Tips for the Photographic Hobbyist
We just returned from K/T and had a fantastic trip. We had a great group of Tauck Guests, and we all enjoyed each others' company. There were 28 of us, and it looked like about 10% were fairly serious photographic aficionados -- those belonging to camera clubs, carrying big lenses and a satchel of equipment. But for the most part, most the guests were there to enjoy the experience, and brought binoculars, cell phones, point-and-shoots, and iPads.
So, for the small minority of avid photo buffs that are planning the trip, I'd like to proffer a few tips.
1. For really unique shots, bring the largest super-tele you can. I used, most often, a 840mm equivalent (actually a Olympus OMD-EM1 MKII with tele-converter). This allowed for capturing leopards high up in trees, that were barely visible to the naked eye. It allowed for head portraits of African Cranes, Chimps, lions, cheetahs, and their babies.
2. Bring two cameras. I had one mounted with a 80-300 equivalent, and the other with the 840mm prime. They hung from a Black Rapid Dual shoulder harness, and pretty much covered the spectrum for the shots you need. Yes, some animals were close, and crossed the vehicles' path, but usually the animals were at quite a distance.
3. Share your images. I allowed access to my best images to my Tauck friends for their personal use, and they reciprocated by offering me the best views from the safari vehicles. Actually, all the seats were good, but the back seats offered the most panoramic views. I took a lot of shots from the windows rather than standing up -- the angle of view of the animal was often better, e.g. rather getting the tops of Big Cats' heads, you can look into their eyes.
4. My best "accessory" was a microfiber jacket. The vehicles can travel 50+ mph on dirt roads (supposedly the speed ironing out the rut holes on the "African Massage", and generate plumes of dust up to 15-20 feet high at times. I used the microfiber jacket in my lap to cover and cushion the cameras from each other, on the bumpy ride, and to occasionally wipe the dust from them. It gets quite warm in the vehicles, so people have their windows partly open -- and -- dust. The dust can be choking and irritating over the course of the trip. We tried a Buff, which works, but what I found more breathable was a set of cheap surgical masks. The top of the mask can be bent to conform to your nose.
5. There is not a problem in changing lenses. I changed to a 24-200mm zoom for Masai village and Masai school children shots, landscapes, etc. But I changed lenses at bathroom stops or under the microfiber jacket when the vehicle was not moving, and, of course, at the hotels.
6. The tripod was not useful. I had planned to take Milky Way shots, but there was too much light pollution. But a flash was very useful for fill-in, to light up faces, especially in the classroom with Masai school children.
7. The TD said Tsetse flies were not a problem. And they were not for us. There was one area, a 15 minute drive, near the Four Seasons that was supposed to have the flies, but the drivers flew faster than the flies, I'm told. I am not aware of anyone getting mosquito bites on the trip.
8. Use of the infamous duffle bags. They are big, so we packed our clothes in one, and I packed a photo case with accessories in the other. However, cameras and lenses went with me into the cabin of the airplane, in the day bag, or slung from my shoulder. The TD was very gracious about photographic equipment -- he said to bring all you want -- it's a photographic safari. And the drivers were terrific -- they parked the vehicles, usually, for the best lighting and vantage points, they often tried to get ahead of the Big Cats so the Cats would come to you.
Hope this is helpful. You have an awesome opportunity to bring back some fantastic images.
So, for the small minority of avid photo buffs that are planning the trip, I'd like to proffer a few tips.
1. For really unique shots, bring the largest super-tele you can. I used, most often, a 840mm equivalent (actually a Olympus OMD-EM1 MKII with tele-converter). This allowed for capturing leopards high up in trees, that were barely visible to the naked eye. It allowed for head portraits of African Cranes, Chimps, lions, cheetahs, and their babies.
2. Bring two cameras. I had one mounted with a 80-300 equivalent, and the other with the 840mm prime. They hung from a Black Rapid Dual shoulder harness, and pretty much covered the spectrum for the shots you need. Yes, some animals were close, and crossed the vehicles' path, but usually the animals were at quite a distance.
3. Share your images. I allowed access to my best images to my Tauck friends for their personal use, and they reciprocated by offering me the best views from the safari vehicles. Actually, all the seats were good, but the back seats offered the most panoramic views. I took a lot of shots from the windows rather than standing up -- the angle of view of the animal was often better, e.g. rather getting the tops of Big Cats' heads, you can look into their eyes.
4. My best "accessory" was a microfiber jacket. The vehicles can travel 50+ mph on dirt roads (supposedly the speed ironing out the rut holes on the "African Massage", and generate plumes of dust up to 15-20 feet high at times. I used the microfiber jacket in my lap to cover and cushion the cameras from each other, on the bumpy ride, and to occasionally wipe the dust from them. It gets quite warm in the vehicles, so people have their windows partly open -- and -- dust. The dust can be choking and irritating over the course of the trip. We tried a Buff, which works, but what I found more breathable was a set of cheap surgical masks. The top of the mask can be bent to conform to your nose.
5. There is not a problem in changing lenses. I changed to a 24-200mm zoom for Masai village and Masai school children shots, landscapes, etc. But I changed lenses at bathroom stops or under the microfiber jacket when the vehicle was not moving, and, of course, at the hotels.
6. The tripod was not useful. I had planned to take Milky Way shots, but there was too much light pollution. But a flash was very useful for fill-in, to light up faces, especially in the classroom with Masai school children.
7. The TD said Tsetse flies were not a problem. And they were not for us. There was one area, a 15 minute drive, near the Four Seasons that was supposed to have the flies, but the drivers flew faster than the flies, I'm told. I am not aware of anyone getting mosquito bites on the trip.
