camera has a crop sensor. Additionally, a short focal length telephoto lens is appropriate for some wildlife situations (such as up-close shots of elephants and other mammals, or groups of animals), and a wide-angle lens is appropriate for shooting landscapes. The chances of using a macro lens in this situation will be quite restricted.
The best time for Photography safari in Tanzania
The most crucial and challenging decision you will make will probably be when to go on your Tanzania photo safari. While the Great Wildebeest Migration and the late dry season (May to July) offer fantastic opportunities for animal viewing, they also bring smoky and dusty conditions as well as dark brown and drab grey backgrounds. On the other hand, during the green season (wet season), when the regenerated bush comes back to life, there is a profusion of colour and the clarity after the rains is unmatched, but wildlife is dispersed and fantastic sightings can be challenging to come by. The best time of year to concentrate on taking landscape and bird photos.
