Safari Preparation and What I Pack

I rarely get a chance to pack so early for a safari, but now that I am thinking about it I thought I would use a blog post as my packing list for my next safari in June. I will then use the blog post as a guide when I actually start packing in a week or two. I depart in late May for my back-to-back safaris in the Sabi Sands of South Africa. I will have sole use of Singita Sabi Sands Castleton Camp, which is a very private 6-room camp that will be my base for 16 straight nights. This list may change over time, so check back for any changes. I may get crazy and add my clothing to the list as well.

Camera Bags

• Gura Gear Kiboko 22L+
• Gura Gear Chobe 19-24L shoulder bag

 Camera Eqiupment

• Nikon D4 (rented from Borrowlenses.com)
• Nikon D800
• Nikon 24-70mm f/2.8
• Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8 VRII
• Nikon 300mm f/2.8 VR (rented from Borrowlenses.com)
• Nikon 1.4x teleconverter

Camera Stabilization for Safari Vehicle and Video At Camp

• Really Right Stuff Safari Clamp kit (Safari Clamp, monopod with leveling base)
• Really Right Stuff TVC-24L carbon fiber tripod
• Really Right Stuff PG-02 FG gimbal head
• Really Right Stuff BH-40 ballhead
• Cinevate Atlast 10 FLT 26” slider
• Manfrotto 701HDV video head
• Kinesis Safari Sack, filled with buckwheat hulls

Video / Audio Accessories

• Sony UWP-V1 wireless lav microphone
• Tascam DR-40 audio recorder
• Klipsch X10i earphones

Power

• Sanyo Eneloop AA rechargeable batteries
• Nikon D800 charger
• Nikon D4 charger
• Nikon EN-EL15 extra batteries (2 extra) for D800
• Nikon EN-EL18 extra battery (1 extra) for D4
• South Africa travel adapters (a bunch, as my travelers sometimes don’t have enough)
• Wonpro 250V Universal Power Strip

Computer

• Apple Macbook Pro 13” with 250gb SSD
• Apple Macbook Pro charger
• Apple iPad and charger

Storage

• Compact Flash Cards. I have 32GBx4, 16GBx6 and a few smaller ones. I prefer Sandisk Extreme Pro cards, but not all of them are what I desire. :-(
• Seagate GoFlex 1.5TB external hard drives (2)

Cleaning and Repair 

• Gura Gear microfiber cloth (too many to count)
• Giottos Large Rocket Blower
• Really Right Stuff hex wrenches (many sizes)
• Jeweler’s screwdriver set
• Visible Dust Arctic Butterfly 724 Cleaning Kit

Miscellaneous Items, excluding clothing and toiletries

• Headlamp
• AMOD GPS logger
• Gaffer Tape - I cutt off 1-foot sections, roll each section up and put them in all pockets in my Kiboko bag. These help cover up VR/IS switches and other places where we don’t want a function to be turned on or off.
• Micro Leatherman
• USB cables / Firewire cables

Comments

[Tim]

From your experience, do you have any thoughts about taking a lens longer than 300mm? I'm curious as I'm going for the first time next March and I've been thinking a bit myself about what I should take. Should I take my 500 f4, or my 300 f2.8?
I have both 1.4x and 2x extenders. (shooting with both 1.3x crop and 1.6x crop bodies, but I may add a full frame body before the trip). I'll take 2 bodies one way or the other.

Are you not taking a beanbag, or did you forget to list it? From folks I've talked to who have gone several times, I thought it would be used more than a tripod for shooting from the vehicle.

Thanks!

[Buddy Eleazer]

Andy, Thanks for sharing. I posted some comments on packing last week at my blog, but planned to put together a list of 'other things to bring'. Love the gaffers tape idea. Another small thing I take in the bag for a May trip to SA are a pair of really think (silk) hunters gloves for those pre-sunrise times when I need to work camera buttons, but need a little warmth.
Buddy

[Steve Levi]

Hey Andy, Looks like you are leaving the 200-400 behind. Are you concerned that the quality is not up to the d800? When I was in Antarctica Art Morris had a 300mm (canon) with 1.4x and 2x converters and had incredibly sharp images. He was even able to stack them results better than I expected . I have been think along the same lines. What are your thoughts?

I have an d800e on back order :)

Seve

[Andy Biggs]

Steve, I am just bringing the 300mm because I want to try something different. I am really liking the more shallow depth of field with medium format, and I want to try to obtain a similar look with the D800. I love my 200-400mm, but I just want to try something different.

[Jim]

Hi Andy;
A few questions: Do you have any problems with two bags to carry both on the plane? Have you ever used a monopod on a safari? Does it work with the 200-400? Have you ever placed any equipment (maybe chargers) in check in bag?

Thanks for the list!

[Andy Biggs]

Jim, I never ever have issues with 2 bags. Airlines allow 2 bags to be brought on board, and I don't like loading up 1 bag just to economize when they allow for 2. If I had to put my Macbook Pro, charger, iPad and other travel stuff into my 22L+ I would easily be adding another 10 pounds or more. My 42-year old back doesn't need more weight to be put onto it, so I don't.

I have used a monopod on safari, but only in southern Africa. In Kenya and Tanzania it just doesn't work. Beanbags are king there. And in southern Africa with the wide open vehicles I have found other solutions work better than monopods, but a monopod could work for some people. It just depends.

And I never, ever put photographic equipment in a checked bag. I am too much of a control freak to do that. All cameras and lenses travel with me, and everything else gets checked. I have seen people carry on everything but the kitchen sink, which isn't necessary. Camera chargers and other non essential electronics can be easily checked, though.

[Beau]

Hi Andy, I thought your Safari Rig/Monopod from RRS was the best way to support in the open jeeps in South Africa? What other options work best for a large lens/camera combo for the open jeeps?

Love your blog by the way, I check it almost every day when I can!

[Andy Biggs]

Beau, definitely do a double take up above. I do take the RRS Safari Clamp Kit, as it is the most stable product out there. I do bring a bean bag, as sometimes I sit next to the guide and only a bean bag will work for that shooting position. Thanks for reading!