8. Use of the infamous duffle bags. They are big, so we packed our clothes in one, and I packed a photo case with accessories in the other. However, cameras and lenses went with me into the cabin of the airplane, in the day bag, or slung from my shoulder. The TD was very gracious about photographic equipment -- he said to bring all you want -- it's a photographic safari. And the drivers were terrific -- they parked the vehicles, usually, for the best lighting and vantage points, they often tried to get ahead of the Big Cats so the Cats would come to you.
Hope this is helpful. You have an awesome opportunity to bring back some fantastic images.
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Comments
https://iluv2fly.smugmug.com/Forum-Shots-Africa/n-J5CjNB/
If you don't have a long enough lens, you can rent them online. I believe people have used places like borrowlens.com, although I have not.
Doug
For you non-camera folks, please excuse us camera nuts
Doug
I did become quite ill with bad abdominal pains for a few days, as did another guest. Problem was Malarone. The TD got a trusted MD in Arusha, who diagnosed the problem as a side-effect from Malarone. He mentioned that MDs in the U.S. aren't too familiar with the anti-malarial drugs. Another TD said she has had a lot of folks react to the stuff. So I had to take Cipro, a cocktail of electrolytes, and start a different anti-malarial drug. I was bed-ridden for a day and had to have soft foods for another day. I believe I heard those who had had side effects were 10+%, which is pretty high. So you might talk to your health care provider in some detail.
I took the K&T tour in 2014. While there is a lot posted about the medications for the trips, I have not read any that covered this issue on the malaria meds. ...or maybe I missed it. Before the trip, I went to a travel doctor specialist. Health system is large and includes affiliation with a medical college. I went to him in part because of the recommendations posted on this site. I took a copy of the Tauck itinerary with me. After the yellow fever and typhoid were addressed, he said I had 3 choices for the malaria. He said that all three would prevent the malaria. I asked what the difference was and he replied that the difference was that one was prone to more side effects; second was lesser side effects; and third was lesser yet. I asked the difference in price, and while the one that had fewer side effects was the most expensive, it was not huge --- a few dollars a pill -- and considering the investment in the trip, I did not want to have any 'down' time.
I will echo the recommendation that others have given that a travel specialist, while expensive, is good. Doctor spent some time with me, previewing the same information that our TD gave us. ... do not drink any tap water, keep your mouth closed in shower, use bottle water to brush teeth and take extra tooth brushes in case you forget. He also said not to be adventurous and not to eat any food that tour director did not approve of.
I am sorry that I did not write down or keep a note as to what malaria med I took, but had no side effects. Douglassue, I am sorry you had side effects. Your photography is amazing! Thanks for sharing the photos.
https://travelreadymd.com/a-simple-way-to-choose-medication-to-prevent-malaria-in-travelers/
I added a series of photos to my Africa Images for the Tauck Forum. I believe you will like them. I also entered a number of photos to the Photo Contest but they are mostly animals and do not have a lot of marketing value. But anyway, the images below are suggestive of the fun you can have on your KT!
https://iluv2fly.smugmug.com/Forum-Shots-Africa/n-J5CjNB/
I added a series of photos to my Africa Images for the Tauck Forum. I believe you will like them. I also entered a number of photos to the Photo Contest but they are mostly animals and do not have a lot of marketing value. But anyway, the images below are suggestive of the fun you can have on your KT!
https://iluv2fly.smugmug.com/Forum-Shots-Africa/n-J5CjNB/
Maldrone- anti-drone malware? : ) (really!)
Pauludrine- anti-malarial trade name for Proguanil, also known as chlorguanide and chloroguanide, is a medication used to treat and prevent malaria. It is often used together with chloroquine or atovaquone (as in Malarone).
Malarone (trade names Malarone, Malanil) is a drug combination of atovaquone/proguanil A standard tablet of Malarone contains 100 mg of proguanil hydrochloride and 250 mg of atovaquone. It is an antimalarial medication used in both the treatment and prevention of malaria. Atovaquone/proguanil is not normally used to treat severe malaria, when an injectable drug such as quinine is used instead.
Malarone is notable for having far fewer side effects than other, older malaria drugs. While some people experience side effects, such as coughing, diarrhea, dizziness, headache, loss of appetite, mouth sores, nausea, stomach pain, vomiting, or weakness, the majority have none or few of these.
CIPRO (Ciprofloxacin) is an antibiotic used to treat a number of bacterial infections.
Since the side-effects can be similar, it sounds to me like the doctor was treating potential gastroenteritis (also called infectious diarrhea) caused by parasites, bacteria, viruses, and fungus, with CIPRO rather than the side-effects of Malarone. CIPRO isn't likely to help with Malarone side-effects.
I take Malarone (my wife was prescribed and took doxycycline) for anti-malarial protection, but also carry an emergency supply of CIPRO or other doctor-prescribed antibiotic for you know what. If you have gastroenteritis, Lomotil and OTC anti-diarheals only treat the symptoms- you also need to take something that will kill the little buggers that are causing the problem in the first place.
I need Help!! I cannot see the pictures. I'm doing this tour next Aug. 2018. Would love to see them.
Please advise.
Thanks
Looks like douglassue's photos are no longer accessible. Just hope he swings by. You can find similar photos using Google. Check the K&T archives for other photos. I and others have posted a few.
By the way.. I came back from Morocco 2 weeks ago, I have not been able to write review yet, but the trip was AMAZING! if there was anything about the tour that needed a fix, they did it.! It was perfect, well organize, the drives were not that long ... only 2 were about 3-3.5 hours but the tour TD Todd and tour guide Shakib had a hand full of jokes & then also gave us xtra info on the area etc... so the ride seemed way less. A wonderful tour.
Thanks
The link still takes you to Smug Mug so it was not Tauck. It may be that Doug removed the photos, has exceeded the bandwidth allowance on Smug Mug, or he was using the site commercially which they might allow.